16 Things to Do While Stuck at Home During Coronavirus

Most countries are closing their borders, canceling flights, and stopping travel altogether. To top it off, the US declared a nationwide state of emergency, while other countries are enforcing lockdowns/shutdowns, if they haven’t already. Although this may be inconvenient, we can all agree that it’s absolutely necessary to save lives. Now that most of us are staying-at-home or sheltering-in-place, the question is, a lot of people don’t know how to deal with all the excess time they suddenly have on their hands. How do you not end up with severe cabin fever after endless hours of being indoors? Here are our suggestions for things to do at home during the coronavirus outbreak. Even if your city is not shut down, you can, and probably should follow these things to do during social distancing.

Fun things to do when you are stuck at home

1.    Read some books

You know all those books you’ve always been wanting to read but never got around to reading? Raid your bookshelf to revisit some of your favorite books, or dust off your Kindle and buy some great eBooks. You could also reach out to your nearest bookstore to check how they are handling the crisis. Who knows, they might drop off some of the latest bestsellers at your home.

2.    Binge-watch TV shows

There’s never been a better time for binge-watching! You’ve probably been hearing all the buzz about a particular series but never found the time to watch it. Well, now you have the time to watch all of them. Take your pick from The Witcher, Stranger Things, Mindhunter, Money Heist, Narcos, or Kingdom. You can also revisit some all-time favorites like Mad Men, Grey’s Anatomy, The Big Bang Theory, Friends, or Game of Thrones (it’s ok, you can skip Season 8 if you want to!). Now that you’re firmly ensconced on your couch, we recommend trying out some of the Nordic Noir series like Bordertown, Trapped, or Deadwind.

3.    Cook up a storm in your kitchen

This one was easy to come up with– cooking is fun and something you can do on your own, or with whoever that’s home with you. Rustle up some old family favorites, or try out a recipe you’ve never tried before. Try your hand at baking – this is something you can do even if you’re working from home. Pop your dish in the oven, and it will pretty much take care of itself while you do your work. You could also just make comfort food like chicken soup (good for the body and soul!), chili, or mac and cheese. This could also be a good opportunity to make some meals (casseroles, broths, stews, lasagna) that can be frozen and eaten later on in the week.

4.    Unleash your inner bartender

This one can be real fun! Who says you’ve got to go out to clubs, or pubs, to enjoy all those fancy drinks? Experiment with what you have at home – simple ingredients like lemons, mint, and even tomato juice can be used to make truly awesome cocktails. So, go ahead and conjure up a Daquiri, Margarita, Mojito, or a Manhattan, and enjoy it yourself or with whoever you’re cooped up with! A word to the wise, moderation is highly recommended – this is not a time when you want to be waking up with a dry throat and a pounding headache!

5.    Workout at home

You don’t need to give up on our workouts just because your gym has been shut down. There are plenty of workouts you can do at home. You can focus on core exercises, simple aerobics, or try some yoga. You could also consider downloading a fitness app on your phone to help you stick to a proper schedule.

6.    Take a virtual class

Learning is the best way to exercise your mind! Luckily, education is still available, thanks to the internet. Use this time to sign up for any of the classes that you’ve been putting off. It could be a diploma that will help you in your current job, a certification that gives you an edge, or a degree that will help you make a lateral career move. Learning a new language might be fun too! Most local colleges now offer their courses online. You could also register on an online platform that’s specifically for learning like Udemy or Coursera.

7.    Go Marie Kondo on your home

You can finally put all those Marie Kondo tips and ideas to good use.  Declutter your home, identify all those that ‘don’t spark joy’ anymore and get rid of them. You can decide later whether you want to sell them or just give them away. Clean out and organize your closet, cupboards, and drawers. Wipe down screens, windows, and doors. Do a deep and thorough cleaning of your kitchen, including the refrigerator and all your appliances. If you’re done with cleaning, and you still have some energy, you could even redecorate!

