In the wake of the current global health crisis, many are being relinquished to the confinements of their own homes in a bid to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and slow the spread throughout the globe. While lockdown in your home for a few weeks seems awfully daunting and almost insanity-inducing, it is about how we frame our mindset and see the bigger picture around the situation. I have compiled a list of things to keep you busy and safe at home through these manic, bizarre times.
While there are those that may still be in denial of the severity of the pandemic, it is indeed a very real crisis. And judging from Italy and Spain alone, currently the most infected of the EU, the consequences of not being proactive can prove disastrous. While fatalities from seasonal influenza happen over a period of 8 months or so, the nature of this novel virus means it has the capacity to spread like wildfire. The number of those infected is increasing exponentially within a short period of time if not contained. Should we be overly complacent and completely shun recommended protocol, there will be severe repercussions throughout society.
Aside from the obvious fatalities, hordes of people falling sick at once puts immense stress on hospitals and medical care. As the medical system becomes oversaturated, this could prevent others who are in critical condition, who require life-saving surgeries, transplants, transfusions, from getting the help they need – never mind the economic impact. This is why self-quarantine and social distancing are crucial at the moment. However, instead of being despaired and flustered, we must come together and focus on the greater good. Once we get out on the other side, this will strengthen us and empower us as a whole.
If we all play our part in doing our best to social distance, and self-quarantine where needed, the repercussions will be far less severe, diffuse the curve, and soften the ultimately catastrophic impact the virus will have on the economy, healthcare system and our community as a whole. Each of our small actions add up; I implore you to please follow guidelines, so we do not have to face more calamitous outcomes than necessary.
For all who recoil at the very thought of being cooped up at home, I have compiled a list of dozens of things you can do to keep you occupied during this time. I hope you can make the best of this situation and turn very dismal circumstances into something positive. This too shall pass; we just need to keep looking forward.
- Learn a new language. We have all wanted to learn a new language at some point but somehow never get around to it. Now is the perfect time to begin doing so! There are plenty of online resources and endless free learning tools – all you need to do is pick the language you desire. And once this entire crisis blows over, why not treat yourself to a trip to a place that speaks your chosen language to get some real-life practice? That is certainly something to look forward to.
- Read. This may seem mundane or obvious, but in the fast-paced, easy access culture we live in today, not many people read much anymore. When was the last time you picked up a book and read it cover to cover? Give social media and online forums a break and lose yourself in a good book. Forget about audio books, even. While you not currently commuting, you have the luxury of actually sitting down and devouring a novel like you did as a child. You don’t even have to go out and purchase one as you can download an entire book store straight to your tablet, phone or computer.
- Practice an instrument. You know that old keyboard or guitar you have lying around from when you wanted to learn to play an instrument when you were 12? Dust it off and start playing again. Lose yourself in the power of creating music.
- Take up painting. Not a skilled painter yet? Doesn’t matter, practice makes perfect. Find an image you love and begin drawing ‘til you perfect it. Watch online videos that give you step by step painting instructions. If nothing else, painting is extremely therapeutic and calming, which is what you need right now.
- Netflix, watch your favourite Korean drama, reality tv show or docuseries. There is an entire online library of every series you could imagine. You could go through fifty different series on Netflix before the quarantine is up and still not have finished them all. It is certainly the time to catch up on all your favourite TV shows, and you don’t even have to feel guilty about it.
- Yoga and Pilates. If you don’t have a mat at home, just use a towel or blanket to practice the poses and exercises. Because both these do not require any workout equipment, they are the perfect way to give yourself a little light movement and clear your mind, in the comfort of your own home.
- Practice your makeup skills. You don’t have to worry about leaving the house looking crazy, so now is a great time to attempt some new or daring looks and see how it suits you. Practice your cat eye, try out a new foundation or makeup technique.
- Step up your skincare game. You have the luxury of engaging in a ten step Korean skincare routine without having to worry about rushing out the house now.
- Meditate. As a chronically stressed society – now even more so – we can all benefit from stress-reducing practices like mindfulness and meditation. Make it your goal to master meditation and control your mindset.
- Home workout. No gym? Switch things up with a home workout. There are plenty online to follow. It gives you a little break from the weight room and mixes things up a little bit to keep them fun if your gym routine has become a little stale. Use it as a time to practice getting really good at some bodyweight exercises like pull ups and push ups.
- Give yourself a manicure and pedicure. Spend some time soaking your feet, filing and painting your nails, attempting some nail art.
