Spending more time at home and not being able to see friends and family while simultaneously not being able to partake in your usual activities is still new and a drastic change of routine. While some of us may enjoy more time at home and peace and quiet, some us might feel trapped and bored. If you’re looking for something new to try, to boost your CV or find a new hobby, I’ve compiled a list of everything you can do to make your time in quarantine more enjoyable whether you’re itching for a challenge or to do something different.
Online Courses
Short, online courses are a great way to boost your skills on knowledge in specific areas that you might be less confident in or have forgotten such as using Excel spreadsheets, learning about social media strategy and google analytics or web development or if you want to learn something new entirely. Not only can this help you get up to speed for your current work or university projects, but they look great on your cv and may add to the steps you need to take in getting that new job you’ve been eyeing up. Checkout these sites for courses, some courses are free and others may cost:
- https://alison.com
- https://www.skillshare.com/classes/free
- https://www.lynda.com/
Crafts
Doing crafts is not only fun and expressive but also great way to keep your kids busy. Stuck for ideas? Check out Twitter hashtag #quarantinecrafts and use Pinterest to search for and pin all your favourite ideas to your board and sites like Hobby Craft and Etsy to find all of your materials. Colouring books and puzzle books are also fun and a good way to challenge your brain or relax.
- https://www.pinterest.co.uk/
- https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/
- https://www.etsy.com/uk/
- https://www.whsmith.co.uk/art-and-craft/colouring/colouring-books-for-adults-and-kids/aac00016/
DIY and Gardening
Never got round to putting up that book shelf? Garden looking dull lifeless? Now you’re spending more time at home, this is a great time to look around it and make a few changes if you want or need to. A home is your safe space, your place of comfort and personalised to you in terms of style, design and feel. Paint the bathroom bright orange if it makes you feel warm and calm, start growing your own produce and make use of that neglected greenhouse at the bottom, clear out the shed and turn it in to a workshop, these are just a few ideas!
- https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/house-garden/gardening/online-garden-centres-plant-nurseries-buy-coronavirus-lockdown-a9439276.html
- https://www.homebase.co.uk/
- https://britishgardencentres.com/woodthorpe-garden-centre/?v=79cba1185463&fbclid=IwAR1jFJEHQCpOwv8yemUqA_8EbA51zlP5SuQ6SqRuqRc6HXUkRRBpG0N2tPw
Media
Photographers, graphic designers, tattoo artists, drawers, videographers, filmmakers… while you may be low on commissions right now due to festivals, gigs and other events being cancelled and postponed, there are a few ways you can still work creatively.
Printing and designing merchandise, creating logos for websites that are in need of sprucing up, giving yourself a weekly subject theme to capture out on your walk ( leaves, trees, animals, self-portraits), improving your editing skills with using online tutorials, making short films around the home with your kids and acting out scenes, putting on a play for the family. Please support your creative friends at this time by buying their pieces, supporting their gofundme pages, sharing their work and supporting any side or future projects they may be working on.
Cleaning
There’s nothing like a deep clean to finally rid your home of the cobwebs behind your TV, tackling the inside of your washing machine, and dusting the top of your wardrobe. While it seems like the least fun, time consuming task, put some music on, think how great your home will look after and get someone to help you if you can.
- https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/mrs-hinch-explains-best-way-21754582
- https://www.care.com/c/stories/14975/deep-cleaning-house/
Music
Many musicians have been using the likes of Facebook and Twitch to live stream either their DJ sets, instrument tutorials, covers or stripped back versions of their own songs. This is a really fun way to still engage with your favourite artists from a distance while enjoying their performances in your living room. Keep an eye out on their social media accounts and mailing lists for more information to make sure you don’t miss out! You can also use video chat feature on Facebook or Skype or Zoom to play with your friends or record each part of your song separately and put it together to still produce music while you’re away from each other. Don’t forget to keep supporting your musical friends and all of their touring and stage crew at this time through their gofundme pages or any other way you can.
Cooking
Always wanted to try those recipes in your bookmark list? Try them all now. If you’re up to it, ( cooking every day can be quite draining for some of us as it involves lots of multitasking and following instructions) look at trying new dishes, improve your baking, get your kids involved to decorate cakes and teach them cooking and hygiene basics or maybe someone’s birthday is coming up and you want to leave them a cake on their doorstep.
- https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes
- https://tasty.co/topic/easy-dinner
Exercise
Many personal trainers and gym staff are posting work out videos daily and weekly to help you stay active during this time. Check out Pure Gym, Better and The Gym social media pages to see their timetables, some also have apps you can download. Also check out The Body Coach, not only does he show you workouts suitable for you but also P.E lessons for your children. Exercise releases endorphins, boosts your mood, and helps you to stay healthy.
Reading and Writing
Journalists, novelists, new writers, bloggers and anyone who enjoys reading generally , I’m looking at you! Reading not only teaches you new things and is a very therapeutic way to wind down, it also helps you improve your writing by expanding your vocabulary range and exposes you to different styles. Writing opens up a whole new way of getting your voice out there or a new story that’s been brewing in your mind for a while now. Journalists, if you are struggling with finding commissions at this time, search online for weekly/ monthly newsletters you can subscribe to, many of these include paid work for various publications and companies. Also check out the #journorequest hashtag on Twitter.
Gaming
Stating the obvious here but Animal Crossing on the Nintendo Switch has massively blown up. My newsfeed is littered with islands, friend codes and avatars and it’s great seeing so many excited by this release and enjoying themselves and connecting with their friends. Gaming can be a really social activity, on many PS and Xbox games you can play as a team online and speak to each other through a headset.
Hair and Make-Up
Hairstylists and make-up artists will have various channels to share product reviews, tutorials and new looks so make sure you support them by subscribing to and interacting with them, they will be able to help you keep your hair healthy, help you cut your own hair safely and effectively and give you some ideas for a new look if you fancy it. If your household are brave enough to let you near them with some dye, scissors and make-up, try it on them for fun (please make sure you are safe and know what you are doing first).
Quizzes
There are now lots of online quizzes done through a lives stream that you can join in with either by yourself, with your household or on video call with your friends. They’re great fun and there are new topics every week!
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLcSqjJWHJeDWD_SbdorBRw
These are just a few ideas of all of the things you can do from your home or part of your daily exercise. Have some fun with these, look after yourself and each other and see what ideas you can come up with. Remember to stay home as much as possible and protect key workers and loves ones.
