Everyone around the world knows about COVID-19 now and the immense impact it has had on all our lives. With the pandemic still raging on globally, restrictions and rules remain in place to protect people. In many countries, this means that you may be required to self-isolate if you test positive for the virus or have been in contact with someone who is found to have it. This can leave you stuck indoors with a lot of spare time on your hands! To help make it a bit easier and more fun, we round up the ten most enjoyable way to handle COVID-19 isolation below.
10 – Sleep
This is almost a no-brainer – after all, who doesn’t love sleep?! While you do have to be careful not to lie in bed for the whole isolation period, taking a daytime nap or lying in a bit some mornings is perfectly fine. This can help to shorten or break-up the days – this in turn can help getting through isolation more doable. Of course, sleep is very important for our mood, mental health and physical health. With this in mind, getting more of it is no bad thing.
09 – Watch TV and Movies
Another classic way to fill in time when you have lots of it is watching TV. There are more channels around than ever now and this means you should always find something fun to watch. The same is true for movies, where there are always plenty playing around the channels to catch. Of course, if you have a subscription service like Netflix, you have even more choice at your fingertips.
08 – Hone Your Cooking or Baking Skills
This was a very popular hobby to dive into for people who endured national lockdowns. From gorgeous cakes to pies, pastries and bread, many of us started to fall in love with making our own food. If you are now in COVID-19 isolation again, it is still a great way to have fun and kill downtime. As food can be ordered online and delivered to your door now, you should have no trouble getting the ingredients you need. The best thing is that, once you have made all this scrumptious food, you get to eat it!
07 – Learn An Instrument
One thing that is perfect for killing time in a fun way is learning a musical instrument. As getting to grips with any new instrument can take many hours, it will make the time fly when in COVID-19 isolation. Many people will have something like an old guitar lying around, which they have never had time to master. If this is the case, why not give it a go? If you do not have an instrument to hand, contact your friends and family via your mobile phone to see if they can drop one off to borrow outside your door. By the time isolation finishes, you will be a maestro.
06 – Video Call Someone You Are Close Too
Texting and phone calls are great but there is something extra magical about video calling. The chance to actually see someone as you talk to them brings you closer together. If you are feeling a bit fed-up when isolating, it is the ideal pick me up. Not only do you get to see the person you are talking too as in real-life but you also get to see their expressions and reactions as you chat. Whether you use Skype or Facetime, this is a great idea.
05 – Give Painting A Go
Whether you are a keen painter currently or not, why not pass the time by coming up with your own artwork? Painting is actually great fun and also a very relaxing activity. If COVID-19 isolation is stressing you out, this is the thing to do for a few hours. If you do not have the supplies in your need, why not text or phone friends to drop a bag of them at your doorstep for you? Once ready, what you paint is up to you – many people will go for the scene from their own garden when in isolation for example or recreate a famous landmark.
04 – Read Books – A Lot!
If you are isolating for COVID-19 reasons, you could be shut away for up to 14 days. This might seem a long time but it actually gives you the perfect chance to catch up on those things you never get around too doing. Reading is a classic case of this for many people. Most of us have piles of books on our shelves which we never get time to read. If this is the case, use your spare time now to get through them all and widen your literary horizons. This will not only be fun but also make you feel like you are using your time productively.
03 – Read Online news and sports site
Just because you may be isolation at home due to COVID-19, it does not mean you have to lose touch with the world. The digital age has given us the internet and websites to get past any issues like this. Heading online to keep up with the latest local, national and world news will mean you do not feel out of the loop or forgotten about when staying indoors. For sports fans, catching the latest news or games online will lift your spirits greatly. Both are also a good way to kill time and stop the hours dragging past.
02 – Catch Up On Social Media
As well as generally heading online to catch up on news and stay connected with the outside world, it is great fun to connect with people you know on social media sites also. Whether your friends and family hangout on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, these platforms are an easy way to reach them when isolating. It is of course also very safe as you can chat and laugh with them online from the comfort of your own home. Not only will this keep you updated with all the latest gossip but it will also stop you feeling alone.
01 – Exercise
One superb tip for keeping busy and positive when under COVID-19 isolation is to exercise. Although you will not be able to head outside to the local park or gym to do so, you can still workout at home. Exercising regularly when isolating will help you to stay in shape and stay healthy. This is not only great for helping fend off COVID itself or its impact if you get it but the endorphins released as you workout will make you feel great. This will improve your mood and stop you getting down when locked away from the world! Whether you go for yoga, aerobics, weight-lifting or boxing, this is a top tip.
There is no getting away from the fact that having to isolate for COVID-19 reasons is a pain and something no-one wants to do. If you have to though, it is wise to find fun thing to do so you get through it ok. If you need a few tips, the above should help.