A List of Activities to Jumpstart Your Day
Here’s a familiar feeling: you’re holed up inside your house, your calendar is empty, and you’re not sure what to do tonight, or any of the other nights in your near future. You can’t think of any fun activities—even your favorite hobbies can get a little lackluster if you’ve done them for long enough, and this extended period of self-isolation and social distancing is definitely getting towards “long enough.”
So you want to know what to do for boredom? The answer is: something you don’t usually do, or something you’ve never done before. Reenergize yourself with new experiences and shock yourself out of your rut. Engaging your brain in different ways means it’s easy to find stuff to do that stays interesting for longer.
And, lucky you, we’ve prepared a list of activities to try when you really don’t want to get started on those chores you’ve been putting off (you know the ones). Check out these thirty fun things to do at home:
- Exercise. Many of our usual workouts aren’t an option, but you can still take a walk outside or put on an instructional yoga video a few times a week.
- Read a book. It’s the perfect time to work on that neglected reading list! Or, if you’re looking for something new, What Should I Read Next? can recommend books based on a title or author you like.
- Bake cookies. Something like this five-ingredient peanut butter cookie recipe is great if your pantry is looking empty.
- Write a story. It doesn’t matter if you’re aiming for a serious novel or 500 words of comedy. All it takes is pen and paper (or a word processor), and a little imagination.
- Make a movie. These days, most people can shoot and edit high-quality video right from their cell phones.
- Draw from life. Use household objects as your models—they say practice makes perfect, and you have plenty of time to practice. Just remember to take breaks so you don’t get carpal tunnel.
- Solve a mystery. For the aspiring detective, the Deadbolt Mystery Society offers original, interactive mysteries, packaged and shipped to your door. Try a one-time box or subscribe for new cases on a schedule.
- Fold 1000 origami cranes. They’re associated with good luck and health—according to Japanese legend, anyone who completes this task will be granted a wish. Learn how from this article by The Spruce Crafts, which includes a video to show you those trickier steps.
- Paint your nails. Just because you’re stuck indoors doesn’t mean you can’t look your best. You can even go the extra mile and try out some easy nail art ideas collected by Buzzfeed.
- Learn a magic trick. This New York Times article explains how magic connects people and teaches two tricks in less than two minutes each.
- Play Sudoku. Don’t let your brain stagnate. Buy a puzzle book to write in or find puzzles online at Sudoku.com.
- Solve a logic puzzle. For the less mathematically minded, Brainzilla has a collection of logic grid puzzles to test your reasoning.
- Practice an impression. Let’s be real, quoting your favorite film and TV lines just isn’t the same without the right accents and mannerisms. You won’t be embarrassed to try if there’s no one around to hear you.
- Meditate. We could all use a little stress relief right now.
- Do something you said you didn’t have time for. Whether it’s that high-intensity workout routine, a daily creative challenge, or committing to home cooking, there’s no reason you can’t get to it now that your schedule has opened up.
- Paint a landscape. As Bob Ross says, there’s an artist in every single one of us.
- Stretch your muscles. Taking breaks from being stationary gets the blood flowing and refreshes you both physically and mentally.
- Build a house of cards. Patience and practice are the tools of success. If you’re having trouble with the classic triangular structure, try other configurations to get a wider, more stable base.
- Learn to code. This skill set can take you to any number of places, from creating a game to developing an app to building your own website. Codecademy is a great way to get started.
- Decorate a cake. Lay down some basic frosting, or get fancy with fillings and fondant. There are a number of tutorials available for beginners, including these ones from Cake Geek.
- Recreate a movie poster or album cover. Use whatever you have around the house and pay homage to your favorite musical and cinematic masterpieces.
- Tie a macramé decoration. This crafting technique uses combinations of knots in cords to create a variety of patterns and textures. Find workshops, tutorials, and more from Modern Macramé.
- Mix a drink. Cozy up with a hot mocha or relax with a refreshing cocktail—your choice of beverage can spice up any activity. Check out some fun ideas on our blog.
- Design your own secret sauce. Mix condiments and seasonings until you have a unique recipe you love. Don’t forget to write it down!
- Juggle. In addition to promoting hand-eye coordination, this activity is just plain fun.
- Put together a jigsaw puzzle. Once it’s complete, Herrschners tells you how to preserve your puzzle so you can put your hard work on display.
- Knock down dominoes. It takes a little time to set up, but watching them fall is addictively satisfying.
- Pamper yourself. Take a relaxing bath or set up a miniature home spa. Run out of a product? The Healthy has DIY skin care treatments you can make with ingredients you already have.
- Record your experiences. You’re a unique individual going through a significant time. Whether it’s a diary, a scrapbook, or a daily vlog, getting your thoughts out now can be valuable to both your current state of mind and a future recollection.
- Clean the house. Maybe you don’t actually find this fun, or maybe you think cleaning is therapeutic. Either way, a clean living space makes a huge difference when it comes to cheering up the atmosphere.
Of course, there’s plenty more out there that we haven’t listed. But whether you’re interested in doing all, half, or even just one of these activities, we hope this list provides plenty of ideas to fill your days and inspire you to action.
