How to Keep your Mind and Hands Busy When You’re Stuck Indoors
The weather’s heating up, but much of the country is still stuck indoors (with the exception of solo exercise while maintaining social distancing).
If you’re starting to feel stir crazy, you’re not alone. With Hollywood shut down, there’s not a lot of new television or movies to watch, either.
So, why not use this extra time to learn a new (indoor) hobby or skill. We found 6 fun hobbies to keep you occupied (and sane) during quarantine!
- Knitting
It might sound cliché, but knitting is both a relaxing and useful hobby!
Needlework has also been widely studied as a way to reduce stress, beat addiction, and even prevent memory loss.
And, once you’ve achieved a basic level of skill, you can wear your creations with pride and even gift them to others! Need a mask? Make one!
You don’t need many tools to get started, and there are plenty of video tutorials to help get you started. One of our favorite resources is a handy how-to book called Stitch ‘n Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook. It’ll teach you everything that grandma would have, and it’s laid out in a format that’s easy to understand and follow.
- Paint by Numbers
You don’t have to be a skilled artist to paint a masterpiece! Get a paint by numbers kit and watch your creations come to life. You can even recreate Vincent Van Gogh’s starry night with this kit!
Once you gain confidence working from a template, you might want to graduate to freehand. Watercolors are easy to work with, and the supplies are inexpensive compared to oil or acrylics.
- Indoor Gardening
You don’t have to possess a green thumb to try your hand at gardening. The trick is to find low-maintenance hearty plants that thrive in a variety of conditions.
Some of your best choices will be cactus, aloe vera, and succulents. You might even want to add a dwarf fruit tree if you’ve got plenty of room inside or a spacious patio.
Herbs are another option. Basil, mint, parsley, cilantro, and oregano are among the easiest to grow. They’re also practical because you can use them in a variety of ways!
- Learn a Language
Someday, you’ll get to visit your dream country. Wouldn’t it be cool if you had the ability to speak the language? Impress your friends, family, and the taxi driver by knowing how to ask for directions or chat about the weather.
Duolingo is a free resource to learn a new language in bitesize chunks. Or, take advantage of Rosetta Stone’s current offer of three months free for students (they’re not checking IDs, so anyone is eligible).
Want to work with someone local? Go to Thumbtack and find an instructor who can tutor you live, virtually. In addition to getting one-on-one help, you can also help someone put food on the table.
- Start a Virtual Book Club
Now’s a great time to tackle the stack of books you’ve been meaning to read. And, wouldn’t it be fun to read those books with other people? Thanks to technologies like Zoom and Google Hangouts, you can meet with your book club and discuss everything from plots and overarching themes to cocktail recipes that go with the theme of your book.
Reading Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein? How about making a pitcher of Bloody Mary Shelley’s to enjoy during your meeting?
- Make Your Own Jewelry
Do you have a shell, bead, or button collection? Have you ever thought about how lovely some of those items would look if they were transformed into a statement necklace or charm bracelet?
You can buy supplies at Michael’s or order online. Amazon has a supplies kit with everything you need to get started, from pliers to copper wire, and more. Then head on over to Etsy, or an online craft store, and buy beads, shells, or whatever your heart desires.
Have you taken up any new hobbies during quarantine? Let us know in the comments!
