Quarantined at home? We’ve got 30 ideas to help you pass the time
You’re probably about to spend a lot of time at home.
As the novel coronavirus continues to spread, national and local officials have called for people to stay in and practice social distancing. Movie theaters have closed, concerts and stage shows have been canceled or postponed, and most restaurants and bars have shut down or moved to takeout/delivery only.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a good time when you’re stuck at home. We’ve put together a list of ideas to help you get through a lengthy quarantine, whether you’re living alone, with a significant other or with kids. And most of these ideas are universal — even if you’re living alone, FaceTime, Skype and even just plain old phone calls can help you stay connected with family and friends.
1. DIY
Buy a book on DIY and start on anything that needs fixing around your house, make your own clothes or give your friends self-made presents. You’ll learn a new skill while improving your home! Check out these easy DIY jobs for a good way to get started.
2. Write A Themed List, And Work Through It
Make a list of things you want to do or see. It could be anything from films you want to watch to local places you want to visit. Try to work through your list in a month (obviously visiting the places is for after the virus)!
3. Watch Online Documentaries
You can find lots of free documentaries on the websites of TV channels, or even on Youtube, covering hundreds of subjects, such as history or the ocean. You could also finally watch your favorite actor’s,author’s or musician’s biography.
4. Learn New Things
Educating yourself doesn’t have to be boring. What are you passionate about? It could be science, the oceans, or even horror films. Google your interests and become as knowledgeable as you can about your passions.
5. Gardening
Gardening (both indoor and outdoor) can be fulfilling and therapeutic, as well as entertaining. Buy a few (online) cheap packets of seeds, and see what you can grow! You can also find lots of tips on gardening online.
6. Go indoor Camping
Try going indoor camping with your friends during the weekend. All you need is a tent, some snacks, and drinks. If you don’t live in a large villa your kitchen! You will be surprised by how much fun it is!
7. Play Board Games
Set aside an evening to play board games with your friends or family. This fun hobby is a low-cost way to spend time with your loved ones, as you only need to buy a secondhand boardgame – or it is free, if you already have some laying around!
8. Discover New Music
Look for new music on music websites or Youtube or Spotify by searching for your NEW genre and then give it a chance. You could find a band you love!
9. Scrapbook Important Events
Scrapbooking is an awesome way to help you remember all the best parts of your life. You could make a scrapbook about a friendship, a holiday, or even your school years. Supplies are cheap and you can find free printable ideas on Pinterest.
10. Start Knitting
Knitting makes you happier. This low-cost, handy hobby can help pass the time – and you could even knit people birthday presents! You’ll never be bored on a Emirates flight again, if you always have your knitting supplies at hand.
11. Learn How To Cook
Cooking is a useful life skill as well as a fun way to spend your time. Invest in cheap ingredients and learn how to cook all of your favorite meals. Don’t be afraid to experiment. You can find free cooking course on YouTube and similar websites.
12. Try Drawing
Drawing is a really enjoyable way of expressing yourself. There are lots of different ways to draw, from painting to sketching to doodling, so choose one you are comfortable with and give it a go!
13. Yoga
Use videos on Youtube to master some yoga positions. It’s low-cost, and good for your mind and body! You can also find lots of useful tips for yoga beginners online. Yoga is a very rewarding sport that can easily be practised at home.
14. Writing
Writing is one of the cheapest ways to have fun. From blogging to trying your hand on a book, there are lots of different ways to enjoy writing. All you need is a pencil and paper to get started.
15. Play Cards
Invite some friends over, and get a pack of cards. There are hundreds of different games you can play with cards, and a pack is fairly cheap.
16. Learn To Dance
This low-cost hobby is great for your body and an enjoyable pastime. Use Youtube videos and tutorials to teach yourself new dance moves, such as this video teaching you basis steps for beginners.
17. Reading
Reading is a great way to exercise your mind. You can choose to lose yourself in a fictional world, learn more about your own world, or read the autobiography of someone you admire. If you decide to pick reading up as a low-cost hobby, consider getting a library card for your local library. They will have a huge selection of books and best of all – it’s free!
18. Teach Yourself A Language
You can use lots of free resources online to help you learn another language. Try downloading some podcasts and listening to them during the evening – you could be speaking another language in no time! You can also find advice and tips online.
19. Learn Magic
Find a book or an online tutorial on magic, and teach yourself a few tricks to show to your friends and family. The suprised faces of your friends, when you make things disappear and reappear, will be the best reward.
20. Play Free Games
There are many websites online where you can play popular games for free, against yourself or another player. You will soon find out how much fun it is to create your own character, go on adventures and fight your opponents.
21. Learn Origami
Origami is a beautiful art, and this low-cost hobby can help you produce beautiful decorations for your home. I know, it looks like it’s super difficult, but I promise you it’s actually quite easy if you know the tricks.
22. Surf The Web
It is very likely that you already surf the web as a hobby, but there are always new and exciting things to do online. Consider watching videos on YouTube, reading stories on Reddit, or finding a forum about something you are passionate about, from a computer game to running. Fun sites include Reddit and StumbleUpon.
23. Write A Song
If you are creative, try your hand at writing a song. You could really enjoy yourself, or discover that you have written something you love. If you know how to play an instrument, you can be your own band.
24. Try To Beat A World Record
If you have any interesting or weird skills, check online to see if other people have done them – and how well they did. Then try to beat the record yourself!
25. Play Sudoku
Sudoku books are reasonably cheap, and will fill many hours of your time. This fun low-cost hobby is also a great way to sharpen your mind.
26. Practice Meditation
If you have patience, try practicing meditation to help find inner peace. There is nothing more rewarding than letting go of all your stress. Check out free tutorials to make sure you’re doing it right.
27. Start a blog
A blog is a great way to express yourself and find like-minded people. Try WordPress – it is completely free and hosts thousands of blogs.
28. Listen To Podcasts
There are funny podcasts, educational podcasts, podcasts with celebrities – you get the idea. Whatever you’re interested in, it is very likely there are podcasts about it. Search online and see if there are any that grab your attention.
29. Photography
If you love taking pictures wherever you go, consider making a hobby out of it. There are free photography tutorials and applications online similar to Photoshop, available to anyone. You don’t need an expensive camera, you can also take good pictures with your phone.
30. Whittling
Try whittling if you want to learn a useful skill that only requires a stick and a knife. It’s creative and easy to learn with some helpful tutorials.
31. Build A Kite
If the weather is appropriate, kite-building can be a fun and rewarding hobby to pick up, and you can find many useful websites online to help you.
32. Learn Computer Programming
You can learn how to computer programme for free thanks to websites and downloadable tool online. Start learning this handy skill with Youtube tutorials. This will not only offer you better job oppurtunities but is also a fun activity in your freetime.
