30 Things to Do When You’re Stuck at Home

You know we’re in a confusing time when one of the most heroic acts you can do is self-quarantine inside your own home. But the fact is, during the current Coronavirus outbreak, remaining indoors is doing a world of good for the world itself. This small act of heroism, however, doesn’t come without its fair share of challenges: namely, boredom. For that reason, we’re providing a list of 30 things to do when you’re stuck at home. Here’s to flattening that curve!

1. Make the most of FaceTime, Skype, Marco Polo, or Zoom to keep in touch with your family and friends, both near and far.

2. Create a list of things for which you’re grateful. Add something new to it every day. Read it when you’re feeling anxious or weighed down.

3. Own an instrument that’s collecting dust? Pick it up and play it. Never really learned how to play it? Use YouTube videos to teach yourself or simply brush up on your skills.

4. Buy a gift card (or two) from your favorite local businesses. Help them now. Use your gift cards later.

5. Start journaling or start a blog.

6. Get a jumpstart on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Order something online for your dad. Create a homemade gift for your mom.

7. What are some movies that people can’t believe you haven’t seen? Star Wars? Lord of the Rings? Check some of those off your list.

8. What are some books that people can’t believe you’ve never read? Maybe it’s time to tackle a few of those as well.

9. Learn another language. Download Duolingo or Rosetta Stone, then start planning out your future trip to that foreign country.

10. Pray. These are hard times and prayer is a way to quiet your heart and rest in a higher power. Also consider some of these other Biblical suggestions.

11. Find some online workout videos or download an app. Don’t have weights at home? Improvise and use some cans from the pantry. Don’t have a treadmill? Do jumping jacks or order a jump rope and do cardio your own way.

12. Paint or do some other kind of art.

13. Write notes. Maybe it’s a thank you note for someone’s kind gesture. Maybe it’s just a note to tell someone you’re grateful to have them in your life. Not only will the recipient enjoy it, but writing it will cause you to focus on the people you’re thankful for.

14. Play board games. Maybe now is the time to actually finish a game of Monopoly or Scrabble.

15. Consider donating to local food banks or other charitable organizations that could use some extra help right now.

16. Organize the dark corners of your home. Maybe it’s your pantry, a junk drawer, or that cabinet with all of your Tupperware.

17. Purge your closet. If you haven’t worn something in the last 6 months, it’s probably time to let it go. Bag up some of your clothes and commit to selling them later down the road. Or even better, take them to Goodwill or donate them to someone in need later this year.

18. Get to know your roommate or significant other better. Need topic ideas? Google some conversation starters. Or consider buying something to get the conversation started.

19. Become a self-proclaimed chef. Find some new recipes online and get to work. Bonus points if you use ingredients that are already in your pantry!

20. Watch some of those Oscar-winning movies that you had never heard of.

21. Set goals for the rest of the year. For five years out. For ten years out. Write them down for extra accountability and if you’re feeling extra ambitious, start identifying the steps you’ll need to take in order to accomplish those goals.

22. Build a tent and have a family movie night complete with popcorn or whatever snacks you have in stock. When the credits are rolling, use it as a time to discuss everyone’s favorite (and least favorite) parts of the movie.

23. Deep clean your bathroom. Use an old toothbrush to scrub those areas you always notice, but don’t have the time to get to.

24. Rearrange your dresser drawers. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find “sole” mates for all of those single socks.

25. Honor Tom Hanks by watching all of his movies in chronological order.

26. Teach your old (or young) dog some new tricks.

27. Make freezer meals. Not only for yourself, but for others in need. Consider dropping them off to a neighbor who is elderly or more at risk than you are.

28. Borrow an e-book or an audio book from your local library. Columbia’s Daniel Boone Regional Library has a convenient app where library cardholders can do so for free.

29. Decompress with some music. Maybe it’s time to discover some new tunes you’ve never heard. Or maybe you can reminisce with some oldies-but-goodies. Take a look at a couple of playlists we’ve put together for some inspiration.

30. Rearrange your living room or bedroom. Want to spice things up with new furniture? Order some from IKEA. You may or may not finish putting it together before this quarantine is over.

Looking for more ways to pass the time? Check out our website, complete with blog posts, podcasts, and more resources, to help bring you peace and comfort.