Five Ways to Stay Busy during Quarantine
Reported by Elizabeth Hoyt
Illustrated by Carla Cieza Espinoza
These strange, unprecedented times have left many of us with more free time than usual. Here are five ways to help keep you busy, happy, and productive while staying at home.
Cook and bake—with the professionals! Surely many of you have already started experimenting in the kitchen these past few weeks. Why not take it to the next level? Numerous famous chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Michael Symon, and Tyler Florence are sharing cooking lessons and special recipes through YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Be sure to look them up and get inspired to make some unique, amazing dishes.
Try a different streaming service—for free! Obviously, many of us have been spending some of our time catching up on our favorite movies and TV shows. But maybe it’s time to change it up. Most online streaming services are offering extended trials right now. Amazon Prime Video, Acorn TV, Hulu, Hallmark Movies NOW, and CBS All Access are each featuring a 30-day free trial. Quibi, a new streaming app designed specifically for your phone, is offering a 90-day free trial if you sign up by the end of April. If you’ve managed to run out of good shows on Netflix or whichever streaming service you’re used to, now is the perfect time to try out something new.
Be creative and do something artsy. Whether it’s drawing, painting, crafting, scrapbooking, hand lettering, or whatever else you enjoy doing, take this extra time to indulge your creative side. Try something you’ve never done before, or work on a skill that you’ve had to neglect because of a busy schedule. You might be surprised at what you can do and discover some hidden talent.
Read. You bookworms out there are probably already reading. Honestly, how many times have you wished for just a little time to curl up and read a good book without the stress of everyday life? Well, take advantage of this special time now since it likely (hopefully) won’t happen again anytime soon. If you’re not thrilled about reading or find it hard to concentrate, audiobooks are a great option. Try using Scribd, which features unlimited books, audiobooks, and magazines, and is currently offering a 30-day free trial for new subscribers.
Journal or write something—anything. Start that novel you’ve always wanted to write. Work on creating and maintaining a bullet journal. Get consistent with a regular journal. Give poetry a try-- why not? Not only is writing a creative way to express your thoughts and feelings, it is also a great time-filler that can make you feel fulfilled and accomplished.
These are only a handful of things you can do to make your stay-at-home time a little better and more bearable. Maybe you’ll find a hobby you enjoy enough to continue long after society returns to normal.