Are you wondering when will this quarantine period end? Well, it’s still a long way to go! Worrying about the future will fetch you nothing. So, live in the present and relax. Sure, it’s difficult to stay at home not going to the gym, pubs, malls or movie theaters or stalk your crush. No matter how hard it seems, there are ways to have fun and fight boredom during lockdown and self-isolation.
16 Fun Things To Do Besides Freak Out About The Coronavirus
1. Fun with kids
Art and crafts are the best ways to help out your bored kids during the quarantine. Aside from killing time, it can benefit them in several ways. Some of them are the development of fine motor skills, increase in dexterity, boost creativity and self-esteem, improves memory, psychophysical well-being and flexibility.
Some simple, interesting and cost-effective art and craft ideas are –
- Star wars crafts like Jawa Doll, Bantha Toy, Yoda Easter Egg, Princess Leia Ear Muffs, etc.
- Game of Thrones DIYs like Dragon eggs, Cork Map of Westeros, sigil badges, etc
- Harry Potter crafts like – Mini Snitch Pens, Feather Quill Pens, Wizard style wooden letters, etc.
Besides kids, parents too can participate in easy and fun craft activities like – making of Recycled tin can windsocks, Tissue paper streamer rainbows, Bubble painting, Tie-dye sharpie bookmarks, storage jars, and so on.
2. Get gaming
Coronavirus quarantine is the right time to pick up a gaming console. So, wait no more! Get Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Plus, PlayStation Now online. Make sure to arrange all the accessories. Among the new releases, Warzone and DOOM Eternal are tough as nails and can keep you engaged for a long time.
By the way, when was the last time you played an intense board game with family? Why not start again? It’s a great idea for those not so tech-savvy and wants to have fun with the family members and create cherishable memories. Play together to fight boredom during the lockdown.
Here’s the funny side of Quarantine just to ease your anxiety. Watch the video:
3. Enjoy virtual pubs online
Are you missing that cocktail hour with friends?
Well, now you can have beer and vodka at your house and enjoy video conferencing. Get an unlimited internet pack from the money you saved on going to pubs and offices. Invite your friends and neighbors using sites like Zoom, Houseparty app so that you don’t feel alone.
Related: How Mindfulness Can Help During Self Isolation When Feeling Anxious & Lonely
It’s also a great way to give the company to those suffering from isolation and loneliness in different parts of the area, city or state. Though you can’t share meals, you can smile, laugh, talk and reduce anxiety.
Be careful not to double your alcohol consumption!
4. Clean the clutter
Do you know SARS-CoV-2 can survive for up to 16 hours on some surfaces? Our life is too busy to clean our house on a daily basis. But, coronavirus lockdown gives us enough hours to take care of all the clutter and stop freaking about COVID19.
So, get rid of the mess in your house, dust the baseboards and vacuum, throw away the broken furniture, donate your old clothes, improve the living environment, fix cracks on doors, and buy enough home cleaning supplies.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends daily disinfection of lights, knobs, switches, mobiles, keyboards, kitchen, desks, faucets, toilets, and sinks to prevent the spread of infection. Best products to kill germs according to experts are bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and alcohol. Don’t forget to handwash!
Stay clean, stay safe!
5. Relax your mind and body
Are you living alone in your home? Are you obsessively seeking out all the latest updates about the virus on news channels, podcasts, articles, and blogs? Then chances are high that you’re going to freak out with lockdown adding to your misery.
Related: Coronavirus Anxiety: 5 Things You Can Do To Beat It
Laughter is the best medicine, so watch comedy shows, series, and videos. It can significantly reduce stress and anxiety levels and bring lots of joy.
Yoga and meditation can kill stress hormones like cortisol and release happy hormones in our body like Dopamine. Practicing simple breathing techniques and mindfulness are powerful enough in improving endurance, peace, focus, positivity, and other aspects of personal wellbeing.
In a study published in the International Journal of Yoga , meditation, yoga, and other muscle relaxation techniques have been shown to boost immunity and reduce the psychological and physiological effects of stress in cancers and HIV infection.
Related: Meditation For Beginners: Everything You Need To Know About Meditation
6. Get good looks
“Making excuses burns zero calories per hour.” —Unknown
If you’re going to sit at home and do nothing, you’ll get fat!
Why not work out and stay fit?
Flaunt your cool abs on Instagram and motivate others too. Let social distancing make you and others more social, handsome and healthy.
Even if you’ve never pumped iron, there is nothing to worry about!
A lot of gyms and fitness companies in the USA are offering online workouts for free to help people during the quarantine.
You can also check out Instagram live workout classes by Ted McDonald, Tony Horton (creator of the P90X workout series), Joey Gonzalez (CEO of Barry’s Bootcamp) and others.
Simple home-based exercises like plank, back extensions, squats, are good options if you lack space and gym equipment.
7. Gardening
Gardening is how I relax. It’s another form of creating and playing with colors. –Oscar de la Renta
Growing plants and herbs is another great way to keep yourself sane during self-isolation and social distancing. Isn’t it a good idea to regrow food and maintain food supply during the coronavirus pandemic?
If you have a large backyard then you may grow edible plants that can yield quick returns such as salad greens, microgreens, turnips, radishes, carrots, and so on. You can also invest your time in growing indoor herbs like Mint, Chives, Basil, Rosemary etc.
8. Have a movie race
Make a list of all the great good movies that you couldn’t watch due to your hectic schedule. I assure you this is surely going to blow away all the Coronavirus panic. This is the easiest and fun way to fight boredom during lockdown. Have a race with your friends and cousins. Let see who watches more movies.
