Are you going stir-crazy with cabin fever? There’s no need to spend hours mindlessly scrolling social media, or worse, hitting the bottle. Look at this COVID-19 pandemic as the ideal opportunity to explore those interests and hobbies you never have time to get to during more stable times. Here are nine ideas to get you started.
Words: Kate Harveston
Image: christian koch on Unsplash
1. Start Learning a Foreign Language
Have you always wanted to learn Japanese? Maybe you want to plan a trip south-of-the-border once the quarantine lifts, and you hope to haggle in the native tongue? Why not use this time to brush up on your language skills or tackle a new tongue altogether? Some apps, such as Mondly and Duolingo, allow you to learn various languages for a low price. Others offer placement tests so that you don’t have to repeat the basics you learned in high school French.
2. Catch Up on Your Reading
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Has that novel you meant to read gathered dust on your bedside table? Perhaps you have a list of self-help books you planned to dig into someday. Why not pull the hammock out on your porch or balcony and lose yourself in your reading for an entire afternoon?
3. Putter in the Garden
Depending on your climate, it will probably be time to plant soon. Why not use this time to prep your beds for planting and start some seedlings indoors? You can save the seeds from produce like peppers and tomatoes to create a sustainable supply of vegetables for your family.
4. Perform Minor Home Repairs
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Do you catch a draft when you sit by a window? Why not get out the caulk and stop throwing money away on utilities? You can also replace the weatherstripping around your entry doors. Make some minor home improvements, too. Give your kitchen a sophisticated look by adding new hardware to cabinets and installing stick-on LED lights to illuminate cookbooks, for example.
5. Learn How to Knit
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Your hobbies can do much to stave off boredom, and knitting is a relaxing, quiet activity you can do while taking some time off from your family. Did one of your friends or relatives recently have a baby? Why not knit them a homemade cap and booties? You can also start on your holiday gift list early — everyone loves a cozy throw.
6. Clean Out Your Closets
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Have you gotten in the habit of stuffing new items in your closet to the point that you don’t even know how much you own? Use this time to clean them! While you can’t host a yard sale at the moment, you can save cast-offs in your garage to donate or sell later. If you can sew, you can use the fabric from old garments to make face masks to help during the pandemic.
7. Play “Chopped” in Your Kitchen
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Depending on your financial situation, you might need to make a little food go a long way. Take inspiration from the Food Network show “Chopped,” and challenge yourself to create new dishes from everyday ingredients. For example, you can make a simple egg drop ramen with a package of the college staple, some soy sauce and a single egg.
8. Start a New Fitness Routine
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Have you wanted to start a yoga practice forever? You can find a ton of free channels on YouTube to get you going, so subscribe and get stretchy! Planet Fitness is also doing its part to keep people fit during the lockdown. They stream a free workout for anyone on Facebook Live, and you can catch the reruns on YouTube, too.
9. Improve Your Musical Skills
Maybe your guitar currently serves as a prop in your office and not much else. Why not use this time to learn how to play more beautifully? If you don’t have an instrument, you can order an inexpensive type — like a recorder — and find free online tutorials to build mastery.
Keep Busy and Healthy at Home During Lockdown
It’s critical to keep yourself busy during lockdown to protect your mental health. Use these ideas to explore those interests you formerly lacked time to enjoy.