Note: This article was written during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, so not everything may be relevant to your current life, unless you have a lot of free time at home.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, states have restricted what businesses can be open and what types of events and gatherings are permissible. So many people such as myself have more free time than ever (though some people have added responsibilities such as homeschooling kids or working in in-demand industries). With the lack of our usually busy social and activity schedules, what are we to do? Should we just sit on the couch bingeing Netflix, or should we look at the self-isolation, quarantines, and social distancing as an opportunity to improve ourselves and our lives?
First off, if you are displaying any coronavirus symptoms, your main priority is to STAY HOME and take care of your health and take proper precautions to avoid spreading it to others. For those that are at home and may even be on furlough or out of work, here are 17 ways to make the most of your self-isolation:
Learn something.
Now’s your chance to learn to play that guitar or piano you’ve had sitting around for ages, practice a new language, take up juggling, or improve virtually any skill. You can even advance your career or pad your resume by completing an online certificate program from an institution like eCornell or Penn Foster. Plus, there are thousands of low-priced online courses for a myriad of topics on Udemy or LinkedIn Learning.
Get in shape.
After not seeing friends and family for a while, wouldn’t it be great to drop some jaws because you’re more toned or 15 pounds leaner? Even if you don’t have gym equipment, there are still tons of effective body weight exercises you can do. Just search online for workouts, YouTube videos, or even body weight workout apps. I’m not going to make any specific recommendations of the aspect of diet because I believe everyone is different and has different nutritional needs. Just do some research online to find how you can improve your diet and do some experimentation to see what foods make you feel good and energized.
Spend more time outdoors.
Just because you’re supposed to avoid other people doesn’t mean you have to spend your time cooped up indoors. Spring weather is just around the corner, so there’s arguably no better time to explore the great outdoors. You can visit the park or use AllTrails to find hiking trails in your area. As a bonus, getting outside and getting a little sun will boost your immune system by helping you produce vitamin D.
Find a side income.
Many people in Nevada and other states who have jobs at “non-essential” have either been furloughed or laid off. Hopefully, soon there will be a relief package passed by the government to help those living paycheck to paycheck, but you should also try to find a way to make a few bucks while waiting to return to the workforce. I placed a grocery store order with Instacart, and they said I would get the delivery in 3 days. I’d be willing to bet services like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Instacart are looking for people to help them meet the increased demand for delivery drivers. Additionally, you could find ways of making money online, such as teaching English online (there are lots of companies and most offer flexible schedules and decent pay), selling your stuff online, or taking online surveys.
Take in some culture.
Broadway may be shut down but, they’re currently offering a free 7-day trial of their streaming service Broadway HD. Many musicians are even livestreaming fan-less concerts for free on YouTube. You can get a view inside famous museums and landmarks with Google Arts & Culture, or feed your travel bug by viewing 360° videos and photos taken all over the world at 360 Cities. Speaking of travel, there are tons of great travel shows available, but perhaps my favorite is Rick Steves’ Europe. You can find many of his full episodes on YouTube.
Invest.
If you’re invested in the stock market, your portfolio is certainly hurting. If you’re 5 or more years away from retirement, this may be a golden opportunity to scoop up some cheap stocks (assuming the economy is going to make a full recovery). It is impossible to know exactly when the market will bottom out, but I think in the long term, any investments you make in the coming months will pay off. (This is not financial advice, and I am not a financial advisor. Make your own investing decisions.) There are many investing platforms offering nice sign-up bonuses now, and I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorites.
Connect with friends and family.
Can’t see people in person? No problem! Just reach out to someone (maybe even someone whom you haven’t talked to in a long time) and to catch up and see how they’re doing. Their schedule may be much less busy than normal so I’m sure most people will appreciate a call or a message from you. If you crave a larger gathering, you can organize meetups on Skype or Zoom. If you have some “quarantine buddies” living with you, be sure to connect with them as well. Talk, do fun activities together, or have a board game night.
Get organized.
There’s never been a better time to “Marie Kondo” your living space. You can go room by room and organize your space how you want it, and get rid of things that you don’t need. You can also organize your goals and tasks. If you don’t have them, create a list of your long-term goals and a short-term to-do list with “actionable items”. For example, if writing a novel is a goal, you would need to break it up into actionable tasks such as create story outline, create character sheet, and write first draft of chapter 1. Digital spaces also need organizing from time to time. My phone and computer can turn into a disorganized mess of files and folders. Take some time to organize folders and delete what you know you won’t need. I like to upload all of my pictures to Google Photos to save space on my computer, or you might use Apple iCloud.
Be creative.
Write a song, create a poem, write a blog, work on that novel, paint a picture, dance, record a funny video, or pursue anything that sparks your imagination. It doesn’t have to be “good”. Just the act of creating feels good… and if you happen to create something that’s enjoyable or useful to others, maybe it can be monetized.
Cook.
If you’re like me, you take the path of least resistance when it comes to getting food. If you have more free time it can be fun to dust off your cooking skills. You can save money while eating delicious (and possibly healthier) food that you made yourself. Search for recipes online or at All Recipes.
Practice relaxation and meditating.
Who doesn’t need a break from all the stress that’s out in the world today? There are tons of free online resources for relaxing practices such as yoga, tai chi, and meditation. A couple of my favorite apps for guided meditation are Calm and Headspace.
Read a book.
Many libraries and bookstores across the country are closed, so how will you find new reading material? Amazon and Barnes & Noble both still have online ordering, and some B&N locations are offering curbside pickup. You can get free e-books and audiobooks through your library with the Libby app. The best part of Overdrive is, you don’t even necessarily need a library card. You can check out an e-book with just a mobile phone number.
Laugh a little.
Laughter is a great stress reliever and we need to find ways to laugh at a stressful time like this. I’ve enjoyed seeing my friends’ jokes and memes they’ve posted to Facebook, and posted some of my own. There are plenty of great comedy movies and stand-up comedy specials available on streaming platforms to help you chuckle.
Crush an addiction.
Do you have a smoking, drug, drinking, gambling, food, or any other addiction controlling your life? Some addictions will be easier to beat now since you don’t have to deal with going out and socializing with friends who may have the same addiction. If you’re ready to quit, hopefully you have to support of some trusted friends or family members. Search online for support and resources, or call the SAMHSA National Helpline.
Have fun.
It’s all well and good to try to improve your life and “become a better person”. But what’s the use in that if you can’t enjoy some downtime or play time? Play video games, catch up on your favorite TV series, knit, have a glass of wine… however you like to have fun, just do it.
We hope this has offered you some inspiration during the COVID-19 crisis. Stay safe.
Did we miss anything? How are you going to make the most of your isolation? Let us know on Facebook.
Luke Westberg is the Director of Digital Marketing at A and H. He started in April 2019 and has been working in the online marketing field since 2008.
