We don’t know when life will return to normal. ; Some of us could be looking at a few more months. For a lot of people, it could be years before things start settling back to what they’ve considered “normal”. Part of that normalcy is getting to go outside and socialize, which is a bare-minimum luxury not afforded to many given the lockdown restrictions in place.
The good news is, even if you’re stuck at home four months into the outbreak and starting to go stir crazy, there’s always something to do. Whether it’s learning how to replace the breaks in your Subaru or assembling the coffee table you ordered online, you’ll never run out of ways to kill time.
Here are some hobbies you have yet to try to stay busy during the outbreak:
Build an indoor garden
Even if you’ve never considered yourself a green thumb, one of the best ways to stay sane amidst uncertain times is to get into gardening. For one, it gives you something to look after other than yourself. The results, believe it or not, can be incredibly rewarding.
Find out which plant shops are open in your area. Reach out to know which type of indoor plants to get for your home. Since most households don’t have the backyard space for a full-blown garden, a nice indoor green sanctuary is the next best thing.
Create a Home Office
Now that you’re working from home more than usual, it’s time to make it official. Build a dedicated home office space now that commuting to work isn’t an option yet. You want a space that’s free of distractions and conducive to productivity. Once you’ve identified the design that best fits your own vision, get all the supplies you need from your local hardware store and start the handiwork. Remember the idea is to keep your hands busy, so resist asking for help as best you can.
Get Serious About Cooking
We know it’s tempting to stick to your routine and just order in, but instead, consider this: prepare every meal in your kitchen. It’s more time spent on something productive, and in the process, you’re learning a skill that’s going to come in handy in the future, regardless of the circumstances.
Solve Puzzles
One of the downsides to all this free time is not only are you at risk of staying physically sedentary, but also at being mentally inactive. One good way to put your brain to work is through puzzles. You’d be surprised at how a round of Sudoku or jigsaw keeps your mind stimulated.
Take an Online Class
Opening schools and holding a traditional class is not advisable right now. But thanks to the internet, classes of all levels and types are still available. Absorbing new information and exercising critical thinking are two great ways to stave off the effects of cabin fever. If you’ve been meaning to learn a new language or brush up on history, now’s the best time for it.
As of this writing, no one knows what’s going to happen in the next few months, or even years. The best that we can do is make the most of the cards we’ve been dealt and do things that enhance our quality of life. For all we know, this could take a while.