A wise man once said, "Being stuck inside isn't so bad if you have the stuff to do." There are times in life, like this lockdown period, in which we all feel like everything is going wrong, and trust me, it’s natural to feel antsy and restless, but we all have to try and stay optimistic and make the most of our time by doing something worthwhile.
Crisis gives you the chance to look into what really matters to you.
While technology has connected us to long-distance friends, it has disconnected us from the ones we live with.
So in this pandemic, where we are bound to live with our family, why don’t we take some time to connect and bond with them.
You are probably bored out of your minds by now, especially if you are a professional, and while Netflix and chill is a tempting option, it is not the ideal activity for you.
So we decided to give you a bunch of ideas that will keep you busy and productive and give you a chance to connect with your family and friends.
And before you start bombarding me about the importance of SOPS, let me assure you that all of these activities are safe.
Just don't forget to wear a mask and skip the hugs and handshakes. Plan activities that don't require close contact, and keep a hand sanitizer with you.
I just want you to know that just because we can’t be near other people outside, doesn’t mean that we can’t step out. We can still get fresh air and do some safe, fun outdoor activities. So let's get straight to the activities!
1) Paddle a Canoe
Being in nature is meditative and calming, and going on a canoe trip with your family or friends is the ideal way to do this.
A canoe or a 10-foot kayak would automatically put each person in the group at least six feet away from each other.
It will give you all a chance to breathe in the fresh air and connect with each other and nature.
Paddling is perfect for your health too. The beautiful scenes you encounter and the quiet sounds of nature you hear while Kayaking is known to have euphoric and magical effects.
Also, it is an affordable activity and doesn't require much experience. Call your friends, book a trip, Wear a life jacket, Get into a canoe, and let go of the world's worries.
2) Camping outdoors or in your backyard
If you are fond of camping, like me, you must be an itching escape into the wilderness even just for a little while.
For me, camping has always been the perfect way to get away from the bustle of the city and the worries of life.
If you can’t find a safe camping facility nearby, you can just arrange one in your backyard, while you’re staring up at the stars around a campfire, it’s easy to pretend that you are in a forest in the heart of nowhere.
Indoors, you use tables and chairs to make imaginary cabins. And outdoors, you can set up a few tents.
If you don't have real tents, you can use sheets or blankets. Create a campfire by nailing some logs together. Then play games like a scavenger hunt, flashlight, tag hunt, obstacle course, charades, or card games.
3) Go for a Hike
Although all famous National parks, hiking trails, and monuments are closed, you can still find a trail if you are passionate about hiking. Find a trail close to home.
Hiking is an amazing way to keep yourself physically active. It is also one of the best ways to improve your mental health and boost your mood.
First, virtually plan for the trip, get all the essentials for hiking. Convince a family member or a friend or two to go with you, and have the time of your life.
4) Go swimming
Many pools across the world are locked to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Unlike other activities like cycling, we can’t just wear a swimsuit and go swimming. But you can install an indoor pool or create one yourself if you are a DIYer.
Swimming is an excellent recreational activity that will help you to connect with yourself.
If it is a river, ocean, or famous lake, you may wish a family member to ride alongside in a boat, kayak, or paddleboard to make sure you are safe.
There are many beautiful beaches in Ontario and all over Canada that you can visit in these tough times.
5) Picnic
Arrange a picnic in your lawn or backyard and pretend to have one in front of the Eiffel tower, in sweet little Paris. A little imagination won't hurt anyone!
You can find a hidden place in your locality or just arrange a picnic on your lawn.
Make a list, invite friends and family, pack each food item in separate containers, so nothing gets soggy.
And remember, in the COVID 19 pandemic era, Not sharing items is caring, get everything separately for everyone.
6) Biking
Biking is not only a fun and exciting activity, but it is also an ideal one,
Cycling ensures better lung health and improves the immune system, especially in times like this pandemic, where having exceptional health is of utmost importance.
Cycling is great for the health of your heart, lungs, and circulation; it strengthens your heart muscles and reduces fat blood levels.
You can ride solo, which is a bonus, it also gives you a welcome mental health relief.
7) Create DIY crafts
DIY (or do it yourself) is an extremely valuable skill to acquire. It's not only fun and saves you a ton of money, but it also keeps you mentally, emotionally, and physically active. It's also a great way to recycle. Start doing some DIY projects around the house.
