Because of the coronavirus pandemic, most people are spending most of their time inside their homes, either alone or with their families. Whether you’re currently working from home, homeschooling your children, or taking college classes online, doing, more or less, the same things day after day can get quite boring and monotonous. Not to mention it can also mess with your head.
Fortunately, we’ve found some things you could do to mix up your quarantine routine and make the best of these hard times.
End your week with “formal Fridays”
According to Andrew Taylor, founder of Net Lawman, hosting “formal Fridays” is the best way to escape the quarantine routine. Spending most, if not all of your time, cooped up inside your home can turn you into an all-day pajama person. To avoid wearing pajamas all the time and, even worse, see it as something normal, he started the Friday ritual of getting dressed up.
It’s a “fun way” to make an effort with your appearance and the perfect excuse to try on an old tux or an elegant dress. So, suit up everyone!
Engage in friendly games with your family
If you’re quarantined with a group of people, consider yourself lucky. Kenny Trinh, managing editor of Netbooknews, says he’s started to engage in friendly competitions with his family to play the time away.
“We had an art competition yesterday and my youngest daughter beat all of us with her almost lifelike portrait of a tiger,” Trinh says. “I personally believe this is one of the best things you can do while quarantined—you get to spend quality time with your family, and you get to do semi-productive things as well.” If you’re self-isolating away from your partner, check out 10 Tips for Long-Distance Couples in Quarantine.
Try new recipes
Eating the same things over and over again can be a source of comfort, but it can also make you feel like you’re reliving the same day. Does Bill Murray in Groundhog Day sound familiar?
“One of the ways you can get stuck in a rut is by eating the same meal day after day, or the same snacks week after week,” says Nicole Starbuck, spiritual mentor and life coach. “Try something new, like that recipe you’ve been eyeing on Pinterest and make an adventure out of it.” To avoid wasting your money on unnecessary things, Here’s What to Buy and Skip During Coronavirus Pandemic.
Give gardening a try
If you are lucky enough to have a yard outside your home, it doesn’t even have to be a big space, there’s no better time to give gardening a go. You can still go to many home stores, like Home Depot, or purchase tools from Amazon, says Katie Ziskind, LMFT, owner of Wisdom Within Counseling.
“Gardening can help balance your mental health because you can watch your tulips, fruit trees, and beautiful flowers grow year after year,” she says. “This is a great time of year to plant perennials that can remind you how far you’ve come when they bloom next year at this time.” For more ways to cope with quarantine and successfully get through it, check out 8 Expert-Recommended Strategies to Cope with Coronavirus Anxiety.
Take virtual classes
We are not talking about the online classes you are already taking for school. We’re referring to classes on the subjects that you feel passionate about and bring you joy or relaxation. To spice things up, you can take different classes every day or every week, says Risa Williams, LMFT, a psychotherapist and online life coach.
“There are so many right now to pick from—things like free dance classes, virtual paint lessons, and even free guitar lessons,” she says. “This helps break up the time and it gives you something to look forward to every week. Lots of people are also hosting virtual happy hours, virtual movie nights.” For more things people can do during quarantine, check out the 13 Creative Ways Seniors Can Stay Connected While Social Distancing.
Go on a virtual scavenger hunt
If you’re staying in touch with your friends and family online, playing a game, like a virtual scavenger, from time to time is a fun way to get everyone involved, says Kelenne Tuitt, a board-certified family medicine physician.
“[Make it] so you have to find certain items online, outside, and in your home,” she recommends. “It can be in a riddle format, and you have to time stamp your photos or do a video of you with the item. Whoever collects all the items first wins a dinner date on the group that will be honored once the COVID-19 pandemic resolves.”
Dance like nobody’s watching
Choose your favorite tunes and host an online dance party with your friends. You could also join one of the many online group dances that have popped up. If you want to enjoy a club atmosphere, check out Club Quarantine, a virtual club founded by a group of Canadians. Since it first popped up in the virtual arena, it attracted thousands of virtual party-goers, eager to dance the night away, including some celebrities.
