There seems to be no indication yet that the pandemic is over. Cases of COVID19 in Bacolod City has not reduced thus the IATF placed on Alert Level 4 for the period November 1-14, 2021. This means those who are below 18 years old, over 65 years old, with comorbidities, with immunodeficiency and pregnant are not allowed to go out of their houses. Most of us are also back on Work-From-Home mode in order to limit our movement.
Now that we will be spending most of our time at home, we need to keep ourselves busy and think of productive things to do. This situation is no longer new to us and more or less we’ve also learned to adapt. Nevertheless, if ever you find yourself bored during quarantine, below are some of the things you can do.
Organize you home
I’m sure you’re done some organizing in the past so just keep on doing what you’ve started so it becomes a habit. This pandemic has made me realize that we don’t need a lot of things at home. A minimalist lifestyle looks very promising. We only keep the things that “sparks joy” and give out or sell those which do not.
Start a DIY project
It’s very inspiring to see the DIY projects that other people started and finished during the pandemic. Some people started crafting, carpentry, gardening, and a lot more. DIY projects not keep us busy but we also discover that we don’t need to buy all the things we need at home. It also gives us a lot pride to show people our projects which also gives them inspiration. Doing home improvement projects also make our home more livable especially since we spend more time at home. Join Facebook groups such as Home Buddies for design inspiration from Filipinos doing DIY home improvement projects.
Play online games
Playing board games with family and friends is something I miss this pandemic. Online multi-player games have gained a lot of popularity even among the older age bracket this pandemic. However, I personally enjoy playing the classic games online such as Solitaire and Crossword Puzzle. I did not expect that my 9-year old daughter will also enjoy playing Classic Solitaire. It’s easy for kids and grandparents to learn even if these are played online.
The kids will surely love the Hidden Object Games. The game is simple but it gets challenging as you proceed to higher levels. For older family members, there’s the Crossword Puzzle which may be little bit challenging for the kids. It’s good that you can print the crossword if you want to play them offline. This is good for the senior members of the family who miss answering crossword puzzles in the daily newspaper.
Watch new movies or TV shows
There’s nothing like binge-watching Korean dramas to keep our minds busy. Netflix has been my go-to site whenever I feel the need to laugh. Hometown Chachacha was one those series which I truly appreciate. Crying over these dramas also made feel better.
Journaling your experience during COVID19 pandemic
Journaling is something I wish I have done last year at the peak of the pandemic. There were a lot of thoughts and emotions which I wished I put into paper. Writing is a good exercise to reduce my fears for the future and it will be interesting to read a few years from now.
Learn a new skill or start a hobby
More extra times means we have a lot of time as well to learn a new skill. Start learning a new language, cooking, playing an instrument, sewing, knitting or other skills or hobby that you have been putting off for lack of time. Who knows, you may be able earn some extra income from these skills in the future.
Connect with friends and family
Connecting with friends and family online through Facebook and Zoom provides us a sense of normalcy. This pandemic has made us realize just how important our family and friends are. People cope in different ways so please check on your friends and family. Some of us may have more difficulty in dealing with this pandemic especially those who have suffered from the sickness or lost a loved one.
Self-care activities
Self-care reduces stress and makes us feel better. These activities may include self-pampering like doing facial, exercise, foot spa, aromatherapy, yoga and meditation, among others. Since it’s safer to do these tings at home, investing in health and beauty gadgets at home also makes sense. Let’s keep our body and mind healthy.
How about you, how do you keep yourself busy during quarantine?