- Take a bath. Don’t underestimate the power of a warm bath. Use some Epsom salts or a bath bomb, light some candles, pour a glass of wine, and bring your favourite book. Now is a great time to unwind and indulge in some me time.
- Bake. Baking can often be time consuming and so many times we resort to outsourcing our cakes and pastries, simply purchasing them at a store. Awaken your inner domestic goddess and channel your energy into baking some sweet treats. If you have kids, get them involved and make it a family activity.
- Cake decorating. There are so many beautiful decorations to adorn your cakes with available on the market. People decorate cakes as a hobby. There are a multitude of tutorials on how to create beautiful things. Get baking, decorating and save some for the elderly couple who live next door too.
- Learn some new recipes. If you are currently limited with the food you have on hand, challenge yourself to look up and learn new recipes. Make it a team effort if you are living with others.
- Cooking contests. Set a contest for everyone in your household to see who can come up with the best recipe using a limited number of ingredients.
- Groom your pets. Why not DIY the dog’s monthly grooming? Take some time to pamper your poodle, give them a wash, trim their hair and nails.
- Do some gardening. Plant some vegetables, pick fruit, trim the hedges, trim the lawn.
- Pamper yourself. When was the last time you did some major self-care and pampering? Put on a face mask, hair mask, give yourself a bikini wax, shave your legs, pluck that ‘stache, dry brush, face massage, body lotion.
- Write poetry/music. Channel your inner artist and put your feelings to paper. No one ever has to read it, but it’s a great way to get creativity and thoughts flowing.
- Catch up with work. You know last Wednesday, when you said you were sooooo behind on work? Do it. Just because you’re not physically at the office or at your work place does not mean you can’t use the opportunity to get ahead.
- Clean your home. Do not let the chaos and the clutter going on in the outside world enter your home. Keep your home clean so you can live in it comfortably and have no reason not to invite friends over to celebrate once the quarantine is over.
- Organise. Tidy up your room. Organise your world files, your bookcase, your spice cabinet, your pantry. Give everything a place and put everything in its place.
- Rearrange or assemble furniture. Now is the time to spruce up your home. Read up on some feng shui books and move things around until they are just to your liking. Set up a new desk, shelving unit, chest of drawers or kitchen appliance.
- Have sex. You currently have no excuse for ‘just a quickie’ or being too exhausted from work. If you’re locked in with your significant other, take the opportunity to reconnect and truly take the time to make love to one another. There is literally no better time to get creative in the bedroom without interruptions. Besides, orgasms are great for de stressing and have so many hormonal benefits. Indulge in some steamy, dragged out lovemaking sessions. Practice tantra, stretch out foreplay so it becomes a main event and not just an add on. Massage one another, introduce new toys, set up candles, eat food off each other. Girlfriend, the world is your oyster. Just remember to use adequate contraceptive measures to reduce the likelihood of an oopsie, if you’re not wanting to get pregnant. If you’re not confined with your significant other, phone sex and sexting should not be underestimated.
- Home dates. Can’t go out? No problem. Make a dinner date at home, watch a cute movie, take a bubble bath, start a little project together.
- Masturbate. Don’t have a live-in lover? In this climate, you don’t want to risk going out and catching anything unwanted from a guy at a bar, so be your own lover. Stock up on some good sex toys, play relaxing music, and get to it solo.
- Sort out your wardrobe. The chances are you have a multitude of clothes you’ve never worn, are too worn out, can’t fit or don’t match your current style. Take some time to organise your winter and summer clothes, put aside some to donate, heck even colour code your outfits if you feel so inclined.
- Write letters to the elderly. A lot of elderly, immune suppressed, those in care homes, or vulnerable people are likely to feel lonely at this time. Lift their spirits by writing them letters and sending them out. You never know whose day you could make.
- Volunteer. Run errands for the vulnerable people in your community. Replenish and deliver groceries, medications to the elderly or vulnerable population.
- Journal. It can be therapeutic to write out your thoughts and feelings in this chaotic and confusing time. Put pen to paper and use it to vent your frustrations or musings.
- Play with your kids. If you are usually a working parent, use this time to bond with your children and get them to clue you in on their games. Children have a lot to teach us too through play and their outlook on the world.
- Take up knitting, sewing, crochet or working with textiles. This is not an activity reserved only for the elderly ladies. It can bring an enormous sense of accomplishment once you finish a new knitting or textile project that you can later gift away or wear yourself.
