Things You Can Do at Home to Pass the Time During the Pandemic
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I’ve got a small kiddo and let me tell you, trying to find things to do at home with him for the past week has been… challenging.
While I do run a photography website, I also recognize that we are all being affected by this pandemic right now. And frankly, I’m losing my mind a bit. I figured it would be obtuse of me to not mention it. Learn more about photography ideas at home on our website PhotographyTalk.com.
So, in an effort to use this incredible community I’ve built, I’m breaking out of my normal posts all about photography to bring you a list of activities for quarantine.
I hope they help to pass the time.
Keep a Routine
photo by Morsa Images via iStock
While this isn’t one of the most fun things to do at home to pass the time, it is important both for your mental health and sanity. I’m sure you’ve heard this on the news already, but there are some tips you can use to keep a routine during quarantine.
First, you should be waking up at the same time as you normally would. This may be difficult if you’re working from home for the first time, or if you aren’t working at all until your job resumes.
Thankfully, Amazon currently has a limited time deal on an alarm clock that wakes you up as if it were the sun.
It features 8 different colors and simulates a sunrise to naturally wake you up so you feel more rested and refreshed. Plus, it’s only $35 right now.
Also, you’ll want to continue exercising as usual, which may now be more difficult if your gym is closed. You can also check another post about photography at home.
While it’s best to get out of your house and workout in nature, if you’re confined to your home this may be impossible.
But, there are a ton of free videos online that will walk you through different body weight exercises.
And, if you need a little extra boost, you can purchase some resistance bands for under $11.
Finally, learn how to keep a calendar.
Learning how to bullet journal changed my life. Bullet journals help you to “track the past, organize the present and plan for the future,” according to the creator of the Bullet Journal.
Bullet journaling essentially helps you to be creative with your schedule, so it feels less like a chore and more like a craft. You keep track of your monthly and daily activities in a very minimal way with small symbols that tell you how important each activity is.
And since you’re looking for things to do at home, I wouldn’t dare send you to a store to pick one up. I use the Leuchtturm bullet journal, which is conveniently available on Amazon for $20.
Relax
photo by Beli_photos via iStock
In a world where we are constantly pressured to be productive, being forced to stay at home for weeks on end seems like torture.
Don’t feel like you need to take this time to complete as many tasks as usual. You don’t need to run a marathon on your porch, like this guy did in France.
This may be a good time for you to learn how to relax. I just purchased a beautiful cotton hammock to hang on my porch that’s getting a lot of use.
But, if you are the type of person that likes to relax through physical activities, maybe think about buying a candle that melts into a massage oil.
My favorite brand is aptly named, “Get Naked,” and is $25.
And, if you need some help getting your kiddos to sleep so you can use your new candle, the Douni sleep sound machine has been a godsend. My mother in law bought us one a few years ago and I love it because it features enough sounds to transition your kid through their childhood.
It has lullabies, but it also has basic white noise sounds and nature sounds, and unlike most white noise machines, it isn’t completely ugly.
Bring the Out of Doors to You
photo by AzmanL via iStock
I’ve never had much of a green thumb, and I don’t think now is a great time to try and learn.
However, you can buy succulents to put all over your home to bring color and life indoors without accidentally killing them because they barely need any attention at all.
There’s a starter kit of 5 succulents on Amazon for $15.
And, if you want the benefits of a pet without all of the responsibility, you can purchase moss balls.
These little moss balls typically live in the bottom of lakes, which means they are incredibly slow growing. You can add them to your aquarium or clear vases around your home to remind you of nature.
Or, if picking up cooking is one of your things to do at home during this pandemic, then you can grow an indoor herb garden.
Pick Up Baking
photo by filadendron via iStock
Baking, unlike cooking, is very precise, which means you can follow recipes to a tee and you’ll get delicious results.
Plus, baking is one of our things to do at home that is an incredible boredom buster for the whole family. I bought my kids a baking kit that comes with all of the essentials, in bright colors, for $20. It’s saved me on numerous occasions.
But, my kid especially enjoys including the whole family into the activities for quarantine (even the dog). You can also buy a DIY dog treat baking kit and really make a full day of it.
