There’s no denying the destructive and disruptive nature of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, with millions of people dead and many millions more afflicted with the deadly virus. Businesses in many countries have also closed down shop, some temporarily while others are already for good. Additionally, people’s lives have changed overnight, with mental health issues and emotional problems among the common effects of the crisis.
Among the ways to combat the negative impacts of the COVID-19 situation on one’s mental and emotional state is by engaging in fun and productive activities with family and friends, but always with the necessary safety precautions. By keeping oneself busy and emotionally satisfied, keeping the ill effects of the pandemic can be achieved with ease.
Here are six fun pandemic activities that you should do soon:
Backyard or container gardening.
The pandemic has led to home gardens mushrooming from everywhere, almost in an overnight fashion. All over the world, homeowners turned to gardening as a therapeutic activity that also gives them food sustenance and makes their homes more appealing with a shower of greens.
You can start your home garden by working on a small portion of your backyard or if space is an issue, then turn to container gardening instead. Whichever way you decide to do it, this is one activity that will be good for your and your family’s mental health, even serving as a fun bonding activity.
Diorama creation.
If your family is big on creativity, one fun project that you should consider is diorama making. It can be a miniature landscape setting, a scale model of your neighborhood, or any environment that appeals to you and your kids.
You may opt for the usual materials such as paper, plastic, wood, and the like if you’re short on budget. But, if you have money to spare and you want to realistic and long-lasting diorama, then consider connecting with a reliable injection molding company. Such a manufacturer can produce your desired diorama components to exact specifications, so you can expect a truly jaw-dropping picture.
Home cook fest.
If your family loves to eat and cook, then what better way to turn your pandemic into something fun, productive, and tummy-filling through a home cook fest? You can form two teams and agree on a menu to cook, where you’ll pit your kitchen talents against each other to determine which team is better at cooking delicious food.
But, who will be the judges, you ask? Well, there’s always your neighbors or relatives close by. You can send them samples of your cooked food and let them decided which of the samples tastes superior.
Outdoor movie/binge-watching night.
Binge-watching on Netflix and TV shows is the top activity of people during COVID-19, particularly the months when there were lockdown orders. If your family loves your Netflix series and TV sitcoms, then why not set movie nights on your lawn?
For this, you’ll need a projector, white cloth, Bluetooth speakers, and a laptop or tablet that can be hooked to a projector. With popcorns in hand and the cool outdoor breeze, your family’s outdoor binge-watching experience should be fun for everyone.
Campout in your yard.
If you have a small lawn, an overnight camping experience would be a great activity to do during weekends when your family has no tasks to worry about. If you have an outdoor fire pit or fireplace, all you need is a tent, some sleeping bags and pillows, and then a pack of hotdogs and marshmallows and you’re good to go.
You can share stories, play campfire games, sing, dance, and just do whatever it is that you and your family love doing together. It would surely be a memorable time with your family, enough to lessen the worries brought by the crisis.
A cross-state road trip.
If travel restrictions have already been lifted in areas you wish to visit, then a cross-state road trip should be among your options. You can do it at least for one full week to fully enjoy the sights and sounds in local and national parks, as well places of cultural and historical significance in your planned destinations.
But, before you pack your bags and hit the road, be sure to plan things out very carefully to ensure a smooth and hassle-free trip. Make sure that your car is road-worthy and that you have the essential travel items with you such as IDs, medicines, travel money, and a first aid kit.
The ongoing crisis may have severe mental and emotional impacts on people, but those ill effects should not stop you from finding ways to have fun and meaningful experiences with your family. With these activities, you’ll find surviving this crisis easier with your family by your side.