- Online dating. While I am a novice to the online dating world (I’m a little old fashioned), I imagine it would be hot with conquests at this time. While many are refraining from going out and actually meeting people, there are many who may have set their sights online. In some ways this may be an advantage since it weeds out the f* boys who are only around to hit it and quit it, or to play around. Chatting to someone properly before meeting can allow you to evaluate whether or not you’ll actually be able to have meaningful conversation when you do meet. And you don’t even have to try hard to make yourself sound that exciting, because I guarantee if he’s in quarantine too, his life won’t be much more exciting than yours either.
- Sleep. You know that sleep you’ve been trying to catch up on for the past 84 years, but last-minute exam cramming, essay deadlines, late nights out, and restless kids got in the way? You have the liberty to actually sleep in a little now without having to worry about making pack lunches or rushing the kids to school or to the office before 9am. Since you might be spending more time in bed, I suggest picking up a Senescence Wellness silk pillowcase to make the most out of your beauty sleep and ensure that with increased rest you do not form increased wrinkles.
- Plan a trip. Seeing as most trips abroad are cancelled for the next few months, why don’t you begin mapping out a hypothetical holiday? Plan out your perfect getaway, where you would stay, places you’d visit. Write down all the details and once you are finally free to travel again, you already have an entire holiday plan set to revisit and arrange.
- Plan outfit ideas. So, you have a cute top, a nice pair of boots, a new jacket, but are not sure what to wear them with. Take inventory of your pieces and begin planning outfits for every occasion so you are not left last minute with nothing to wearthe next time you go out.
- Scrapbook. Most people have a digital library of snapshots they have taken but no physical printed copies of photos anymore. Start putting together a scrapbook either for yourself, or for a loved one with all your best memories.
- Movie night. Chill with the whole family and enjoy a quiet movie night amongst yourselves.
- Board and card games. Dust off your old board games, get out your deck of cards and interact with the family.
- Assemble a puzzle. Put together an intricate thousand-piece puzzle and once you’re done, frame it.
- Do laundry. We all dread laundry day but we all love the feeling of fresh sheets and towels. Prioritise laundry as part of your cleanliness routine.
- FaceTime. So we can’t meet our friends face to face. We can however FaceTime and hang out with one another virtually.
- Learn a new skill. Basket weaving, sculpturing, watercolour, calligraphy, wood carving, hip hop dancing, stand up comedy. You can learn a myriad of skills from the comfort of your own home.
- Online quizzes and questionnaires. The internet is rife with quizzes for anything you’d possibly want to know. There are tonnes of questionnaires that need to be completed online for research purposes too. Spend some time answering questions and helping new causes.
- Write reviews. I am sure you have a million products you’ve purchased online that retailers ask you for feedback on, but you never get around to posting your two cents. Spend a couple minutes to give your feedback on products for websites you use often. You never know how helpful they could be to others, and some brands even offer incentives in exchange for reviews.
- Arts and crafts. As a kid you loved playing with glitter and sequins and gluing things together to create artwork. There is no reason you can’t do this as an adult, or get your kids to take part in it with you.
- Build a fort. You can build a fort in your own backyard, or even inside your own living room. Have some fun and put together a cosy little nook where you can chill and read and forget the problems of the world.
- Dye your hair. Go ahead and dye or tint your own hair, if you don’t have access to your local salon. Even if it doesn’t come out to salon standards immediately, you have a little leigh way to allow the colour to take its own.
- Cut your kids’ hair. If it doesn’t come out perfect initially, at least you know you have a few weeks to grow it out.
- Video games. This is without a doubt the number one thing the men in our lives will be doing most during quarantine. Try joining in to see what all the fuss is about and if it really is as riveting as they claim.
- Karaoke. As long as you don’t drive your neighbours insane, there’s no harm in getting the family together for a little karaoke session, right?
- Compose a song. Some of the greatest ballads come from life’s toughest situations. If you have it in you, channel all your current emotions into song.
- Repurpose and remodel clothing. Take it into your own hands to give some of your old clothing pieces an overhaul. Turn your tee into a vest, crop your jeans.
- Indoor picnic. Set up a picnic blanket in the living room or on the terrace and have a picnic or barbecue.
- Teach your kids how to do basic house tasks. You’d be shocked at how many kids go away to college not knowing how to even do their own laundry. Keep your kids ahead by teaching them how to wash the dishes, do laundry, clean a bathroom, mop the floor, make a bed, cook a basic meal.
- Read the bible or a book of worship. If you are a believer, it is an opportune time to get closer to God. Read his works, keep a devotional journal, meditate on what you read. Memorise words of hope from bible passages. Turn to your faith to get you through the hardship.
- Have an impromptu dance party. Alone or with company, no one is judging you.
