Although Utah is a place full of outdoor activities, there are some occasions where you end up spending more time in your house than what you are used to. The recent outbreak of Covid-19 has us practicing social distancing and self-isolation. We know that lists of productivity, projects, and to-do’s start to dwindle after a few days. That’s why this is the perfect time to embrace some downtime with your family and try something new. Below are some ideas to try at home with the whole gang. Have fun!
1.Enjoy nature
We are so fortunate to live in a place where our backyard is open space, and we are able to stay active without having to visit a public workout facility or gym. When you feel a little stir-crazy during your self-isolation, head outside and enjoy the beauty of nature and the outdoors. Take a walk with your family. Go for a bike ride. Have a picnic in your backyard. Look for shapes in the clouds. Birdwatch. Go stargazing. For an easy guide to constellations and planets, download the Night Sky app.
2. Play a board game
Turn off the screens and spend time playing board games together. Board games can provide hours of fun and heathy competition. When you finish playing all your board games and puzzles, check out Jackbox Games. Jackbox games is a fun party pack of games that uses your phones as controllers and can play up to 10 people.
3. Create something
One way to combat the restlessness is to get your mind thinking creatively. Try looking on Pinterest for some fun craft ideas. Make homemade playdough or homemade slime. Download coloring pages for the whole family. Follow along with Bob Ross and create your own happy little painting or visit Facebook for some great painting tutorials from Made by Kate and others. Take this class on creating stop motion videos and create your own video masterpiece.
4. Read a Book
There’s nothing better than curling up on the couch with a good book. Enjoy this time and start checking books off of your reading list. Check out Goodreads for book recommendations, if you are unsure of where to start.
5. Teach yourself something new
With lots of downtime, it’s the perfect time to learn a new skill. There are plenty of resources available online with tutorials, courses, and how-to videos for almost anything you could think of. Some of these resources include YouTube, Skillshare, Duolingo, and Khan Academy – just to name a few.
6. Make music
People have always connected to music, and music is one thing that brings people together. Sing karaoke together as a family. Take time to learn a new instrument or to learn a new song.
7. Send a handwritten note
Even if you can’t get together with friends and family, you can still reach out to them through handwritten notes. Spread a little joy and happiness through your notes.
8. Virtually visit museums, national parks, and operas
Take a field-trip! During this current situation, Google has worked with several businesses to create virtual experiences for those quarantined at home. 12 museums around the world have created virtual tours so that you can experience their exhibits and attractions from the comfort of your couch. There are also some national parks that have created virtual tours or check out a tour of the Great Wall of China. It’s a great way to see the many wonderful landmarks of the U.S. Zoos are also a fun way to pass the time with live cams of pandas at the Atlanta Zoo or live cams of various aquarium creatures at the Monterey Aquarium, to name a couple. If you have a love for the theater and the opera, the Met is streaming its most popular shows, starting March 16.
9. Complete a home project
Take this time to complete around the home projects that you have put on the back-burner. Do a mini spring cleaning or get your creative juices flowing and rearrange the decorations. Here is a link to a website with more project ideas and at home ideas.
10. Practice self care
Although you can’t go to the gym, you can still keep up your workouts and stay in shape while in quarantine. Tune In & Tone Up is a new series that Stephanie Potempa, Red Ledges Activities Director, created to start streaming virtual classes. Check out this fun workout circuit that you can do with toilet paper!
Search YouTube or Pinterest for at home workouts and videos or check out POPSUGAR for some fun, free videos. Many other gyms and recreation centers have started live streaming classes, so check with your gym to see what they are doing. Meditation can be a terrific way to learn to find quiet on the inside during this confusing time. Check out Headspace or another meditation based app to get you started, or just find a quiet place to close your eyes and breathe.
What are your favorite things to do during a quarantine? Share what you have been up to by tagging @redledgesclub on your Facebook and Instagram posts!