Top 25 Things to do while Self Isolation or Quarantine during the Coronavirus

Spending time at home is a wonderful thing when you get the chance but not so much when you are being forced to do so. But if we are asked to stay home, then here is my list of the top items to keep you busy. Staying home for this long is not normal and without a break even to run to the store, you will get claustrophobic and sick of those that you live with.

1. Set up a Schedule for Yourself and Your Loved Ones

We all have a schedule, i.e. the time we get up, when we get to bed, what time we get to work or school, every Wednesday going to a restaurant. But our schedule has changed overnight and we will gain weight, stressed out, and have other issue when our schedule changes overnight.

Creating a schedule will create a more comfortable and easier life for you and your loved ones. Adults and children get anxiety when their schedule changes. It leaves people uncertain but schedules help.

The schedule don’t have to be rigid but just basic. Planning to eat on a regular schedule, go to bed, and waking up; will help you to keep your blood sugar regulated and your internal clock on schedule.

If you currently have lunch at work at noon, then keep that schedule. Also, try not to snack to much during this time because staying home will increase your weight fast.

Creating a schedule will also allow you to look forward to things, i.e. a hot bubble bath, but it will also get you to do the things that you want to get done because cleaning the oven is not fun at all.

A simple schedule would just include meals, bed, and bath time. The next level up would be to include daily task, i.e. do the laundry on Monday or clean out the closet on Tuesday. The next level would be to do an hourly time block.

Keeping a schedule will also keep the binge watching better because you will have time to be excited about what is coming next, if you walk away for an hour or so.

2. Don’t watch or goggle the News on the Coronavirus more then an hour a day

Minimize watching, reading, and/or listening to the new as this can make you feel anxious and distresses. I try to start my day with updates and review the current status no more then every 4 hours.

As much as you want to have information, getting the same information over and over can cause you to over analyze and stress out about things that you can’t do much about at the moment.

Personal, I check the worldometers information website for an overview and watch the nightly new for information in my area.

3. Get Some Exercise

Every day most people get exercise that we don’t even realize that we are getting. Walking to and from the car, store, office, etc. Depending your situation, this could be a great way to stay in shape while at home. Or look at starting an exercise program and lose a few pounds because after all it takes some time.

Exercise also helps us sleep better, stress less, reduces preexisting conditions like diabetes and heart disease, and so many other benefits.

If you have children in the house, this can also keep them a bit calmer. A bit of dancing to their favorite songs to get them tired.

4. Binge Watch your Favorite Shows

Binge Watch all your favorite shows. This is the time to sit around and relax. The only issue is that this can get boring after a few seasons of any show. But it also loses some of the excitement when you don’t have time to anticipate the outcome.

Walk away after a bit so that you can enjoy the anticipation. Have dinner or something. It also best to schedule a few hours off because after a few days of binge watching, you get bored and don’t want to watch anything.

Also, try to watch something that will make you laugh at least once a day because laughter is the best medicine. Smiling and laughing release stress through some chemical that is released into your brain. (I don’t understand the science but it does.)

5. Make a Five, Ten, or Twenty Year Plan!

Make plans for the future. Sit down and thing about what you want out of life. Where do you want to be in five, ten, and/or twenty years from now? Where are the places that you want to see? Check out my How to make life plans blog coming soon.

People who make plans tend to get ahead and make the little sacrifices daily, weekly, monthly, and/or yearly to achieve their dreams. For example, simple things like putting a little bit extra towards the mortgage each month can take years off the mortgage. (extra payment calculator)

For simple math, a mortgage loan for 100K for 30 years at 5% with an extra payment of $50 per month ($600 per year) will save you $18K in intersest and be paid off 5 years and 2 months earlier. Therefore, if you can find about $12 in your weekly budget, then you can do it.

Start a list of all the places that you want to vacation. Then think about how you can make that possible. Because most of us never get to see those places because something come up. Putting off today, generally mean that you never live your dreams.

6. Cook a Real Meal

With all the down time, look into making your own bread, cookies, cakes, or meals. Go through your cabinets and get out all those miscellaneous ingredients and what you can make.

Check out Super Cook website for ideas and receipts. You can tell it what you have and they will give you a bunch of items that you can make with them. Also, you can make a shopping list to get the items when you just have to get to the store.

Cook for the fun of it not just to get something on the table. If it takes an hour or more to make the meal, then you just got a great meal plus pasted the time away.