When you first get into it, you'll probably screw up a lot, but that's okay because DIY teaches you the importance of accepting your mistakes and learning from them. DIY also provides a deep sense of appreciation for the things that were always readily available to us.
This is the best time to organize your living space with some fantastic DIY projects. Decorate some T-Shirts and mugs. Dig into the internet and just start Doing it yourself!
8) Reading
I just can not emphasize this enough! Nothing, I repeat nothing, can be compared to the life-changing(excuse me for being dramatic, but I'm a literal bookworm, so you can't stop me from gushing over this point) and delightful experience of getting lost in a really good book.
It’s like going on a complete adventure without ever leaving the comforts of your home. Reading can be inspiring, illuminating, relaxing, and motivating.
Read that book that’s been sitting on your shelf for years. This is the best time!
But you don’t have to feel pressured into reading something you don’t want to read; you should understand what you feel like reading.
9) Visit museums or aquariums virtually
If you are a lover of all things ancient or a frequent museum-goer, or a parent finding ways to give a little cultural education to your kids at home, don’t be disheartened by the closing of the museums, while you are waiting for things to go back to normal, Take some virtual tours!
You can find many on the internet. Google Arts & Culture teamed up with over 2500 museums and galleries worldwide to bring virtual tours to everyone. These tours will broaden your knowledge and curiosity.
10) Virtual playdate (through Zoom, skype, facetime, etc.)
If your children are intent on consuming your last bits of sanity, why don’t you do what you always do? But a bit differently.
Arranging a playdate for your children is a popular and effective way for parents to get some peace and me-time, but how can you achieve this piece of peace while quarantined?
Well, like many other things, Technology, our savior is here for you. If you have internet access and any device like a phone, a tablet, or a computer, you can download apps like Zoom, Google Hangouts, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger for Kids, Skype, WhatsApp, or Marco Polo to connect your children with their friends.
11) Rollerblading
You can't hit the gym during the pandemic; no problem, you can still have that cardio workout with rollerblades and use 80% of your body's muscles, and burn lots of calories while having fun!
Fun fact: did you know that a 19-year-old Canadian Scott Olson came up with the term rollerblade in 1980. While playing junior hockey, he stumbled on a pair of inline skates in a magazine and decided to create a skate that combines both the traditional roller skates and the hockey skates, and as a result, the rollerblades were created.
The 1970s may be thought of as the most famous roller skating decade. But now it is making a significant comeback since it is a relatively safe activity to do in quarantine. It can also be a beneficial alternative for Low impact exercises such as swimming and yoga.
Arrange a Budget for a helmet and protective gear and then hit the streets! Remember, anything you love to do doesn’t have to be in trend. And when you do something new or bring back something which was left for dead, You might be setting the next big thing.
12) Movie at home (Entire movie theater experience with popcorn, etc..)
Suppose you are a cinephile (a person who is fond of the cinema), or you are just a regular moviegoer. In that case, this quarantine is inevitably taking a toll on your nerves because cinemas and movie theaters are closed worldwide. Even if someone decides to open them, they are literally out of their minds.
I mean, there is like zero distance in theater seats and all the ticket touching and food sharing! Even thinking about it is giving me the heebie-jeebies, but that doesn't mean that you have to live your life devoid of movies and TV.
As you long as you don't illegally sneak into cinemas or binge-watch Netflix for 7 hours straight or complete a 4 season series within one day, watching movies can be good for you, to the point that psychologists suggest movies as a source of catharsis and coping with anxiety.
You might be thinking that the cinema experience is different, but let's see what makes it different? Large screens, a good sound system, a dark environment, and of course, popcorn.
Guess what? You can do all of this at home. Home theaters have become more popular as technology continues to improve, and equipment gets more affordable to buy and is relatively easier to install.
Determine the best location for your home theater, get a sound system, wire a projector, get comfy couches, and there you go, your very own safe, comfortable cinema.
In the end, I’d like to say that these are the questions we should ask ourselves when a crisis strikes;
● How can we use this opportunity to bond with our families?
● How can we keep ourselves mentally and physically active and healthy?
● How to make the most of our time?
Do you have a favorite pandemic-friendly activity that has not been mentioned here? Please share in the comments below and spread the Traveler Butterfly love.