Fun Indoor Activities
Quarantine. Lockdown. Nobody asked for this, but staying indoors is necessary to maintain the health of the population in the wake of Coronavirus. It sucks, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun at home. There are endless possibilities, and the supply lines are still open, which means that you are not at a loss for materials!
1. Sing!
It doesn’t matter if you have the voice of an angel or the voice of a strangled cat. Singing elevates the mood and encourages proper breathing. Spend your time indoors, belting your heart out to your favorite songs! There are plenty of apps and tutorials if you’re feeling self-conscious. I recommend scrolling the app store on your smart device for sheet music programs, or check out folks like Sam Johnson on YouTube, or there are several karaoke options if you’re just looking for some fun with the family.
2. Read
For an extrovert, quarantine is a nightmare. For the introvert, it’s a typical night at home. Now is the perfect time to read your favorite books, explore something new, or simply just chill out with a slushy romance. Fantasy buffs might want to delve into some Robert Jordan, Rebecca Kuang, or Brandon Sanderson.
3. Watch YouTube Videos
Okay, this one requires staring at a screen. Sometimes that’s what we need. If you want something fun, light, and entertaining, try Rhett and Link or Alonso Lerone. For those who want to learn something new, Matthew Santoro is a good shout. You’ll eventually get recommendations for similar content.
4. Learn A New Skill
Apps like SkillShare or Udemy have thousands of online classes. Is there something you always swore you’d get around to doing, but the quarantine is preventing it? I guarantee that you’ll find an online class dedicated to it. Not to mention, there are founds of music teachers out there who have started using online resources to teach.
5. Virtual Movie Night!
With the quarantine comes the lack of movie nights. Or does it? There are plenty of browser extensions that allow screen sharing between machines, allowing for movie nights to become a thing without leaving your home. Some extensions to explore are Netflix Party, TwoSeven, and Popcorn Time.
6. Get Creative
The next time you find yourself on a grocery shopping trip (one of the only times you’ll be allowed out), pick up some mechanical pencils and paper if you can find them. Look up tutorials on YouTube and draw your emotions. I recommend Shellie Cleaver (drawing) or Adele McFarlane Wile (oil painting), both on SkillShare, for these skills. You could also write. Not just a journal. Write poetry. A short story. A novel. Now is the time to get creative! A lot is being said in the meme community about how this is similar to a lot of dystopian YA novels. Take some inspiration and turn the tide – write utopian story while things seem darkest!
7. Start A Journal!
Or a blog. Or anything. Just record your experience under quarantine. It doesn’t feel like it now, but we are living in a time where we will have immediate access to information about life under lockdown and quarantine. Make it a family project by having everyone contribute to a collage of information that can be submitted for future historians.
8. Start A Garden
Flowers. Fruits. Vegetables. The supply line is still active, so make the most of it and order some seeds, soils, and pots to plant your own little garden. You can get plug plants from major plant retailers if you don’t want to grow from seed. Most online plant stores will direct you to them. By the end of the quarantine, you’ll probably be able to put the Royal Horticultural Society to shame! Or even enter in the Chelsea Flower Show! This is a fun, family-oriented activity that leads is exceptionally productive.
9. Cook
Okay, so maybe there are food shortages where you are. Or, if not, then you could always load up a cooking tutorial and get creative in the kitchen. If you’ve been smart about it and haven’t panic-bought a lot of useless things, you’ve probably stocked up on roots and veggies, maybe some noodles. Try making a fresh onion noodle soup for your family in these trying times.
10. Games
Video games, board games, or card, indoor games will help you and your family get your minds off the dullness that is quarantine. Get to know your family and bond with them over a game of Operation, or Go Fish. It’s hard to be dull when you’re the chosen champion of the divines destined to destroy a great evil, or you could live out your ideal life in a simulation game. The possibilities are endless!
