Here we are, the 4th installment of things to do at home during this crazy time of self isolation. The thing to keep in mind is that you might be too busy or perhaps working from home and the last thing you need is something else to do. However, if you have other people who are with you, or you know some people who are driving each other nuts, this might just be the ticket. Send this website to them – the life you save might be your own.

If you have some ideas for interesting things to do, add them to the comments below this post. I will only exclude really weird stuff, but then if you know me…what can I say? Look to your right and sign up for future installments of this blog – I really do have some interesting stuff planned for subscribers.

Here we go with today’s top 20

1-   Build a Fort:

Building forts or dens is something from our childhoods. We all enjoyed laying out cushions, putting a tablecloth over 2 chairs, and playing pretend games. It’s time to reminisce and build a den for yourself. You can really take self-isolation to the next level – add some warm lights, some cozy blankets, a good book and you won’t want to leave for a week. By now I am sure you will agree – as far away from the refrigerator as possible.

2-   Learn a Magic Trick:

Maybe you can give in to your quirky side during this self-isolation. There’s nothing like the good old rabbit out of the hat trick to surprise people. You can learn easy magic tricks at home with the help of the internet. If you get the hang of it,  it won’t only amaze you but those around you as well. Now you can be the hit of the party when we get back to normal. Really!

3-   Find your Inner Author:

Maybe you can give writing a go while you’re at home. Start with something simple, like keeping a journal, perhaps documenting your day. If you don’t enjoy that, you can try writing a short story or even a book! And if you’re feeling really ambitious, giving poetry, a whirl can also be a good idea.

4-   Start a Blog:

If you think writing is your true calling, you can start a blog. There will be no better time than now to find an audience while more people search for things online that interest them. Your blog could be about anything: your thoughts when in quarantine, your experiences, stories – anything at all.

5-   Start an Instagram Page:

Everyone has an Instagram page for themselves or their families, even their pets. But how many of us have Instagram pages showcasing our talents? Maybe this would be a good time to find some confidence and share your artistic creations, your photography, or your poetry through an Instagram Page.

6-   Learn a New Language:

You may already be bilingual, or maybe even trilingual, but there’s nothing wrong with learning another language. Language can be a great skill for your CV. So utilize this time to start learning a new language, and really make your time in self-isolation count.

7-   Take Online Courses:

While we’re on the topic of learning, why not find a new course that you attend online. If you’re not already taking online classes, attending a course on a topic related to your field of work or studies could be useful. You can emerge from self-isolation with a new skill. What about learning sign language, coding, copywriting, a language, negotiation strategies, the list is endless and many are free – do a Google search for something you are interested in learning.

8-   Learn a New Instrument:

We wouldn’t suggest you go out and purchase a new instrument while self-isolating, but if you do have an instrument lying around the house, perhaps your dad’s old guitar or a dusty old piano, this could be a good time to try your luck at it and see if you’re any good. Learning can be easy with online resources such as tutorials and websites. Give it a try and you might just surprise yourself.

9-   Expand your Taste in Music:

When it comes to music, we all have our favorite types, and artists. But perhaps this is the time to listen to that song your friend suggested or the song that keeps on showing up in your YouTube recommendations. Adding to your music taste may not be a bad idea, and this is the perfect time to try. 

10-  Record a Song:

If you love singing but haven’t tried your luck further than that, maybe this would be a good time for you to brush up on your singing skills. Record a song and post it on social media for your friends to appreciate.

11-  Write a Song:

If you already play an instrument or find yourself inclined to write poetry, you can try writing a song. If it’s just lyrics, maybe you can collaborate – send them to a friend who already makes music, or if you play an instrument, you could write the music for yourself.

12-  Play Video Games:

This is the perfect time to spend as much time on your consoles without the impending guilt of homework, deadlines, or upcoming tests. You can challenge your family members to a competition or even your friends via online gaming. It can get quite competitive, so if there is already tension while isolating, it may not recommended!

13-  Play Card Games:

Perhaps this would be a good time to hold a family card night. This can get quite competitive, so make sure everyone is prepared to lose at least once. Even if you are isolating alone there are many games you can play from Solitaire and Chain Solitaire to Idiot (yes it really is called that). Research online how to play. You can also download apps on your phone or laptop to play card games online – Mah Jong is a favourite.

