As the coronavirus pandemic continues for its nth month, you may be starting to feel more listless and uneasy. The new normal has inevitably taken its toll on everybody in numerous ways, and a lot of people could be starting to wonder if they were able to use their quarantine time well. Even though restrictions have eased up in many areas, it is still suggested to stay home as much as possible. So, if you’re wondering what to do in your humble abode, try out these suggestions.
Try making new dishes.
Cooking can be an engaging yet calming activity to spend time on, and in the end, you can find yourself with a finished product that you can feast on to reward yourself. There are so many online resources now that can guide you to try out new and healthy options, from food blogs to tutorial videos. Here, you can find various recipes that intrigue you. You can either learn to make your favorite dish from that restaurant or expand your palate with untried meals.
Find a meditative practice that speaks to you.
A lot is going on during these trying times, and it can get overwhelming. A great way to keep your mental health in check is to find something you find meditative, whether that’s taking a few minutes to meditate, doing yoga, or gardening. Gardening can be a relaxing practice that also ends up beautifying your environment to make it more conducive for peace.
Learn a new skill.
Don’t be daunted by the oft-referenced “10,000 hours” for skills, as that only pertains to mastery. There’s no time like the present to try something new and hone a skill you want to learn. Studies suggest that it only takes 20 hours to learn a new skill enough for your own purposes. With all these hours at your disposal, it’s the perfect time to begin no matter what interests you.
Set up digital parties.
Social isolation has a lot of detrimental effects on both your body and mind. On top of the loneliness and depression it can bring, studies are showing that extended isolation can have the same health risks as smoking a lot of cigarettes every day. A great way to combat this is by making use of technology to connect to your friends and family. Set up a video call and chat with the people you care about or even try out some games you can play from the web.
Get back to your hobbies.
If you ever felt like life got in the way of you pursuing your hobbies, now is the time to get back into them. Whether it’s drawing, building LEGO houses, or dancing, home sweet home is a great space to find outlets for your creativity and engagement.
Whatever you choose to do, it’s important to remember that there is no set rule with how best to spend this time. Even if you just want to nap or binge on your favorite shows, it doesn’t have to be a waste because what matters most is flattening the curve and following the right guidelines for that.