8.    Clean up digital clutter

Now that you’ve decluttered your surroundings, maybe it’s time to declutter your phone and laptop, as well. Get rid of all those unnecessary files that take up space and slow down your computer or phone. Delete all the photos that did not come out well, and of the unwanted pictures, others sent you. The last step is to uninstall those rarely used apps, and ta-da! Your digital cleanse is now complete!

9.    Flex those writing muscles

If there ever was a time to put your thoughts down on paper (or even the writing app on your phone), this is it. Try your hand at writing a short story. You can base your characters on people you’ve met and interacted with. Maybe you can try writing a poem, or a song even. Just scribble down your thoughts in a journal and who knows, your grandkids may find it years later, learn how humankind overcame a crisis, all from your POV! Start a blog – share your writing with like-minded people, or friends and family.

10. Talk to your friends and family

Face-time them, skype them, or just do a good old-fashioned voice call. Keep in touch with all your loved ones. Just hearing your voice is probably all that they need to perk them up. It’s also a good idea to reach out to all those people whom you haven’t kept in touch with. Check if they’re still on your contact list and surprise them with a call. Everyone needs some cheering up and support.

11. Do all those DIY things

This is where all those YouTube tutorials come into play! Search through the billions of DIY videos to find something that catches your fancy. It can be as simple as making a candle to as cool as building a bookshelf with a hidden door! Make a homemade slime, or your own lightsaber (combat-ready, we kid you not!). Not all DIYs are wacky, though. You can find useful ones that’ll help you fix things around the house – from a loose doorknob or a window that gets stuck to cracked drywall.

12. Try your hand at some games

We didn’t really have to tell you this now, did we? You’re probably doing this, or if you have teenagers, you’re wondering how to get them to stop! Here’s the thing, though – not all games need to be played on a screen. Break out those old monopoly sets and Uno cards (remember when they were all the craze?). Encourage your family to play board games like Sorry!, Ludo, or chess.

13. Pick up a new hobby

Now is just the perfect time to pick up a new hobby! Hobbies are a great way to keep your mind active while you’re stuck at home. All hobbies, be it knitting, photography, or even Haiku, essentially require you to pick up new skills. Picking up and learning a new hobby will help keep your mind super sharp. Also, it’s a pretty great way to destress, which is something we could all use right now!

14. Immerse yourself in music therapy

You’ve watched all those videos of people from Italy and Spain singing and playing instruments on their balconies. Music is the universal soothing balm that cuts across ages, cultures, and countries. So, listen to all your favorite music, check out some new bands, or support local musicians (their livelihood is under threat) by downloading their music. Create feel-good playlists and share them with your loved ones. There’s nothing quite like music therapy to destress during trying times.

15. Indulge in some self-care

You now have more time for some much-needed self-care. Fill up that tub, light some candles (that you made with the help of that YouTube DIY), switch on some music (you know how we told you to make some playlists?), slather on a face mask, and soak till all your muscles are relaxed. Sounds divine, right?

16. Take really long naps

It’s not easy to get in the recommended 8 hours of sleep with your usual hectic schedule. Here’s where you fix that – catch up on your sleep. You’re no longer out and about town, so go to sleep early, or take some power naps when you feel like it. This is your best chance to give your body the much-needed immunity boost it needs by getting plenty of sleep.

Be safe from coronavirus when you are home or outside

If you’re home alone and feel unwell, check if you have any of the COVID-19 symptoms – Fever, Cough, or Shortness of breath. If you do, reach out for help. Do not try to self-medicate or alleviate your symptoms with home remedies.

If you need to go out, do remember to follow basic precautions like keeping a distance, hand washing, and not touching your face. If you’re driving, we recommend booking your parking spot in garages and lots that let you scan in and out with minimal contact.  Way offers this facility at some of our selected lots in SF, NYC, and LA.

Learn more about the WayPass, available in SF, NYC, and LA.

Do you have any additional ideas or tips for things to do at home during coronavirus? Let us know in the comments below!

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