In addition, you can get rid of food that has been around for a bit. You know the can of evaporated milk from that pumpkin pie that you wanted to make two years ago.

7. Read all those Books that you Never have time for

We all do it. Pick up a book but life comes up and it just sit there forever and a day. Now you have time to read it and relax.

Plus with ebook, you can even just download a new one. Or try an audiobook and just listen. Get a friend to read the same book and call each other every night and discuss it.

8. Play Board Games or do a Puzzle

If you have at least one other person in your household, then pull out the board games or a puzzle. I do puzzles alone and that way, I get to put the last piece in. It can make the time fly by. Plus it will allow your mind to work.

9. Plan your Dream Vacation or take a Couch Vacation

Plan your dream vacation, so you have something to look forward to. Plus with all this time on your hands, you can research it to death. This vacation might not happen any time soon but you also have time to read a book(s) on the subject and learn the history about the place that you want to visit.

Take a Couch Vacation with your favorite bloggers or virtual museum tours and/or youtube videos. Bloggers are great at giving you information on vacation spots. A lot of Museums have their collections online and virtual tours. A lot of tourist spots have live cameras of the beach, mountains, or other places. So, be there without leaving the house.

Most zoos have Panda or other animals cameras. The Washington DC Zoo has the Panda cameras. Make checking in with the Pandas an event with the children or for yourself. It can be very calming. But note, most animals are generally active during the day! Morning is usually the best time to watch or meal times.

10. Learning about Something

I love history and I am always wanting to learn about something new. This is a great time to learn a language, research something that you wanted to know more about, or do some self improvements.

Find a subject, place, or person that you want to know about and just go wild on researching things. This will keep your brain working. It will also take some time.

Take a language class online and learn a few word for your next vacation.

11. Home Improvements

Get out the tool belt and fix all the things around the house that you have been putting off. Just make sure that you have all the tools and supplies that you need.

Possible get some paint and paint a room or research a project to do later. Or order items online and have them delivered. Just spray down the boxes with disinfectant and open them 3 days later.

12. Check out the Wild Life in your Front or Back Porch or Balcony

How often do you just sit on your front or back pouch and watched the wild life? I have a black squirrel, birds, rabbits, and once in a while, deer in my back yard. I live in Pittsburgh on a busy street but it is amazing how much wild life is around.

Plus it will get you some fresh air. I also open all the windows on the first nice day to get the fresh air inside. Just sitting outside for a bit every day helps with a cup of coffee, soda, or a beer.

13. Contact Friends and Family

Each day contact a friend or family member that is not in your household. Talk about the issues that you are having but also talk about something other then that, i.e. take a moment off about the current situation and about the past or the future.

Do video chats if you are alone. Or check out facebook and contract those old buddies from high school, college, etc. See how they are doing.

14. Learn or Teach a New Skill

Do a bit of research on a skill that you would like to learn. Or teach your pets, children, roommates, or family members that live with you a skill that you are good at.

Yoga, belly dancing, and meditation has a lot of videos on youtube. Teach your pets some tricks takes a lot of time. Learn origami, magic, drawing, or even how to cook.

Teaching someone something that your good at or that you love. Teaching give them the gift of knowledge. What is your favorite hobby or skill? Can you teach it to those around you?

15. Clean out your Closets/Garage/Rooms and/or Deep cleaning the House

Cleaning out your closet/garage/rooms or/and deep cleaning the house will help you reduce stress as well because this is exercise, you will feel a sense of completing something, and you can have something to do when you can’t sit still any longer.

When I clean out a closets, I take everything out of it. I have a trash bag, a donation box, and a do I really want it box. After everything is out of the closet, I wash it down. (When is the last time you actually washed your closet with soap and water?)

After everything is out and I washed it down, I start trying on things and see if they still fit and why they are still in my closet. Some items just go straight back in quickly, i.e. current work clothes and items that I wear all the time. Some items straight into the trash and donate box.

Then comes the hard part. Those perfect jean that you have not worn because you need to lose 10 pounds. Those go into the do I really want it box to be gone through a second time usually the next day or a few days later. It is amazing what time can do.

If you have children, this is also a great activity for them to get involve with. See if they have toys that they don’t use and would like to give to another child that does not have as much. It teaches them to be helpful, give to others, and it can be a good experience for them.

One of the most important places to go through since you have the time, is the kitchen. I was at a girlfriends house as a teenage and we were looking for something to eat. We started to go through her pantry and we found items that were out of date by over 5 years because they had been pushed to the back and never used.

