7 things to do when you're stuck in quarantine

Photo by Alaina Burris

We’re two full weeks past spring break and most, if not all, of us are in some form of shelter-in-place order. We can’t really go anywhere to have fun and the only time we are supposed to go out is to perform an essential activity. But what about having fun? This is a time of seriousness, but having fun is still an essential part of life. 

How on earth are we supposed to have fun from the confines of our own home? Well, there’s actually a variety of ways, but I’m going to give you seven activities you can do to keep you from getting bored while stuck at home. 

1. Learn to knit/crochet/weave/etc.
   Ah, simple tasks that take people back to easier times. Well, not really. But, these activities are actually really great skills to have and they’re really fun to do. Most people have attempted to learn how, but give up and move on to the next thing because they’d rather go out. How perfect is it that we’re “stuck” inside and have the time to learn?
   Knitting how-to video: How to Knit: Easy for Beginners
   Crocheting how-to video: How to Crochet for Absolute Beginners
   Weaving how-to video: Weaving on a Cardboard Loom 

2. Read a book
   Find any book in the house that you haven’t read yet. Take some time out of your day when something else doesn’t need to be done and start reading. It could be the best (or worst) book you have ever read, but you have to read it to find out! 

3. Do a puzzle
   Puzzles are generally viewed as complicated, but there are people who find them entertaining. No matter what kind of person you are, you should take a chance and start doing one. Start with an easier one and work your way up to a more complicated one; if you are a person who likes to glue the pieces together, don’t do it until after the puzzle is completed.  

4. Spring cleaning
   Get a jump start on cleaning and organizing your room/house! Outside of classes, life can be pretty boring. If you are surrounded by stuff that you’re not entirely sure what to do with, go ahead and go through it. See what you can donate when the time is right and how you can organize your stuff to make for a clean space.

5. Get crafty
   Bust out some paints, find some stickers and use some ribbon because crafting can come back in this time of isolation. You can make a scrapbook, paint some pictures or even show off your woodworking skills and construct something. Crafting has no limits, there are so many things that you can do that fall into this category.
   93 Best College Crafts images | Crafts, College crafts, Dorm room 

6. Go outside
   Being stuck inside is not fun. Good for us, though, that we are allowed to go outside for exercise and entertainment, as long as we are maintaining a safe distance between one another. Being outside is good for us and it’s healthy. Play in the sunshine, go for a run or simply relax in the comfort of nature.  

7. Do your homework
   You honestly have no excuse anymore to not do your homework; you don’t have daily practices and you’re not scurrying across campus all day long to be on time to class or grab something from the caf. Set aside a couple of hours each day to catch up on homework, but don’t overwork yourself.

Being stuck at home can have its downsides, but don’t let the negatives pile up. Look for some positives and even create some of your own to help keep yourself entertained while you’re at home. Don’t forget to spend some quality time with your family, because you don’t really know if you’ll get this much free time with them again.