Many people these days seem to be at a loss for how to spend their time while in self-imposed quarantine. As one who never lacks for something to do, allow me to offer up some suggestions. Some can be done alone, some with family, but all are worth a look. Wouldn't it be great to come out of quarantine a happier, smarter, slimmer, or better person?
- Learn Something
Your kids are probably doing cyber school; why not join them? Study up on something they're working on, or search out something on your own. Memorize the state capitals, read a short bio of George Washington, or a timeline of Australian history. Something's bound to stick.
- Call Your Mother
Or Pop-Pop or Cousin Sally. And not to find out if they're sick. In fact, don't talk about the virus at all. Talk about old memories, like that time you all went to the beach together or the old pickup you used to ride in. Or you could just say, "I love you."
- Read
Have a pile of books you haven't gotten around to reading yet? If not, grab an old favorite, pull up a chair, and have a good, long, 2-hour session. It's a great way to leave the house without leaving it. You can even read aloud to the whole family. After each chapter, discuss what happened. Did the characters do the right thing? What would you have done? What do you think will happen next?
- Clean
Not the everyday stuff--tackle one big job that never seems to get done. Pull out the refrigerator or take down the blinds or maybe power wash the windows. Just one big job completed equals tons of satisfaction.
- Tend Your Pets
You probably don't brush Fido or play with Fluffy as often as they would like. So break out a piece of string and spend some time with your pets. They, at least, are thrilled to have you stay at home.
- Home Improvement
There's probably a small job or two that you can manage without having to go to the hardware store, like that window that sticks or the screw that fell out of the door hinge. Got any Gorilla Glue?
- Celebrate
Designate tomorrow as Crazy Hat Day! Or Super-Hero Day! Or Pig Latin Day! Have a masquerade with whatever you can scavenge around the house. Throw a party for no reason with cake and ice cream, just make it special.
- Practice a Skill
Break out the old guitar you haven't touched in years. Learn some French or learn to juggle. With internet instruction you can at least try to learn almost anything for free.
- Clear Out Your Netflix Queue
Instead of watching whatever's on that you don't really care about, put on some of those series and movies you added to your Netflix My List, the things you meant to watch "someday." Dude, someday is here.
- Sing
Pop in you favorite CD, the one you know all the words to, and have a karaoke session, with or without a karaoke machine. Or maybe sing all the cartoon theme songs you can remember. Just be mindful of the neighbors; don't crank it up too loud.
- Play a Game
I am a great advocate of board games. There's so much more to choose from than just Monopoly and Scrabble. I even have a Pinterest board showcasing the very best in games, many of which can easily be purchased online and sent to your home.
- Take a Virtual Museum Tour
Many museums have awesome websites where you can view their treasures almost as if you're there. It's like a vacation on your screen.
- Write
Many people have a book or story idea rattling around in their brain, just waiting to be put to paper. Well, now's the time. Maybe you know some funny incidents that need to be recorded for posterity. Or maybe you could start a blog.
- Watch Those Videos
Have a marathon of that 8 or 9-film series, or that complete set of 12 seasons of Hawaii Five-O. Why not take all your DVD/Blu-Ray discs and determine to watch 'em all over the next few weeks? If you come across something you don't really care about anymore, then...
- Make a Donation Box
...put it in a donation box. Set aside a box and go through the house looking for all those things you intended to get rid of sooner or later. Then, when the thrift stores open back up, you'll be ready to donate.
- Exercise
Nobody hates exercise more than I do, so if I can do it 5 nights a week, so can you. Staying at home cuts out a lot of the incidental steps you're used to taking each day, so exercise is a must. I do it in front of the TV, and if the disc is interesting enough, I walk about three miles before I realize it. Makes it go down pretty easy.
- Quiz Yourself
Have any old trivia books around the house? Or a Trivia Pursuit game? If not, try Sporcle, a web site bursting with quizzes on every topic imaginable. You can even create your own for others to play. I did.
- Look at Photos
Spend an hour or more looking at all those pictures you have stashed away, either in boxes or virtually, and relive great times.
- Organize
Straighten up the attic, or the hall closet, or your Christmas decorations. Everybody has some spot in the house that needs organization, probably multiple spots. Do it today; you'll never have more time for it than you do now.
- Contemplate
How about something internal instead of external? Think about why you're so afraid of dying. Can it be that you're not ready for eternity? You can be ready, if you come to the God of eternity through the Savior Jesus Christ. Receive His free gift of salvation today.
No comments:
Post a Comment