With everyone stuck at home and with kids out of school, it may be a challenge finding ways to fill the hours. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to stay busy and keep yourself from getting bored — all you have to do is look.
This week, we are highlighting five ways you can beat the blahs during this era of quarantine and social distancing.
Reading and Writing
Do you love to read? Now is the perfect opportunity to pick up those books on your shelf that you have intended to read but haven’t look at since you bought them. This could also be a great opportunity to read some of the classics. Try web resources like manybooks.net or use the public library’s digital resources to find your next great read.
Looking for something for the kids? Scholastic has educational resources that will keep kids engaged while they are out of school.
If reading isn’t your thing, this could be the perfect opportunity to try your hand at writing. Whether you are working on your first novel, a song, or you just want to journal your experiences, now is the time to get writing. Don’t know where to start? Writing prompts are a great exercise that will help the get the creative juices flowing.
Games
We all love to play games. Learn how to play card games (try this site to learn the rules) or classic games like cribbage or chess. Don’t have anyone to play with? You can always play online, either against real opponents or a computer.
This is also a great opportunity to sit down with the family and enjoy a board game. You can never go wrong with classics like Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit. (But maybe avoid playing a game of Pandemic.) As a bonus, you finally have time to sit down and actually learn the rules of each game!
Of course, there are lots of games like crosswords (one is even available on this very website), word searches, Sudoku, etc. There are lots of web resources available to help you learn the games and get playing.
Finally, there are video games. Whether you like to play games like Candy Crush on your mobile device or prefer modern games on consoles like the PlayStation or Xbox, there are lots of options out there. These days, you can download most directly to your console (for a fee, of course). Online gaming will help keep friends and family connected, even when you are far away. If you enjoy PC gaming, try Steam.com. Who knows? Maybe you will hone your skills enough that you will be able to join the emerging world of esports.
Binge Watch
Now that you have lots of time to sit on the couch, you can finally get caught up on your watch list. You can start watching modern hits you may have missed like Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones, or you can catch up on the latest season of Survivor. Perhaps you can finally sit down and watch some classic movies.
Want to stay connected with friends and family as you’re watching? There is an extension for the Google Chrome browser that lets you watch Netflix shows remotely with others.
These days, it can be tricky keeping track of what is available on which streaming platform, but you can always check online. Don’t forget — the Moose Jaw Public Library also has streaming services you can take advantage of.
If you don’t have some of these streaming services, you might want to dust off your old DVDs. And SaskTel Max customers get to enjoy a whole slate of free channels over the next few weeks.
There is lots of content out there, so get watching!
Get Organized
How many times have you said you’ll organize that junk drawer as soon as you “have the time”? Well, that time is now.
Use this opportunity to get your house in tip-top shape. You can get rid of the clutter! Go through your closet, clean out the basement or the garage, or go through any part of your house that needs to be tidied. You can go through your purse or wallet. Need inspiration? Look to Marie Kondo and determine what “sparks joy.” You might event try re-arranging your furniture.
After you organize, you can also do some spring cleaning. Clean out behind the refrigerator or wash your windows — this is the perfect time to get these unenviable tasks done. Just be sure that you move furniture safely and only use chemicals in a well-ventilated area.
Learn a New Skill
Want to learn how to knit? Have you been wanting to learn how to play that guitar you have sitting in the corner? Take this opportunity to learn a new skill!
Whether you want to learn an instrument or want to try a new craft, there are plenty of web resources available. YouTube has lots of tutorial videos you can try. You can even learn a new language through apps like Mango or Duolingo.
Whatever you choose to do while you sit at home, be sure to stay safe and keep in touch with loved ones. Stay home and help flatten the curve!