Have a Movie Night
Photo by Lucas Pezeta from Pexels
I’ve been trying to see how many Nicolas Cage movies I can make it through before I go insane, because when you’re looking for things to do at home, nothing says quarantine like a good (or bad) movie.
While you can host movies on your couch, make it an even more special night by buying a cheap projector and setting up on your lawn.
Pro tip: No movie night is ever complete without homemade popcorn made in a classic popcorn machine, and don’t forget the other snacks.
Play Board Games
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I think everyone collectively stopped playing board games when we realized Monopoly was tearing us all apart.
But, some board games, like Jenga, actually teach kids motor skills while being great activities for quarantine.
Other games, like Uno, will bring you back to your own childhood.
Or, if you have an especially creative little one, try building your own board game as a family.
Drink About It
Photo by Adam Jaime on Unsplash
I can’t be the only one occasionally wondering if 3 p.m. is too early for a drink nowadays.
Create a fancier cocktail hour from your own home by buying these three things:
With them, you can build thousands of different recipes. For an added touch, buy some mini clothespins to clip your garnish to your glass.
And, if you’re feeling particularly lazy, you can pick up Bartesian’s cocktail and margarita machine for an in-home drink at any time of the day (even 3 p.m.). After a few drinks from it, you’ll be wondering why you were looking at lists of things to do at home in the first place.
Build Ice Cream Sundaes
photo by GeisonSilva via iStock
Remember how our parents used to let us build our own ice cream sundaes when they were sick of finding things to do at home themselves?
All you need to build your own ice cream sundaes is a sturdy ice cream scoop,
a container for all of your condiments, and classic dessert cups.
If you’re feeling a special craving, I’ll use salted caramel coffee spoons in my ice cream sundae as well.
Picnic in Your Living Room
photo by Jelena990 via iStock
While having a picnic may not seem like one of the wisest things to do at home during a quarantine order, just changing up your routine a little bit can break the monotony.
Plus, all you need for a picnic is a modern picnic blanket (the kind you can use outside when this is all over because it’s waterproof), an insulated basket, and an aerator to quickly decant your wine.
Host a Spa Night
photo by Breakingpic
My favorite thing about creating a spa in your own home is just how cheap it is compared to the real day.
Pick up a rejuvenating dead sea mud mask, a himalayan salt scrub, an essential oil diffuser with an array of essential oils and it will even feel like you travelled during your total spa immersion.
Finish Training Your Dog
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We all say we’re going to get around to teaching our dog to lay down, or heel (shouldn’t sitting be enough?) and then never do.
But, with the right tasty treats and the right tools, like a life-saving anti chew spray and dog training clickers, your dog will be behaving brilliantly by the time all this blows over.
Buy 101 Dog Tricks, which is a New York Times bestseller by the way, and make sure your dog has things to do at home during the pandemic as well.
Finally Learn How to Meal Prep
photo by Ella Olsson
Your coworkers have been ranting and raving about their new diets since the beginning of the New Year, and while that parts pretty annoying, you know you should probably learn how to make lunches for yourself before you spend your entire paycheck at the food truck down the block.
Meal prepping may seem daunting at first, but it doesn’t need to be impossible. Get yourself some reusable meal prep containers, earth-friendly beeswax food wrap (in lieu of Ziploc baggies), and a stylish lunch box you won’t be embarrassed to haul around with you all day.
Now, you can sit down and learn about meal prepping from Remington James Fitness.
You can thank him later.
Read a Book
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Of all these things to do at home to pass the time, reading a book may be the most tried and true method.
If you’re into true crime, try reading Room by Emma Donoghue which is about a woman and her son who are abducted and kept in a tiny shed for years before breaking out.
If memoirs are more your style, the Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls follows a young girl’s childhood as her fugitive father moves her family all over America. The beautiful scenery, which ranges from the arid Arizona desert to the Appalachian mountains, will bring a little bit of adventure to your quarantine.
Or, catch up on your classic book game and read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury or Brave New World by Aldous Huxley for what it really feels like to live through the end of the world.
Surprise Your Family with a Water Balloon Attack
photo by Imgorthand via iStock
It’s finally starting to warm up in many parts of the world, which means when you run out of things to do at home, you can start a water balloon fight.
Buy some rapid-fill water balloons, to ensure your younger kids can get involved in the fun.
