As COVID-19 has been spreading rapidly around the world, it is becoming more and more important that people do their part in flattening the curve by staying inside. These past few weeks have felt like years, and I’m not quite sure how I’ve stayed semi-sane. Between living in close quarters with my entire family, to being banished from seeing friends or going to public places (for good measure, of course), to procrastinating my coursework until the very last second, it has been hard to manage a routine or keep myself busy in these trying times. I also recognize my privilege in being able to experiment with ways to keep myself healthy and occupied, rather than having to find a new job or a safe place to stay.
As we have all had to substitute our Saturday brunches at Uncommon Grounds for family walks around the cul-de-sac, and nights out with friends for hitting the “next episode” button on Netflix, it takes quite the effort to find a version of fun that has been lost in social isolation. But never fear, I am here to help. Below is a list of things to try at home when life in quarantine gets boring.
1. Try a New Exercise Routine
Since the local gyms are closed, it may be discouraging for many to try and create a new gym routine from the comfort of the couch, (especially when the couch is so close to the kitchen where the snacks are.) I decided to take up running to keep my mental and physical health in check. Now, you must know that under any other circumstances I would never run for pleasure. But surprisingly, I have taken a liking to this routine. It gets me outside for some fresh air and I can jam out to good music.
Pro-tip: in your desired streaming service, search a playlist with songs that are 180 beats per minute. I use “Fast Pop Run 180 BPM” on Spotify. These songs match the correct running cadence to keep you at a regularized pace, increasing stamina!
2. Become Tik Tok Famous
When I downloaded Tik Tok, back in October 2019, I vowed to never create my own. I was there to simply watch. Flashforward to 2 a.m in my childhood bedroom, having not left the house in four days, doing the renegade dance. Whether it be learning the dance trend of the day, or making funny content for the world to see, all I have to say is: Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!
3. Redecorate Your Childhood Bedroom
As I sat down for my first-ever Zoom class, I realized that my living space for the next however-many months no longer reflected the person who I have become today. Considering I was going to be spending my class time, free time and homework time within these four walls, they needed a little updating.
If your bedroom looks like mine — a shrine to the person you were five years ago — it’s worth the effort to change it up a bit. Dig out your dorm/apartment decor, rip down those old J-14 Magazine posters, order some $10 string lights from Amazon and BOOM! Your bedroom no longer looks like an homage to early 2000 celebrities. Trust me, you don’t need that poster of One Direction staring at you any longer.
4. Learn to Cook, or Learn New Recipes
I don’t know about you guys, but it seems like everyone on social media is making their own bread these days. I cannot scroll on Instagram without seeing fresh out of the oven focaccia, challah, and baguettes. Sadly, I don’t have any yeast in my house at the moment, so this is not a tried-and-true suggestion, but making your own bread could be a fun endeavor. Never made a meal in your life before? Now’s the time to start. Fully-fledged adulthood is right around the corner and you’re not going to be able to survive off of frozen chicken nuggets and cheese quesadillas forever. Google your favorite meal and get in the kitchen!
5. Zoom Party (with games!)
Zoom doesn’t just have to be for your classes. Though I know many of you associate those little boxes on the screen with boring lectures and awkward class discussions when half the class is muted and no one speaks, there’s more to Zoom than that. Gather a group of friends and hold a reunion. I bet it’s been a while since you all last got together (At least I hope so! Stay six feet away, please!).
My friends and I created fun games to play over Zoom. Last week, each one of us created a Kahoot with trivia about ourselves. Then, we took turns presenting our Kahoot via the screen share function and everyone participated using the program on their phone. This is a great way to test who is your ultimate best friend or to see who is really listening when you go on a rant about how the ends of the bread loaf are the best part (Don’t judge me).
Zoom is a great tool to keep in touch with others and I highly suggest it to keep lines of communication open with friends and family. Check up on them; quarantine is difficult for everyone.
I hope these tips and tricks help cure some of the boredom that may be plaguing your lives at the moment. Remember, quarantine is for the benefit of everyone. Stay inside, be smart and be safe.