Ashlee Edens

Getting Bored? Here’s a list of fun things to do while you are stuck at home.

As someone who is immunocompromised, I’ve had some practice with self isolating and social distancing. I created a list of 35 ways to keep busy while stuck at home.

And remember that you don’t need to be entertained or doing something all the time. Take advantage of this time to be still. To slow down.

1. Spa Night

Give yourself a manicure or do a face mask treatment. Play relaxing spa music and decompress.

2. Challenge Your Brain

Finish puzzles, sudoku, word searches, or crossword puzzles.

3. Get Crafty

Make decor for your room or house. Complete holiday crafts that you can use to decorate for holidays later in the year.

4. Dream Board

Use old magazines or print images off the internet to create a dream board of all the goals you hope to achieve and all the dreams you have for this life.

5. Gift Preparation

Get ahead with gift preparation for birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day. Shop online or make your own gifts.

6. Check Your Local Library

Many local libraries are offering digital downloads and other resources in this unique time.

7. Call a Family Member

Take advantage of this time to connect with family members. Have meaningful conversations.

8. Movie Night

Pop some popcorn and watch a favorite movie, a classic, or something you haven’t seen before!

9. Board Games

Break out the board games. You might even have time to finish a whole game of monopoly.

10. Foster an Animal

Check with your local animal shelter and see if they are needing people to help foster.

11. Decorate a Cake

Have some fun decorating a cake or cupcakes. Then have fun eating some of them too!

12. Create your own Board Game

Get creative and design your own board game.

13. Choreograph a Dance

Turn on some tunes and create your own steps. It’s great indoor exercise too.

14. Check on Your Friends

Check in on your friends. Especially your extroverted friends!

15. Study Your Scriptures

Take time to really study your scriptures. To ponder them. To journal about them.

16. Pray

Say a prayer without rushing. Really connect and be thoughtful with your prayer.

17. Spend Time in Nature

Find quiet spaces to be alone and enjoy the natural environment.

18. Read a Book

If you’re anything like me, you have a stack of book to read that you’ve been too busy to tackle. Now is the time! If you don’t have a stack, order a book off of Amazon. Check out my poetry book The Revival of a Soul.

(*This is an affiliate link.*)

19. Get Organized

Clean and organize your house… the Marie Kondo way. Do a deep dive into those closets.

20. Try a new recipe

Get creative in the kitchen and try to cook something new.

21. Quality Time

Spend quality time with (someone you live with) without distractions.

22. Go For a Walk

Go for a walk while social distancing.

23. Exercise Indoors

Try out an indoor exercise program like pilates, yoga, dance, or other home workout. You can even break out your Just Dance game.

24. Count Your Crunches

Count how many push-ups, crunches, or other workout you can do. Keep practicing and see if you can do more by the time things return to normal.

25. Fall In love with learning again

Fall in love with learning again. If you are completing online work for school, you might have more time or energy to really learn the information. If something interests you, take the time to learn a little more about it, even if it is not going to be on a test or quiz.

26. Learn Healthy Coping Skills

Improve your mental health and learn healthy coping skills like “how to reframe thoughts” or “how to use positive self-talk.” Practice now, so you’ll have them down when things get busy again. 

27. Meditate

Take time to meditate. Learn to meditate if you don’t know how. Practice breathing techniques.

28. Write

Write a poem, play, or a book.

29. Embrace The Artist In You

Draw, paint, sidewalk chalk art, adult coloring pages, origami, sew, crochet, knit, latch-hook…The options are endless.

30. Work on your Goals

Remember the goals you set at the start of the year? Now might be a perfect time to start working on them. Didn’t set any goals? Set some that you can accomplish in your home.

31. Post Something Uplifting

Post or share something uplifting on social media.

32. Duolingo

Try out the free version of Duolingo to start learning a new language.

33. Scrapbook

Get all those photos off your phone and create a scrapbook.

34. Journal

Get a notebook or start a journal on your computer.

35. Write a Letter

Go old school and bring back letter writing. Send a letter to someone to let them know you are thinking of them.

If you don’t know how to do something, use Google or YouTube to find tutorials. There are so many resources to learn things like origami, crochet, and meditation online. So be sure to take advantage of them. Most of these things you can do with supplies you have at home. But if you don’t, don’t go out and purchase them. Choose something else. Stay home. Stay safe.

I also recommend setting social media limits for yourself. Right now social media is filled with posts that can contribute to anxiety and stress. It’s important to stay informed and know what is going on, but I recommend setting limits so you don’t waste your whole day scrolling away.