COVID-19: What to do when you’re stuck inside

Social distancing may help us slow the spread of COVID-19 but having to stay indoors more than usual can be challenging. Thankfully, even during these unprecedented times, there are plenty of things we can do to stay well, have fun and keep busy.

Learn something new
Is there something you have always wanted to learn but never had the time? Whether it’s discovering the art of knitting, playing a musical instrument or speaking a different language, now’s your chance to learn a new skill. There are thousands of free tutorials available online plus lots of great apps to download. Head to YouTube, Lynda and Duolingo and see what’s on offer.

Watch and listen
Social distancing is an opportune time to revisit old movie classics, binge watch your favourite TV series, or catch up on this year’s Oscar-winning films — all guilt free! Podcasts are also a great way to keep connected with the community and occupy your time. From sport, business, cooking, lifestyle, music, arts, and more – whatever your interest, there’s a podcast for you.

Fun for the whole family
Spending a lot of time at home can be challenging as you try to keep everyone entertained, especially children. Beat cabin fever and pull out old board games and puzzles and get the whole family involved. Search the cupboards for old material and recyclables and get crafty. Jump into the kitchen and dust off those cookbooks — the kids will love baking cookies and decorating cupcakes. The internet also offers an endless array of entertainment. Head to the National Museum of Australia and Questacon websites for a variety of online games and activities, plus many great ideas for fun things to do at home.

Green thumb
Just because you have to keep your distance from others doesn’t mean you have to stay inside all day long. Step into your garden and get active in the sunshine. Does your lawn need mowing, garden need weeding, or flowers need pruning? Being outside is beneficial to your general health and well-being, and your garden will love you for it. Gardening is considered a great form of exercise, too.

Move your body
Even though you can’t go to a gym or leisure centre it doesn’t mean your exercise routine should come to a halt. There are many ways you can continue to keep fit and exercise at home. If you have a patch of grass in your backyard, you can play a ball game, jog around, or pull out the skipping rope. For indoor activities, there are thousands of online workout videos you can do in front of the TV or computer without equipment, including low-impact bodyweight training, yoga, pilates and meditation. There are also countless fitness apps you can download too so have a look online and try one out.

Get talking
Pick up the phone and call a friend or family member. This is particularly important if you know someone who lives on their own or if you have elderly relatives or a friend who might be in self-quarantine due to coronavirus. These circumstances can be very isolating and lonely so think about those in need of some social interaction. Your phone call might make their day.

Spring clean
There couldn’t be a more perfect time to give your home a spring clean. Is there a cupboard that you have been meaning to sort for months, or is your garage or garden shed in desperate need of a clean out? What about your study and all of those photos you should put into albums? This is the perfect time to move about the house and finally get things in order.

Head to the bookshelf
When was the last time you read a good book? There’s nothing quite like escaping in the pages of a great story, but with technology becoming a big part of our lives, for some picking up a book is a thing of the past. So why don’t you take this time to look at your bookshelf: is there something you’ve never read before or an old classic you could read again? If you don’t have any books or just love your tech too much, then why not download an eBook?

Be an armchair traveller
Travel may be restricted but that doesn’t mean you can’t dream about your next holiday. Use this quiet time to make a bucket list of must-see destinations and start planning your next adventure. Jump online and research where to go, make a list of sights and attractions, and plan your ultimate route. Seek inspiration on Instagram, online blogs or open up Google Earth and get a birds-eye view of the world.