After your finished, it is amazing how many thing that you will want to get rid of and how much more space that you will have in your house.

16. Review Your Insurance, Cable, and Phone

Shop online for better insurance and phone deals. Most of us bought these a long time ago but few of us actual have time to review if we are getting the best rates today. Check if you are actually getting the great deal or if you can change to a better plan.

Cable. Do you really need it? I personal moved several years ago and found that between the internet and Netflix, I really did not need anything else except CBS.com. I would not need that but I love Survivor and Big Brother.

I do miss the History Channel and a few other items but over all, I have more time to do other things. Reading, going places, and enjoying life.

But there are so many options. See if you can lower your bills if you are not using all your channels. I am paying less then $30 per month.

17. Create a Budget

Budgeting is important with a lot of people out of work. Review how your spending your money. Check my five/ten/twenty year plan and how to budget post coming soon.

As above with a five/ten/twenty year plan, just finding $12 per week per 100K to pay down your mortgage faster. Is a new car really important? Or could a used car for less be better with a down payment for a house or a great vacation be better?

18. Take a Walk or a Hike

If you really need to get out, go for a walk around the neighborhood or drive to a local park or a state/federal park in your area and take a hike. Take TP just in case. Some parks are closing bathrooms.

Great way to relax and get some exercise. Just keep away from other people.

19. Paint, Color, and/or some other Artwork

Art is a great way to enjoy spending time with children, self expression, and/or waste some time. A wonderful project can take days to complete and give you something to look forward too.

Art projects don’t have to be expensive. Check out the dollar store for items. Or look around the house for an old piece of furniture that could be sanded, painted, and other things.

20. Take the US Census 2020

Every ten years, the United State Census comes around. It shapes how much money each state gets for social service, schools, and seats in the House of Representatives.

Go to the government website. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and is so important for us to count people.

21. Take 10 minutes to Breath Deep and Relax at Least Once a Day

Deep breathing sends a message to your brain to calm you down and relax you. This is a great time to learn meditate, yoga, or other relaxation methods.

Oh, for you guys out there. Yoga promotes weight loss, prevents injury during workouts, increases libido, improves your sex life, relieves chronic lower back pain, reduces stress, and helps you sleep better. Plus you can watch the women that teach it on youtube.

22. Start a Journal or Write Poetry, a Short Story, or a Book.

Start a journal about how you are stuck at home with the coronavirus. Or write a short story or that book that you always dreams about writing. Or some poems.

Remember in high school or college when they made us do a haiku. If you liked it, then you keep doing it for a bit until life got in the way. Great time to be creative again.

23. Have a Spa Day at Home and Look like a Million Dollars for Dinner

A nice bubble bath, soaking your feet, a mud mask, learn new makeup styles, do your nails, curl your hair, and dress up for dinner.

Get out that dress that you have not been able to wear since prom, a friends wedding, a Christmas party, your wedding dress, etc. The one that is out of style but you don’t want to actually throw away. Dress up and have a candlelight dinner.

If you have little girls, this would be great to have a tea party at the end of the afternoon. Or even to get them a different hair color wash in that they can have at home.

24. Rearrange your Living Space and/or Kitchen

Rearranging your furniture. It can make your house seem completely different. It is also a great way to deep clean.

If you really get into it, then grab a couple of gallons of paint and repaint a room or two. It will give you a project to complete, excises, and keep your mind off other things.

25. If you Live with Others, Take some Time away from Them. If you live Alone, Contact your Friends/Family/etc.

For anyone that is living with people, i.e. children, family, significance others, etc. Try and be in different rooms for at least an hour or more every day. It might not sound like much but unless you currently spend all your time together, then you will need some personal space and they will need some personal space.

Because when you are stuck in the house, tempers will rise. Nap time or quiet time for the child(ren) with a special snack or something as a reward. A bubble bath or cooking dinner in the kitchen alone or reading in a separate room.

The first three days are great but after that…let’s just say that counting to 10 becomes more and more needed. But having a little space each day will help a lot.

For anyone living alone, try and make contact with someone or several someones every day for at least an hour. This is important because if you are use to spend at least 8 hours per day in the work place plus any other activities that you did, then you can feel very isolated very quickly.

The first few days are great but slowly that gets to you unless you don’t like people. Then this is a great break.

And remember that this will past quicker then you think it will. Be safe. Be kind.