What To Do At Home During COVID19 Self-Isolation
Being stuck at home is difficult - or is it? Here are some tips on how to make your time in self-isolation (or quarantine) more enjoyable.
Take a Virtual Tour of a Museum
Many museums globally utilize various technologies to offer their art to those who can’t physically visit them. What better time than self-isolation to take your own tour? The best part: there aren’t hordes of people blocking La joconde (The Mona Lisa)!
Links:
The Louvre (Paris, France)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City, NY)
The Vatican (Vatican City, Italy)
NASA Langley Research Center (Virginia, USA)
The British Museum (London, England)
Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Catch a Show - From The Comfort of Your Couch!
National theatres and performance centres may be closed for the time being, but you can still watch some stellar shows from home. Check out the links below to discover a show that appeals to you!
My current fancies? The Barber of Seville, Carmen, and Miss Saigon! (Low-key tempted to watch The Spongebob Musical… maybe.)
Links:
Join an Online Choir
Have your faith in humanity restored when you see the community of people who come together to sing during this trying time!
Gareth Malone and James Sills are two of the masterminds behind these projects. You can apply for free to join one of their large online choir sessions!
Links:
Perfect your “From Scratch” Baking/ Cooking
Challenge yourself to get creative with the limited ingredients you have at home. I have been cooking up a storm recently, and some of the dishes I’ve enjoyed making have been risotto, pesto, and welsh cakes.
De. Li. Cious! 😋
Here are some links to my own favourite gluten-free cookie recipes:
Take a Virtual Tour of National Parks
Bummed you can’t take that vacation? Whittle away the hours by virtually touring some of the world’s most famed national parks. The tours often feature voiceovers and blurbs about each area, so you can learn as you explore. Fun!
Links:
Be Mindful - Learn to Meditate
There’s no better time than a stressful situation to kick-start your inner yogi. I did meditation for many years when I was practising Judo, and it definitely does calm you down once you get used to it. Besides, you need good sleep to keep yourself healthy enough to get through this virus!
There are tons of free apps available to help you kickstart your mindful movement!
Links:
Follow Online Workout Videos
Depending on what you enjoy doing, pop on over to YouTube and enjoy the myriad of free workout videos available on the platform.
Personally, when I’m at home, I enjoy either doing elliptical (I bought the machine since it had an iPad stand - best way to catch up on Netflix shows), or Pilates (I am a certified STOTT Pilates instructor). Another easy workout to try at home is dancing - put on your favourite Spotify playlist and try to do nonstop movement for three songs! That’ll definitely get your pulse racing.
Start a Journal
Give yourself the challenge of writing something everyday. Whether it’s a sentence, a paragraph, or a page, taking the time to be mindful and to jot down your thoughts will be rewarding.
Start Sketching
After you’ve virtually toured some of the world’s most famous museums, allow yourself to be inspired to begin drawing / sketching / painting.
There is something very soothing about doing art during difficult times. Personally, I received an adult colouring book as a present two weeks ago, and I reckon it’ll be full by the time I’m out of self-isolation!
Become Your Own Barista
With many bars, restaurants, and cafés closing, take the most important matter - caffeination - into your own hands and become your own barista.
Using high-quality local beans, perfect your ability to make espresso-based drinks at home. It’s not as hard as it seems!
Have The Time to Finally Finish a Book In One Sitting
Although I adore reading, it’s been a fair amount of time since I’ve been able to sit down for hours on end and lose myself in a story of my choosing.
We have been given a unique opportunity to take the time to completely fall into a world, so we may as well take it. Take a cue from Edgar Allan Poe, and try to read a short story in one sitting, or begin that massive novel you have been putting off for lack of time.
My current reading list consists of:
Melmoth the Wanderer (Charles Maturin)
Northanger Abbey (Jane Austen)
La Peste (Albert Camus)
Finish Those Series You’ve Been Meaning to b̶i̶n̶g̶e̶ Watch
So much to watch, so little time. Why not finish those series you’ve been meaning to view?
The series I’m currently streaming:
McMillion$ (Crave)
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12 (Crave)
Fargo (Netflix)
Beautify
Sephora has free shipping on all Canadian orders - do a spa day at home!
Otherwise, take some time to light a few candles (or just use a room spray), put on a facemark, and either watch Netflix / read. Pamper yourself, darling!
Re-Organize Your Room
It is spring, so why not get a head start on your spring cleaning?
Take a cue from Marie Kondo, and many discard some unneeded clutter from your life. Does that snow globe from your childhood trip to Vienna really spark joy?
Organize Your Laptop Files (You know You Need To)
This one is aimed at myself - re-organize your laptop!
I’ve got too many photos, files, videos, and word documents laying about on my computer. Instead of hiding them in a folder, this self-isolation is a great time to get sorting. Pop on some great tunes in the background, and you’re ready to go.
THANK YOU FOR READING, LOVELY! HAPPY SELF-ISOLATING!
Did you like what you read? Why not reading something else:
