While there are many reasons to be stuck in the house, today many of us are on lock down to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. As the pandemic gets more and more serious, staying at home and maintaining a safe distance from others is critical. But when people are stuck at home they get stir-crazy, and when that happens they go out – and risk their health and others in doing so.
So in order to help give you something to do to keep from going stir crazy, here is a great list of 25 very productive things you can do when you’re stuck at home.
The 1st Batch: For Your Home
Okay, we’ll admit there’s very few people out there who actually enjoy cleaning. But, we all enjoy the result. Having a cleaner environment really helps keep your mind at ease and helps to keep your body strong, which is important during times like today.
Declutter Your Living Space
There are plenty of things that can make a home stressful and it’s been well-proven that cluttered living space is one of them. We’re big fans of Feng Shui here at Zesty Things and there are plenty of reasons why you should be too.
Wash Your Linens
Sure you do it every once in a while, but let’s admit it: most of us don’t do it as often as we should. Get those linens washed and dried and smelling fresh & clean!
Paint!
It’s not exactly cleaning, but if you’re stuck in the house for a long period of time, you can do some repainting. Maybe it’s a new color scheme in a room or repainting the entire house. This is an excellent task because it takes a lot of time, and you have plenty if you’re stuck home.
Scrub The Grout in Your Shower
Tile grout is one of those nasty, gunky places that nobody ever likes cleaning. What’s funny about it is that with an old toothbrush, it only takes a short time to clean your entire shower. Because grout holds mold & mildew, it’s one of those nice details that will make your entire bathroom look and smell cleaner.
Organize The Junk Drawer
The junk drawer: every home has one. It’s like the universal constant of home ownership. Somewhere, usually in the kitchen, there’s a drawer full of things that just didn’t find a home anywhere else. And towards the back of that junk drawer are things you probably haven’t seen in years! Go through it, toss what you don’t need and organize the rest.
The 2nd Batch: For Your Health
There’s no shortage of things you can do help keep you healthy, and if you’re locked away to keep from getting sick as most of us are right now, staying healthy is one of your greatest weapons. But if you can’t go to the gym and don’t have any workout equipment at home, what are some things you can do? Well here goes…
Yoga
If you’ve read anything on this blog, you probably know by now that we love yoga. Yoga has tons of health benefits. You can easily find Yoga videos on YouTube that you can go a long with – everything from beginners to advanced.
Meditation
Meditation goes very well with Yoga and it’s an incredible way to maintain your mental health. In especially stressful times, meditation can be the difference between skyrocketing anxiety levels and making it through another day with your sanity intact.
Push-Ups
If strength training is your thing, you can’t beat a few rounds of push-ups every day. This basic exercise is a staple in just about any workout regimen and helps build & maintain muscle. You also get a mild cardio benefit because a handful of push-ups done quickly can raise your heart rate in no time!
YouTube Workouts!
No kidding there are thousands of full workouts on YouTube that require zero equipment. You can do one every day for a year and probably never do the same one twice.
Running in Place
Sound boring? Wait till you get 10 minutes in. Running in place is one of those often overlooked ways to get your heart rate up and burn calories. If you can’t go outside and don’t have a treadmill, running in place is an excellent way to boost your health level.
The 3rd Batch: For Your Enjoyment
This is where it gets fun. Are you gonna be cramped up in the house for a really long time? Let’s talk about all the fun things you could be doing with your time.
The Binge Watch
Heralded by entertainment giant, Netflix, the binge watch is here to stay. There are tons of great shows to binge on, but if you don’t have Netflix or Hulu consider a free streaming service such as Pluto TV or Tubi TV. Both have an incredible selection of shows & movies.
Start a Blog
Hey look it’s one our favorite things to do! Starting a blog is easier than ever with managed platforms like WordPress.com make it simple an inexpensive to start a great-looking blog for any topic you might be interested in.
Start a Podcast
Podcasts are huge these days, and with more people stuck inside with little to do, there’s an even greater opportunity for you to build an audience for your new Podcast. You can get a beginner podcast kit on Amazon for a reasonable price to start and have it delivered right to your door without ever breaking the stay-at-home rule.
Start a YouTube Channel
While the world of YouTube might seem crowded, there’s always room for more. All you need to get started is a decent webcam and a Google account and you’re ready to go. The only big decision is what you’re gonna do on your new channel on your way to stardom!
Learn to Play an Instrument
It takes serious time to learn how to play a musical instrument. So if you’re going to be stuck at home for an extended period, it’s a great time to pick one up. Whether it’s a keyboard, guitar, or something else, playing music will help keep your mind sharp and provide you with a sense of accomplishment with each new skill you learn.
Take Virtual Dancing Lessons
Back to our obsession with all things YouTube, you can learn just about any type of dance by hopping on the streaming platform and clicking play. Sure you may not have a partner at home, but as soon as you’re out, you’ll be able to impress everyone with your new dancing skills.
You can take any type of dance class from hip hop to salsa, and it doesn’t cost you a penny to learn any of them.
Read a Book
There’s nothing like getting lost in a good book. Reading is excellent for your mental health and well-being. Speaking of which…
Write a Book
Did you know that many bestselling authors write their books while locked away in their ‘writing studio’ for weeks or months at a time? It allows them to focus and dive mentally into the story that they’re developing. Maybe you could be the next breakout author if you get to it and start on that novel you’ve been thinking about.
Learn to Knit
Need a new sweater? Why not make one? If you take the time to learn to knit, you’ll be able to spend some time creating one of a kind items that you can give to your friends & family as gifts or just use for yourself. There are plenty of places online where you can learn to knit or you can order a knitting book from Amazon to get started.
Play a Video Game
Gamers have been training their entire lives for the day the world would be on lockdown. Maybe now it’s your turn – whether it’s something new and crazy or a vintage game that takes you back to your younger years, this is the perfect time to put everything else aside and pick up that game controller.
Find a Bunch of New Websites to Waste Time On
We love the Internet. It’s a great place for wasting time. And while most of us get stuck in the same rut of a handful of sites, sometimes it’s good to discover all the things the Internet has that you don’t know about.
Here are a couple lists of great websites to waste time on:
The 4th Batch: For Others
The final set of things you can do while stuck at home involves things you can do to help others. Even if you can’t go out physically, there are some things you can do.
Call a Friend
You can call any friend you want, especially if they’re stuck inside as well, they’ll be more than happy to hear from you. But think about your friends who may be struggling with depression or anxiety because these types of situations can have a serious effect on them.
Have a FaceTime or Skype Party
Video chat has come a long way over the years. Now you can have group video chats where you can chat with a bunch of your friends and family all together just as if you were in the same room.
Do a Live Stream for Your Friends
There are plenty of live streaming services out there. From Facebook to YouTube, you can set up a live stream of you doing something fun or funny and let all your friends & family watch and comment.
Find More Things!
So there are a bunch of lists out there just like this one with things to do when you’re stuck at home. Go search them out and have fun!
I'm an aspiring writer from Santa Monica, CA who writes about a little bit of everything. I love paranormal stuff, working out, nature, wildlife, and general humor.