It’s uncertain when things will go back to normal. This quarantine was supposed to end mid-April and now mid-May but things are so unpredictable who knows what will happen next. The best thing we can do is try to not get impatient and enjoy this “break” for the time being. Now is the perfect moment to take advantage of this extra time to do all of the little things we often get too busy to do. It is a moment to slow down and put our focus onto ourselves and activities that we enjoy the most.
All of this time at home can feel a bit odd as we are used to constantly doing something and staying busy with school, work, and friends. This “lack” of structure and motivation can often lead to boredom which seems to be a big issue for many during this quarantine.
So here is a list of 7 things that can help you overcome boredom during your quarantine.
1. Create
Some fun things I’ve found to make this quarantine go by faster is placing my focus on creating. It feels very relaxing to give your full attention to an activity like this while ignoring all external factors like time, texts, and other tasks. Creating can be one of the most enjoyable activities which is also stress-relieving and rewarding. So get crafty with what’s currently available to you. You can do activities like painting, drawing, sewing, embroidering, crocheting, working on ‘DIY’ projects, creating mood boards, or experimenting with digital mediums like procreate or adobe.
2. Write and reflect
You can also take this time to sit with your thoughts and feelings and pour them all out on a page. Express yourself by letting your words flow onto the paper or by putting your thoughts into a poem or a song if you’d like. Writing helps clear your mind, make sense of your feelings, and gain perspective on situations so use this time to reflect. This can also be a good moment to write down goals for the future and plans for when this is all over: what is the first thing you’ll do once this quarantine is over?
3. Find new music
Another enjoyable pastime to do during these times is to find new music to listen to and to dive deeper into genres and artists that you like. This is a great thing to do especially during these times in which we have to stay positive and uplifted. If you don’t know where to start, our Spotify is loaded with playlists that range from hip-hop to punk rock. When you find a new song/artist that you like, I suggest that you look through the similar artists that are recommended because you more than likely will find some more hidden gems there.
4. Organize and declutter
Decluttering and organizing is another good way to pass the time as it allows you to reorganize and gives you peace of mind. There are often many things that need to be decluttered, no matter how neat and tidy you are. You can start by organizing the apps on your phone and decluttering the things you use the most like your camera roll, email, texts, notes, Spotify, etc. You can also take this time to declutter your room, closet, or your car and either donate or sell the items you no longer use. One of the most entertaining yet effective ways to methodize your organization is by watching Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. In this show, Marie gives tips on how to decide what material objects do and do not matter, and how to conveniently utilize all the parts of your home without excess.
5. Learn new things
a valuable thing you can do with your time is to learn new things and implement them. Learn a new skill, language, recipe, to skate, a new instrument, how to play a new song, etc. You can also look into things you want to know more about or begin to learn more about the things you already love. I personally keep a list in my phone of topics and things I want to learn more about and now is the perfect time to go through that list. I encourage you to go through your list or to take the time to create one and add to it when you hear something you’d want to know more about.
6. Watch a movie or read a book
Since we are quarantined at home, I’m sure many of you have taken this opportunity to watch new movies, shows, and read new books. Now is the time to go through that list of movies and books others have recommended to you. If you need some new movie suggestions you can click HERE to see our article on 7 movies you can stream for free by Nadya.
7. Virtual Museums
Instead of binging your favorite Netflix series for the second time, you also have the option to virtually visit museums around the world at no cost. There are many museums that are currently having online exhibits and virtual tours.
Here’s a list of some of my favorites:
-The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY: allows you to virtually stroll through the museum. Check out their current exhibits HERE
-The Solomon Museum, NY- Has all of its collections available to view online. They have work of about 600+ artists, including famous pieces by Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, and Jeff Koons
-The Van Gogh Museum, NL- They offer a virtual tour that takes you through the museum and allows you to get up close to the famous artwork.
-Happy Place: this is an immersive pop-up museum that is located in many big cities around the world. Their virtual tours feature their large installations and playfully curated spaces which offer an overall whimsical experience.
-The Getty Museum, LA- This Los Angeles museum has two virtual tours available online; of the lobby and front gallery.
