As thousands of Americans are stuck inside with shelter-in-place orders, you may be left wondering, “what the heck are you supposed to do now?” There are only so many TV shows you can binge on Netflix, and while this may sound like the perfect time to watch all the Marvel movies in chronological order, there’s so much more you can do. There’s no better time like the present to try some new hobbies and projects you’ve been putting off. Plus it’s a little healthier for you to get off the couch and do something productive, fun, and will ultimately help you relieve a little stress. From bread baking to learning how to do woodwork, the possibilities are endless!
Here are some of the top hobbies you can take up during quarantine:
Gardening
You’ll have tons of free time to watch over and tend to new plants. The great thing about gardening is that you don’t need an actual yard or a whole lot of space to have a bountiful harvest. All you need is a pot or container, soil, water, and sunlight. You can place a container garden out on your back porch, deck, or in a windowsill in your house. Research different ways to utilize the space that you have available. There’s also the option of getting some houseplants instead. You can purchase houseplants online, find ones that are great for beginners, and learn how to take care of them from tutorials online. There are also online communities that can help you learn and give you tips and tricks to help your plants thrive.
Exercise
Exercise doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun, but being at home gives you the opportunity to try new ways to exercise. Since most gyms are closed, and social gatherings are being discouraged, you can explore different ideas and try something new. Running or jogging is a great way to boost endorphins and get outside for some fresh air. If you’ve been meaning to try yoga, now would be a good time to start and there are lots of online classes you can take. Or why not give ballroom dancing a try?
There are so many benefits of ballroom dancing that you might not be aware of! It’s a great workout, teaches you things like good posture, and is great for gaining some flexibility. It’s also easy on the joints and people who deal with osteoporosis may benefit greatly from taking a ballroom dance class. Ballroom dancing may also improve your muscle tone and it’s definitely a workout! Don’t let the easy-going music fool you, you’ll build up endurance and have a lot of fun doing it. Plus how cool will it be the next time you’re on a dance floor to break out some awesome new dance skills?
Beer Making
If gardening and ballroom dancing isn’t quite your jam and you’re looking for more manly hobbies, you can take something you drink daily, like beer, and learn how to brew it yourself. Do some research and find some recipes to try out. Once the yeast starts rising, then you know this new fun hobby will pay off! There are at-home brew kits you can buy, along with informative books and articles you can find online. Most of the popular craft beers that are available started by some guy in his house who learned a new hobby and turned it into a business. Who knows where your new hobby might take you.
Cooking
Turn yourself into a master chef and learn some new recipes! Even if you aren’t the best cook, with all this spare time you can definitely improve your skills and take yourself to a new level. Cooking is the most basic of hobbies, and since we all have to eat, we all have some knowledge of cooking. Take this time to hone your skills, watch some online tutorials, and get a few new cookbooks. If there’s a certain dish that you absolutely love from a local restaurant but can’t have because of quarantine, learn how to make it yourself! Cooking can be a great outlet and the more evenings you spend in the kitchen, the more comfortable you’ll become. It can really boost your self-esteem and you can show off your new-found cooking skills to friends and family once lockdown is over.
Revamp your Wardrobe
When was the last time you went through your closet? It’s probably been a while. Going through old clothes is a task you’ve thought of doing before but never had the time. Well, guess what? Now that you have all the free time you could possibly want, why not empty out that closet? Bag up old clothes that no longer fit you, or that aren’t your style anymore. Donate your old wallets, belts, and bags that are just collecting dust in the back of your closet. Take a look at your wardrobe and think of new pieces that you could add. Do some research on the latest styles and see what new fabrics and jewelry are in. Tunic tops are all the rage, and you can find a wide variety of women’s tunics online.
Learn something new
Even though in-person classes have been canceled, for the time being, you can still expand your knowledge with an online course. Learn a new language, or take up a coding class. Lots of colleges have put courses online for the public to enjoy. Harvard is even offering an online class about the American government, courses about artificial intelligence, and more. If there’s something you’ve been wanting to learn about, do some research and you’ll find something that you actually may enjoy.
Get Crafty
Learning a new craft can help pass the time, and there’s an endless amount of crafts you can learn and do. You can learn how to knit, or crochet. You can take up cross-stitching or needle-point. Maybe you’ve wanted to make your own candles or bath bombs. Have you wanted to try painting? Throw on a Bob Ross episode and learn how to paint some happy little trees. Perler beads are popular and you can make just about anything! You can probably get started with simple things you have laying around the house.
Journaling
Writing out your feelings and thoughts can be very therapeutic, and with the current state of the world, it’s a good idea to find an outlet. Your writing doesn’t have to be perfect, nor does it have to have any rhyme or reason to it. Just get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper. Journaling has been proved to be a useful tool during times of stress and anxiety. It can help you work through some of your anxious thoughts and ease your mind.
Quarantine doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. It can be a time where you discover a new love of comic books, or when you finally learned how to to do the foxtrot! It can be when you developed a love of whiskey and astronomy, or when you defeated that boss in the video game that has had you stumped forever. The best part of having to be at home is finally being able to focus on yourself and you may be surprised at what you discover.
