Don’t get bored…get busy! Below Diana Sanchez offers plenty of great ideas for how to make the best use of all this unexpected time at home. Enjoy!!!
By Diana Sanchez
1. Call/text/write a letter to your grandparents or other relatives– If you are able to communicate with them, then you should. Your grandparents are the ones who are taking the biggest hit, so if you can take time out of your not so busy schedule then spend some with them.
2. Facetime friends– We all miss our friends so why not set up a time that you all will meet on Facetime and just talk to each other.
3. Text everyone in your contact lists and start a conversation– Now that we have what seems to be unlimited time, you have time to connect with all the people on your contact list … and so do the people you’re texting.
4. Clean and reorganize your room, since that’s the place you spend the most time- Since we are staying at home, we most likely stay inside our own room, and that room needs to be clean and well arranged. So you should clean out your room and make it so that you’re comfortable in your own space.
5. Clean the device you use on the daily– You use your phone daily and it is the number one place that bacteria and germs can grow on. Clean your phone, computers, tablets, or anything that you touch daily.
6. If you have books that you haven’t read, then READ– Reading is important since you’re not going to spend all your time on electronics. Read books that interest you so that you’re not bored.
7. If you don’t have physical books, download Wattpad on your phone– Wattpad is an app and website that is for readers and writers. Wattpad is where you can write stories and/or read different genres. There is fanfiction, mystery, historical fiction, etc. and so many stories that you can read in each category. There is also a chance that your writing can get recognized. This app is free to download, but to access some of the most popular stories you might have to pay something.
8. Hulu, Netflix, Movie Classics (Netflix Party)– If you have Hulu, Netflix, or any other streaming app you should also watch some shows when you finish your school assignments. We all need relaxation while going through loads of school work. If you want to watch Netflix with your friends then you can use Netflix Party.
9. Explore new genres of music/movies– Try new genres of music and movies, since you have more free time. Once you get into new genres you will have more music to listen to and more movies to watch.
10. Make new playlists– Now that you have discovered and love a new genre of music it’s time to create a new playlist for yourself! You can create a playlist just for that new genre or you can add those songs to a playlist you already have.
11. Listen to podcasts– There are many podcasts on Spotify that you can listen to about different things. You can try out different podcasts and see which one suits you.
12. Do some exercise– Even though we are stuck inside, we still have to stay active in our homes.
13. Meditate/yoga– Yoga and mediation can help you loosen up a bit.
14. Learn new dances- Another form of being active if you don’t want to do something boring like exercise. Dancing is a creative form of being active.
15. Paint/draw– You can use this time to build up your skills in the arts. Learn/ practice your drawing and painting skills.
16. Color in an adult coloring book– If you don’t want to draw then color pictures in an adult coloring book.
17. Look through your clothes– We all have clothes that we don’t use, like, or don’t fit so we should take them out of our closet so we can make room for things that we like.
18. Bake/cook– See if you can follow a recipe on the back of a box, or help your parents cook something. Pick up some cooking habits… you may be able to cook yourself something nice.
19. Journal– Journaling is a good way to write out how you’re feeling and express yourself. You can write almost anything in a journal. It’s a space that you should feel comfortable writing in.
20. Clean your shoes– Even though we should be staying inside, the shoes that we use can be very dirty and those white shoes that we liked now have stains. So clean your shoes so that when we can go outside again your shoes will look nice.
21. Change or fix your handwriting– We know that some of our handwriting isn’t the best, so take this time to change or fix your handwriting. Come back to school with your new, neat handwriting.
22. Declutter your phone or computer– Delete any unnecessary photos/videos in your camera roll. That will clear up a lot of storage. Delete apps that you don’t use anymore. Especially since we are learning digitally, we need all the storage we can get.
23. Learn how to play a new instrument– Some of you may know how to play an instrument so keep practicing. But for those who don’t, then learn how to play an instrument. There are apps that can teach you and even though it’s not the same thing, later in life you can buy the real instrument.
24. Play with your pet because why not– If you have a pet play with them, spend some time with them. They just want some love.
25. Get some sleep but don’t sleep all day– You can take some time and catch up on the sleep that you have been missing, but you shouldn’t sleep all day long.
26. Create a video about your hobbies and post it on YouTube- Some of you may like editing and making videos. You can use those skills and create videos to entertain others.
27. Create a collage– Print out photos and create a collage about anything. Your dreams, goals, anything!
28. Puzzles/Games– Do board games with your family and be mad at them when they beat you.
29. Look through old photo albums– Look at your past or the past of your family members.
30. Create a new photo album– Now that you have seen the past, create a photo album about more recent events. You can do this on your phone, or do a physical album.
31. Write a letter to your future self and open it in 5 years– Write a letter to yourself about this event or anything that you want your future self to remember and open it in 2025.
32. Play games that you haven’t in awhile– Whether they are video games, table games, or games on your phone play something that you haven’t played in a while. You may end up getting memories from the last time you played them.
33. Create a to-do list– We all have our own priorities, and you can sort them out in a list.
34. Do something that you have been putting off– We all have something that we have been pushing away and have been avoiding to do, so you should take the time to do it.