10 Fun Things You Can Do During Quarantine
The past week has looked a little bit like these photos... Minus the makeup and proper pants. My company went completely remote last Monday, and after over a week of self-isolating and abundant free time, I feel like I’m standing on solid ground again. It’s bizarre to have your whole world rocked, especially by something as outlandish as a global pandemic, and it’s made fresh to me how deeply blessed I am. I hope you’re feeling the same way, and if you’re not, please reach out! In the famous words of Troy Bolton, we’re all in this together.
Even though social-distancing is lonely, it’s also been very rewarding. I’ve committed to old hobbies, written almost every day and challenged myself creatively more than I have since college, but depending on what kind of person you are (or your enneagram type, lol) having all this free time might be the worst thing ever.
So here are some ways I’ve been filling my quarantine time, plus some suggestions from you via Insta (and real-life conversations):
Learn a language. One of my New Years’ resolutions was to brush up on my French. I’ve been using Duolingo to brush up on grammar and speaking, and listening to a few different podcasts like InnerFrench and News in Slow French.
Read a book or your Bible. Social distancing or not, reading books and my Bible is one of my main priorities. My recent reads include the book of Mark, The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, and the Lunar Chronicles. Clearly, I don’t have a type. Lol.
Get fit at home. Spending all day on the couch with your laptop is definitely not good for your health. Lucky for all of us, a lot of companies and fitness influencers are offering free and discounted online classes during quarantine.
If you’re not into workout classes, then head outside for a run or long walk! Just because the gym is shut down doesn’t mean the outside world is. In the words of Daisy Chaussee, “nature is NOT cancelled!”
Watch a movie. Turn your living room into the movie theatre of your dreams with cozy blankets, popcorn and a showing of your favorite film. If you’re super committed, you can even have a movie marathon!
Also, I’ve watched Little Women twice, and CAN I JUST SAY it is amazing and I think Louisa May Alcott would be SO proud.
Go for a drive and take a coin. Flip it at every intersection to decide which direction you want to go.
Heads: left
Tails: right
and if you drop it? Go straight!
Dream dream dream dream. When was the last time you had this much time to stop and examine your life? Take a hard look at the life you’re living—the ways you fill your free time, the people you spend time with, the job you’re working 40 hours a week—and ask yourself if it’s time to make a change.
Reinvent your style. I had to list this because I might spontaneously combust if I don’t talk about fashion at least once in a blog post. Take an afternoon and do a Marie Kondo-style closet cleanout. Once you’ve pared your closet down to the items you really like, you’ll be able to see what items you need. I talk about this process a lot in my steps to finding your personal style post.
Make good coffee, and support your local coffee shop at the same time. This may be the hardest time ever to own a small business, which means it’s the best time for us to take care of our community by supporting them through this.
Pick a prompt and journal. When I was little, I used to come up with storylines in my head and then spend hours hunched over my journal fleshing them out. My mom pulled out my old journals back in December, and I couldn’t believe how many half-baked stories and passages I’d written just for myself. Not for editors. Not on a deadline.
I want that feeling back—the one you get when you know you’re doing what you’re created to do—which is why now, at 22 years old, you can find me hunched over my journal fleshing out storylines again. Just for myself. For now, at least.
FaceTime your friends and family. My little sister and I have been face-timing or calling each other every day, which is funny because we’ve still seen each other in-person multiple times. If your family isn’t nearby or the quarantine rules limit your ability to spend time together, FaceTime is a great way to stay in contact.
Perfect a recipe. My sugary BFF Maddie is one of the best bakers ever, and she’s using quarantine time to perfect a new recipe! Maybe you’re not an amazing baker or chef, but you want to perfect just one recipe to fall back on for days when take out isn’t an option, this is totally the time!
How are you staying busy during quarantine? I’d love to hear how you’re filling your newfound free-time.
Emma
