With social distancing cutting down opportunities to socialize with friends and loved ones who do not live with us and eliminating many recreational opportunities, people are looking for ideas about things to do to keep busy at home. These suggestions can help manage some of the stress and anxiety surrounding the Coronavirus but are also applicable to other scenarios where you may be stuck at home.
Get physically active
If you have never had time for an exercise program, now is the time to give it a try. There are so many different things you can try to improve physical health and in response to COVID-19, many gyms, personal trainers, and other fitness instructors are making their normal lessons available online. Of course, which activity you try depends on your fitness level and ability to exercise safely, but the possibilities are endless- you can find anything from chair-based exercise programs to walking programs to belly dancing and Tae Kwon Do online.
Escape
Now is a great time to immerse yourself in a great book. While we love television and movies, there is something unique about books, because they engage your imagination in a way that books and movies do not. Reading also makes it less likely you will be exposed to the breaking news updates that might interfere with screen time, making them a wonderful mental health break. Has failing eyesight made reading more of a challenge for you? Consider trying audiobooks. Audible offers a free trial and most libraries lend out audiobooks. The right narrator can really bring an audiobook to live. We love the combination of Jim Butcher’s writing and James Marsters’ narration in The Dresden Files series and if you like classic Sherlock Holmes, you will love the modern twist that Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child put on deductive detectives in their Pendergast novels.
Volunteer
While getting out to help the community may not be possible, there are many things you can do to volunteer to help from home. If you sew, many places are organizing donations of masks for medical workers and at-risk members of the public. Local animal shelters are asking people who are able to foster animals during this crisis. The primary season may be interrupted, but your favorite politicians may still be having phone banks. Volunteering from home offers you a way to stay connected with your community, while still remaining physically distant.