- Make a home movie. Whether you want to film your kids to send to relatives, or your pets, take a few cute clips and edit them into a little movie.
- Study. School might be out, but you might not want to let your grades go with it.
- Take online classes. There are little online classes for everything from nutrition, hormone balance, makeup to reiki healing to finance and budgeting to bullet journaling. Choose a few classes and learn something new. Some universities offer free online courses too.
- Create some home décor or art work. Whether it’s some pottery, an ornate plate, an ash tray, a vase. Create something to decorate your home with.
- Learn graphic design or photoshop. All you need is your computer and possible a little pad for sketching.
- Practice hairstyles. There is a gazillion hair tutorials to follow. Find and practice some new go-to hairstyles and mix up your look.
- Create some mood boards and inspiration boards in preparation for your next big event or project.
- Make your own oat and nut milks, or tea blends. While you have the extra time, why not try to make from scratch a few things you usually buy prepared? Try your hand at making some plant-based milks or herbal tea blends from scratch.
- Colouring books. Colouring is not just for children. Adult colouring books are therapeutic, help to self soothe, reduce stress and anxiety, and are a sort of creative meditation.
- Support local and small businesses. Where you can, try your best to show support for small businesses, as the upcoming months will prove a struggle for many. Whether it is local restaurants who are providing takeout, small online boutiques, local shops offering delivery of their products. You can still shop online or via telephone or made-to-order, and it is vital that we all do our part to support keeping our economy afloat.
- At home photobooth. Since you won’t be able to get some outdoors or exotic location shots for a while, set up your own at-home photobooth and get the whole family involved. Jazz up the background, bring in some props, and use it as a chance to laugh with one another.
- At home facial. Because inter facial touching is a no go at this moment, compile some of your products and give yourself an at-home facial. Steam your face with a warm cloth, exfoliate your skin, apply a mask, give yourself a facial massage.
- Do homework with your kids. A lot of parents are worried they won’t understand their child’s homework, particularly if they’re not a quantum mechanics aficionado. If you have young children however, their homework should be easy enough. Do a little research on what their curriculum requires, print out some online worksheets and keep their little brains ticking.
- Write personal letters or emails to loved ones. When was the last time you sent out a letter of appreciation to the close people in your life? Take some time to pen a few heartfelt letters to your loved ones, or compose a few emails telling them how grateful you are to have them in your life. They will treasure the gesture from you.
- Bond and have meaningful conversations with your loved ones. We are all so busy day to day we lack true connection and understanding of the people in our everyday lives. We might see them all the time yet know so little about what’s going on inside. Take advantage of this time to foster your connections with those closest to you in person and invite them in to your heart.
- Wash your makeup brushes. Take advantage of a pared back makeup routine by giving your skin a break from your daily full face of makeup. Use the opportunity to give all your makeup brushes and tools a thorough clean, disinfect your eyelash curlers and mascara wands, freshen up your grubby makeup bag.
- Virtual zoo and museum tours. There are plenty of museums, zoos and art galleries that now offer online virtual tours. Find a virtual tour you’re interested in anywhere in the world and avoid going out and exposing yourself to pathogens.
- Online hangout dinner party. If you can’t invite people over, just host a dinner with a group of friends via Zoom instead. You can also do quizzes, bingo, and play games with a group of people via online video.
- Livestream concerts. There are plenty of artists holding virtual concerts via social media.
- Sprout some seeds. If you don’t have a garden, there’s always the option of preparing your own broccoli sprouts and micro greens from home. Just purchase some seeds online and use a paper towel or a sprouter.
- Create Tik Tok videos. I have not yet immersed myself in the world of TikTok but it looks pretty fun and creative. I just created an account @shannonfeetham and want to start playing around with the app, creating videos on skincare/makeup, cooking, fitness and the like.
- Make your own protective face masks. Guidelines seem to be backtracking on their earlier advice to not use face masks, however there is currently a shortage. You can try making your own for the times you need to pop outside, using elastic bands and an old t-shirt. Be aware that these will not be completely protective like medical grade masks, but they are better than nothing. Remember to wash them often.
There are truly hundreds of ways you can use this time in quarantine. Boredom is only for those who lack the creativity to keep themselves occupied. Take this time as an opportunity rather than an inconvenience or burden. Exercising gratitude for the smallest things at this time can also be tremendously helpful.
I hope this post inspired you or at very least got your wheels turning to the many things you can do to keep yourself occupied during quarantine.
Stay safe and well, and as always,
Wishing you boundless love, endless light and life without limit,
Shannon xo