Well, some of them on my list are Moonlight, Birdman, Marriage Story, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Princess Bride and many more.
Since I’m heavily into horror stuff I’m going to dig out movies that I’ve missed out. Few that’s on my mind right now are Sleepy Hollow, Interview with Vampire, The Fly, Misery, etc. I’ve got a separate list for NetFlix.
Related: 15 Outbreak & Survival Movies To Watch While In Quarantine
Harry Potter is one series that can entertain people of all ages. I think this will be on everyone’s list for reconnecting and turning to families. It’s impossible to feel bored no matter how many times you’ve watched it already.
9. Read before it streams on Amazon
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin
There are many book series that can keep you hooked until the end and get you through quarantine. For those who find pleasure in reading rather than watching movies, please gear up.
Few books on my list to fight boredom during lockdown are –
The Glass Hotel, Victim 2117, The “Queens of Infamy” series, The Other Side of the Coin, Newsflesh etc.
Are you planning to read Robert Jordan’s 14-book “Wheel of Time” series? Start before it streams on Amazon starring Rosamund Pike.
Also read: 7 Reasons why Reading is Meaningful for Children
10. Stay tuned with The Minds Journal
This is the platform that covers a range of topics from spiritualism, mental health, science, psychology, relationships, motivation, datings and many more.
It also brings together writers and readers from across the world and shares thoughts via blogs, articles, quotes, quizzes, tests and many more that promote self-development.
Read on to know: The Science Behind Mass Panic and How To Stay Sane During Coronavirus Outbreak
11. One new recipe a day
With coronavirus spreading rapidly, food markets and malls have been closed. The shortage of labor and restrictions on transportation has made it difficult to deliver food from farms. People are provided with essentials, so you have to make most of what you have. This is the time to be creative and add variety to your diet.
So, blanch and freeze fresh vegetables as well as grated hard cheeses. Think other way round like shelf-stable oat milk can be a good alternative to fresh milk.
Jack Monroe in her latest book Tin Can Cook, explains how to prepare sauce aillade and other recipes that you can keep for a month. She suggests pickling garlic cloves, white beans and other items that can help you with future dinners in a pandemic. This can be helpful until ready-made tinned ones come back into stock.
For those who have bought enough non-perishable food items out of panic buying, enjoy your favorite snacks. Share things with those who couldn’t stockpile things like you.
When you’re cooking vegetables, try new recipes each day using food channels and blogs online.
Trust me cooking is fun when you rack your brain to cook a new dish and that turns out to be yummy.
Eat well and stay healthy!
12. Get in touch
Text your enemies to check out if they have contracted the coronavirus yet. When they tell you no, tell them you will try again tomorrow. Just kidding! You aren’t that evil.
Try to catch up with your loved ones and distant relatives in other countries and ensure they are safe.
Also read 5 Ways You Can Keep Your Relationship Strong During Coronavirus Isolation
Don’t let petty things get in the way of showing your love and appreciation for those you care about. Write actual letters and cards besides Zoom calls and Skype chats.
Be kind to everyone!
13. Develop new skills
Do you know that Isaac Newton was busy developing new skills when he was sent home by Trinity college during the Great Plague of London?
Once the lockdown is over and you’re back to the same mundane life, you will start craving for free time. So, make the most of the present situation. This is your time!
Hone skills that can boost your personal growth and lift your career prospects.
You may learn –
- Calligraphy
- New language
- Belly dancing
- New hairstyles
- Fashion trends
- Origami
- ways to wear a scarf
- Artificial intelligence
- Programming language
- Sewing
- App development
- Web designing
- Blogging etc.
The good news is there are various certificate courses online available for free. What more do you need to fight boredom during lockdown?
Take action now!
14. Jazz up your home
Quarantine is a wonderful time for home decor work. Change that faded wall paint to something that will lift your mood each morning. Take expert help online to avoid irreparable mistakes.
Repurpose items to make your space livelier and functional.
Hide large items in bins under bed or closet. Stuff beautiful, light things on free-standing racks. Adorn walls with memorable photographs and your own artwork. Upgrade the lighting and add a rug to enhance the feel of your room. A unique mirror can further increase the visual appeal.
15. Journaling and Self-reflection
“The clock is ticking. Are you becoming the person you want to be?” — Greg Plitt, fitness model
Pen down your experiences both good and bad, reflect on your achievements, make a list of unfulfilled wishes, goals and plan to achieve them.
Ask where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Take a self-assessment and jot down your strengths and weakness. It will foster your self-development and growth.
Do you know this exercise can increase your awareness of self and the world around you?
Also, journaling helps you beat stress and anxiety by clarifying negative thought patterns and feelings. You can better understand what really matters in your life.
Why not leverage the therapeutic power of writing and self-reflection to fight boredom during lockdown?
Related: Writing as Meditation: How to Enter the Flow State Through Journaling
16. Maintain a daily routine
While work from home can keep you engaged, those unemployed may go insane during the lockdown. You can avoid confusion and restlessness, by having a structure.
Set a daily routine, create daily goals and try to achieve them no matter what.
Get up and sleep on time. Be organized about everything right from bathing, prayers, cooking, eating, making important calls, gym, and any other ritual. Do it even if you feel lazy. Get along with family members instead of locking yourself in your bedroom. A daily routine will give you a sense of control over life and help you overcome boredom during lockdown.
I hope these tips help you survive and enjoy self-isolation and social distancing. If you enjoyed reading then leave a comment below. Also, share it with your friends.
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