From Bored to Productive! 60+ Activities to do at Home during uncertain times

This is a weird time, however it is not all bad. Yes, it feels uncertain. Yes, it feels stressful. But, as with any situation, if we look closely, we can find gifts. Perhaps the greatest gift we have been given is TIME.

I’ve put together some tips to help you stay calm and happy during this time along with fun activities you can do at home to enrich your life and possibly learn something new.

Our list includes activities to do at home as a couple or activities to do at home alone. Whether you are in quarantine by yourself or with others, you’re about to discover lots of interesting activities you can do right now.

We’ve also put together an email challenge you can join for 14 days of activities! Each day you can look forward to receiving a fun surprise activity to do as well as an easy recipe idea using basic ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. We’re all in this together, so let’s make it fun! Sign up for 14 days of fun activity ideas and simple recipes delivered directly to your inbox here.

Create a routine

Whether you are used to working at home, or finding yourself spending time at home during the day for the first time, the key to staying productive (and sane) will be having a daily routine to look forward to and to keep your organized.

Cook

Cooking is both a pleasure and a necessity. We have lots of recipes for you to choose from. Use this time inside to enjoy everyday activities – like cooking – and try some new recipes you haven’t tried before. Explore a different country through food. Look through our whole selection of global recipes or choose one of the recipes below!

Indian recipes : Chicken Karahi
Burmese recipe : Burmese Chicken Curry
Thai recipe : Thai Red Chicken Curry
Greek recipe : Tiropita (Greek Cheese Pie)
Italian recipe : Cacio e Pepe
French recipe : Flammekueche (Alsatian Pizza)

Bake

On the same note, stay in and bake!

Here are some ideas :

Learn something new

Learn a language

Have your always dreamt of learning French? Perhaps Portuguese is more your thing? Do it! Now is the perfect time.

Take an online class

There are so many incredible online classes available on the internet, and due to the current world situation, some of them are even free at the moment!

Brit + Co is offering all of their courses for FREE until the end of March!

Learn about tarot & do a reading for your partner or friends at home/virtually

Tarot is a fun thing to explore. If you have a set of tarot cards at home, get them out, learn about the different symbols and meaning of each card and do readings for your friends and family.

Become an expert in something (interior decor, baking bread, SEO)

If you dedicate time to becoming really well versed on a particular topic, you may even come out of this experience an expert in something new!

Get fit

Take an online fitness class
Yoga

Travel online

Take a virtual museum tour

Thanks to Google Arts & Culture, we can not visit a lot of different museums from the comfort of our couches! These are 15 virtual museums visits you can take from home.

Take a virtual trip to Africa

You can virtually visit Africa and see beautiful animals thanks to a webcam set up next to a local watering hole along with many others virtual experiences that are available on the same site.

Cherish

Spend time with your loved ones if you are in quarantine together. Take things hour by hour and enjoy the extra time you get to spend at home with the people you love.

Start a special project

There is so much comfort on working on the same project each day.

Some ideas?

Take a photo every day
Write down an inspirational quote each day
Learn a TikTok dance each day and record yourself dancing

Keep a record

These are crazy times we’re living in. It is scary and everyone feels unsure, but why not record this time for later?

Hang out with friends (online)

I’ve seen virtual happy hour, brunch, coffee dates and more! This is a great way to see friends and support them for this uncertain time.

Spend time with your animals

I saw a funny meme circulating around Instagram about how our pets are responding to the current situation we are all facing. Dogs? They’re so happy you’re home and can’t get enough cuddles! Cats? They’re wondering when they’ll get their homes back during the day.

Make digital photo albums

One of my favorite yearly traditions is creating a digital photo album from highlights from the year. We typically include photos from our favorite trips, special days like birthdays, incredible meals we ate and want to remember and holidays. We order a printed copy and keep them all together. It is so fun to have those albums to go back to again and again!

Make a scrapbook

If you have printed photos at home, and you’ve been wondering what to do with them, make a scrapbook! Maybe you went on an amazing trip recently. Create a fun scrapbook to remember all the best moments from your trip!

There’s also something that is so soothing about cutting, gluing and decorating a scrapbook!

Flip through old magazines

Look at your old magazines and get inspired to decorate or organize your home, make new recipes or start new projects.

Read a new book or re-read an old one

I’ve never been so happy to be a book hoarder! Now is the time to go back to books that you ordered but never read, or books that you read long ago that you’d like to go back to and read again.

Plan future trips

With more time inside, it is the perfect time to plan future trips.

Plan a trip to Paris!

Paris Travel Tips – all the info you need to plan the perfect trips!
Don’t Miss These Small Museums in Paris! – experiencing some of the small museums in Paris will add so much to your trip.
Don’t Miss These Cafes in Paris! – cafe culture is booming in Paris and as soon as they are open again, let’s go support them!

Create a bucket list

Along those lines, create a bucket list! Whether you are staying in on your own, or as a couple, or with other families members, take advantage of the time inside and write down some goals and experiences you’d like to have in the future.

Some prompts to get you started :

Where do you want to travel?
What foods would you love to travel?
Are there special projects you’d love to complete, such as writing a book?

Make afternoon tea at home

Are you missing afternoon tea? Make one at home! Spend time creating cute sandwiches, make one or two delicious desserts and choose your favorite tea to top it all off.

Watch funny YouTube videos

These videos will cheer you up and entertain you without a doubt :

Hilarious cooking “reviews”!

Funny animals!

Funny Yelp Reviews!

Organize your space

Sort, toss, organize

If you’ve been wanting to go through your closets, take some time to do it now.

Alphabetize your books or organize them by color

If you have a large book collection like I do, organize them.

Start a new Pinterest board

Make a dedicated board on Pinterest for your home!

Create your perfect home

Study Feng shui

Deep clean your home

Take some time and clean your home until it sparkles!

Create a vision board

Nothing helps beat the stress of the present like dreaming up your ideal future. Go online and choose photos that represent the future you’d like to attract. Go through magazines and clip images that could fit in on your board as well.

Some ideas?

What kind of house do you dream of living in?
Where in the world would you like to live?

Do something creative

This is the perfect time to do a fun arts and crafts project or other creative activity!

Start your book

Is writing a book on your goal list, vision board, bucket list? Just do it! Create a writing schedule and stick to it.

Start a business

What is your expertise in? What is something you love? What is something you are currently learning that you could share with readers/viewers?

Use your extra time at home to start a blog, create an Etsy shop or create a YouTube Channel!

Take care of your mental health

Hire a life coach or work with a therapist

If you are feeling very anxious at the moment, consider hiring a coach or therapist who can work with you online.

Journal

I have kept a journal for as long as I can remember. Journaling is such a great way to get your ideas and fears down on paper so you can work through your feelings.

Meditate

If you haven’t tried meditation in the past, or if you have been meditating for years, now is a great time to increase the time you spend meditating to decrease your stress and increase your focus.

Keep a gratitude journal

Having a gratitude practice is one the best ways I know to stay calm and sane.

Hang out with your kids

If you have kids, this is the time to spend time as a family. Spend time playing, dressing up and doing arts and crafts as a family. Who knows? You may end up making family memories you won’t soon forget!

Start a movement

Is there a cause you feel particularly passionate about? The environment, protecting animals, getting food to hungry children? Share your voice! Create a dedicated account and hashtag on Instagram and create a community around your cause.