It seems like overnight, everyone’s lives have been completely turned upside down. Public transport is suspended in some places, employees are encouraged to work from home, and classes are held through video chats. All of these measures are being carried out in correspondence to social distancing, which can help contain the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus.
With people encouraged to stay at home, those who are used to spending their lives outside may be at a loss for what to do. How are you going to spend 24 hours a day inside your home without going crazy or having your mind turned to mush? Instead of binging on mindless TV—though there’s nothing wrong with that!—why not use your time to do fun yet productive things?
Check out our list of quarantine-friendly activities to try below.
1. Go on a virtual museum tour
Thanks to technology and the internet, you don’t have to leave your home to see priceless pieces of art and history across the world. Dozens of museums offer virtual tours for free! Want to see the ceiling Michelangelo designed in the Sistine Chapel? How about original pieces by Picasso? Or maybe you want a tour of the Egyptian Antiquities exhibit? All of that is possible without leaving your couch in your South Carolina home.
2. Tackle your TBR
If you want to spend a few hours away from the real problems the world is facing right now, there’s no better escape than books. So gather the unread books from your shelf, pour yourself a glass of wine, and lose yourself between the pages of a book. It’s a perfect way to de-stress after a day of working from home or doing chores around the house.
3. Take online courses
Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn something new or you’ve already been thinking about switching careers before the lockdowns and quarantines started. Now’s the perfect opportunity to brush up on or learn new skills. Take cooking classes, learn how to code, apply for a real estate license in SC online—the possibilities are endless. And so long as you put your mind to it, you might come out of the shutdown a more skilled and valuable person.
4. Get fit
Sitting in front of your TV, laptop, or phone screen every day until the lockdown period is over is not good for your mental or physical health. Your metabolism slows down when you’re sedentary, which can make you gain unwanted weight, which can then affect your mental health. Fortunately, you can hit two birds with one stone by working out at home. Not only will you keep your body fit, but regular exercise will also boost your mental health.
Other things to consider? Organize your closets and cupboards. Declutter your desks. Put together a jigsaw puzzle. Try your hand at painting. Listen to podcasts.
With all the free time you have now, the opportunities to do things you don’t normally do are endless. Now is the time to take care of yourself, pick up a hobby, and practice social distancing productively.