And, buy a set of water guns for you (or this crazy water balloon slingshot) because being an adult means being able to cheat.
Go on a Spring Cleaning Frenzy
Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels
While this isn’t one of the most fun things to do at home, it is necessary (especially if you have immunocompromised family members).
Just make sure to purchase a natural all-purpose cleaner since you’re going to be breathing in chemicals all day otherwise. Now is the perfect time to not only disinfect all of the surfaces in your home, but to do a deep dive into some cleaning you haven’t done in a while, like snaking your drains or dusting your fans.
And since you’ve already cleaned up your space for the year, you may as well pick up Marie Kondo’s book on organizing to stay tidy all year round.
Do a Family Portrait Photoshoot
photo by Nattakorn Maneerat via iStock
Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean you can’t continue practicing your photography projects. Try hosting a family portrait session.
All you’ll need is a basic backdrop, some fun photo booth props, and Photoshop if you don’t already have a subscription.
You can do some silly portraits for the benefit of your kids before getting your Christmas cards out of the way.
Stay In and Go Dancing
As you can see in this video by Viral Channel, people all over the world are taking to YouTube and showing off their mad dance skills in the oddest of places.
You can take this trend and turn it into one of your favorite things to do at home during quarantine.
You can take it old school and buy a record player, or finally pull the trigger and purchase a Spotify Premium account.
Then, set the mood with some mood lighting, put on your favorite record and dance to your heart’s content.
Just don’t forget to record the whole thing for your YouTube channel.
BBQ
Photo by Victoria Shes on Unsplash
Spring typically brings about all kinds of fun things, like BBQs and the first outings to parks and lakes. Unfortunately, none of these things are activities for quarantine. But, you can hold a BBQ in your own living room.
First, you’ll need an electric indoor grill and a grill thermometer.
Next, buy a grocery list and the bestseller “125 Best Indoor Grill Recipes,” from award-winning chef Ilana Simon.
Now, you’re ready to make the most incredible BBQ and all from the comfort of your home.
Create a Scrapbook
photo by fstop123 via iStock
If you’re wondering what to do when you’re bored during this quarantine and you’re a photographer, then the obvious answer is to take your photos and create a scrapbook for your family.
Amazon has all sorts of scrapbooking supplies, from self-adhesive photo albums (for those of us who are less inclined to DIY a scrapbook) to metallic pens, and from scrapbooking stickers to self-adhesive tape dots.
You’ll fill up your time and your home with memories.
Finally Start Jogging
photo by nd3000 via iStock
I know, I know. Jogging is the worst. But, it’s proven to increase your happiness, the length of your life, and your sex capabilities.
Plus, it’s easy to get started.
You’ll need a running belt to hold your phone, keys and wallet, a hands-free dog leash to bring your furry friend and a baby jogging stroller if you’re feeling extra ambitious.
Re-Decorate Your Home
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Chances are you’re going to be more likely to find things to do at home if you actually enjoy being in your home.
And, if you’ve been in your place for more than a few years, it could probably use some sprucing up.
While you may not have the money to purchase a new mattress outright, Amazon offers their world-class Nest mattress with 6-month financing for Amazon Store Card holders.
And, once you have a new mattress, you’ll need some throw blankets and pillows for an added pop of color.
You may also want to re-organize your kitchen, with clear storage containers to convince your family to make healthier choices or a wall mounted pot rack to free up some storage space.
Begin Gardening
Photo by Huy Phan from Pexels
Even if you don’t have a big yard, you can start a mini garden using this raised garden bed on wheels.
You’ll also need some Miracle Gro soil, different vegetable seeds, and a light that mimics sunlight if your garden is going to be on an apartment patio. The sunlight desk lamp can also double as an added dose of Vitamin D while you stay inside.
Learn How to Bake Bread
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When everyone is panicking and buying up all of the food in grocery stores, you may need to get creative with how you feed yourself. One of my favorite things to do at home is to create a more self-sustainable environment. So, I’m learning how to bake a loaf of bread.
You’ll need a bread pan, some yeast, a proofing basket, and a few hours.
It’s cheaper than buying bread in the store (when you can even find it there).
And there you have it! Lots and lots of home photography ideas to keep you busy at home, with lots of resources to help you do it!
