For years people have been used to a daily schedule which, for most of us, has been a rinse-and-repeat cycle of work, home, sleep, and repeat. Well, all that has changed now because of this COVID-19 pandemic that the world is facing together and people could not be more bored while practicing social distancing. From trying to become TikTok "famous" to simply banging their heads against the wall (not recommended) people whose jobs are not labeled as essential or those who can't work from home are having to find new ways to occupy their time.
One great way of doing that is to have an at-home hobby, and the best part is, you get to decide what hobby you want to try. Whether it's playing video games, reading/writing, or binge-watching your favorite shows it is a great way to make the time spent in isolation more bearable. In times like these people need to feel safe and secure and a part of doing that comes from the normalcy that comes with daily activities such as hobbies.
So what are some more productive hobbies that people can do? Well here's a little list for you:
Family Game Night
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Family game night is always a fun thing to do, especially if you have children at home who like to play. There are some great family games that you can play for hours such as, Apples to Apples, Not Parent Approved, or What Do You Meme?
At Home Exerciser
For those of you who have not been able to go to the gym thanks to COVID-19, don't worry, there is still a way to get your workouts in without a gym. One option would be calisthenics, which is a form of resistance training using your body. You can get various different tools for this option but if you don't want to do that, no worries, you can always just work out with regular ol' bodyweight workouts like push-ups, sit-ups, or jumping jacks.
Woodworking
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Credit to: TheUjulala
Even if you don't have a lot of equipment, woodworking can be a fun and productive activity to do in your home. You don't have to be super handy to do it and if you live in an apartment and don't have access to a workshop space then you could try whittling wood or even refurbishing old wood. Woodworking is a great way for people to create new items that may be needed around the house or simply decorations.
Lean to Cook New Things
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Credit to: Free-Photos
Who doesn't like food? The fresh tastes, the new experiences, it's all wonderful and there are tons of places where you can go to learn new and simple recipes for you and your family to try. For example, Budget Bytes.com has hundreds of recipes for people to use and all of them are budgeted for optimal money-saving flavors.
Video Gaming
Although gaming isn't for everyone, it does have it's benefits. For example, an article written by Engadget found that some of the benefits of gaming includes improved coordination and problem-solving skills, enhanced memory, improved memory, and improved social skill. Video games are a relatively young form of entertainment but have already reached vast areas of not only the US but also the world.
Sewing/Crocheting
Credit to: Foundry
Crocheting is a fun way to be both creative and crafty, in that you get to make something that is both beautiful and functional. Even if you don't always use what you have it will always be there for you. Another great thing about it is that you can multitask easily; you can watch TV, listen to an Audible, talk with your family, the list goes on! Through sewing, you can create hats, masks, lap robes, and so much more. It could also come in handy if you need to repair your clothing.
Gardening
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Credit to: bigplatshop
Gardening is a fun and relaxing way to pass the time as your plants will need constant attention. You also don't need a lot of knowledge or equipment. Starting a small, in-home garden can be easy, all you need is some old soda bottles, access to the internet, seeds, and water. Once you get all that, you can start a small, in-home garden and the best part is, you can make your own food!
Learning Something New
Just because the schools and colleges are closed down doesn't mean your mind has to be. There are dozens of ways for one to learn something new every week. Reading books, Ted Talks, or even MOOCs. What's a MOOC you ask? It's a Massive Online Open Course. Essentially, it's a website that you can visit to learn new things in a more in-depth way, similar to that of a college. The downside of MOOCs is that most of them are nonaccredited, so what you learn from them may be better for personal gain rather than professional accreditation. Two examples of MOOC websites are Masterclass and Udemy.com both of which have lessons taught by professionals and/or professors teaching about their respective fields. Another cool thing, all of the aforementioned activities have a course offered on at least one of these sites!
Of course, there are other things to do and for everyone and there is something that can make you happy and active in these trying and uncertain times. Fortunately, all of these things can be done from the safety and comfort of your own home and right now that's HIGHLY recommended.