14-  Shop Online:

This might be a tough time for shopaholics or those who love to visit the mall for fun. You can still get a buzz fro shopping while in self-isolation. Find a reliable online store that others have already used or has good reviews, and get your shopaholic self to work. Replace old things that need to be replaced, or treat yourself to something nice – but only if you can afford it.

15-  Learn new Software:

If you’re tech-savvy or interested in computers and technology, this would be a good time for you to download new software to learn. You can pick something that would help you in your field of studies or work.

16-  Watch Home Videos:

If you and your and family are looking for things to do together while being stuck at home, watching old home movies can fill a few hours. We all have old cassettes or CDs from when we were children and actually enjoyed being on camera. Watching them together will result in laughs and nostalgia.

17-  Find Old Photographs:

With the theme of nostalgia, if you don’t have home videos, perhaps you have a box full of old photographs stashed away somewhere collecting dust and untouched for years. Looking at old photographs can be just as entertaining as watching old photographs. Share a picture to show your friends just how cute you were as a baby!

18-  Make a Collage:

To prevent your old photographs from being hidden away in boxes again, you can actually put them to good use by compiling a nice collage of them and framing it to put it somewhere in the house. Then you can see them every day.

19-  Start an Art Journal:

Collages don’t necessarily have to be aesthetic or worthy enough to be put up on walls. You can start by making an Art Journal, which essentially means sticking anything you find interesting in a journal, like pictures, newspaper clippings, or even dried flowers. Art Journals can be a fun way to remember things.

20-  Make a Memory Box:

If you want to remember certain things from your life but aren’t sure how to do it, you can start a Memory Box. A Memory Box can contain mementos from moments in life, like a plane ticket from an exciting trip or a receipt of something special you purchased or a ticket stub from a concert you enjoyed. Memory Boxes are always fun to look back on.

We now have a total of 80 ideas to choose from and we will add the last 20 tomorrow. Surely you can find something in this list that intrigues or challenges you or perhaps you know someone who needs this list. Use the share buttons to send them to your Facebook list or email to family and friends.

Among other things presented yesterday, I mentioned a project that I created quite some time ago to capture important information about our lives or the lives of people around us. I posted a series of blogs that walked the reader through the process that they could use themselves or as a starting point for their parents or grandparents. Here’s the link to the first post which was done August 21, 2016 – WOW! There were many more posts after that to create a legacy for your family. No more “time” excuses.

Here’s another 20 ideas that you can consider while you are spending time at home. Don’t forget to sign up for additional information from my website in the box on the right. I have several interesting new ideas I will post here in the coming days, weeks or months.

1-   Bring out the board games:

At some point in our lives, we all stopped playing board games, and now they probably just sitting on a shelf gathering dust. Well, maybe this is the time to clean them up and bring them back out. Board-games are a good way to get the whole family involved, whether they’re kids, adults or even teenagers! It could be a fun passtime, as long as no one ends up flipping the board over!

2-   Complete a Puzzle:

We all have a jigsaw puzzle lying around the house that we could never find the time for. Well, we think that puzzle should finally see the light of day. You can do this alone or get your family to help you out. It doesn’t have to be the world’s largest puzzle like the one here but you can finally get around to completing that puzzle.  

3-   Bake some Treats:

Everybody loves the smell of freshly baked cookies or brownies in the house. If you decide to bake some treats when in self-isolation, no one will object. Use it as a form of therapy and bake some sweet or savory goodies for you and your loved ones to enjoy.

4-   Listen to a Podcast:

Everyone is utilizing the isolation to their benefit, and it’s safe to say you will probably never have an easier time picking out what to listen to. Whether it’s some spooky stories, an inspiring talk, or a comedy podcast listening to a podcast can be a great way to pass a few hours or  multitask and will also keep your brain stimulated.

5-   Watch an Informative Documentary:

Not all of us are able to work remotely but that doesn’t mean our intellect should be compromised. There are other ways to expand our learning, and watching an informative documentary can be one of them. Whether it’s about animals, the natural world or some part of history, documentaries can be a productive way to spend your time.

6-   Netflix to your Heart’s Content:

You’ve been steadily adding to your to-watch Netflix list and it keeps growing. There are too many movies and shows you’ve wanted to watch but couldn’t find the time for. Well, this is the perfect time to empty that list, so it’s fresh and clean for the new season! Watch Netflix all you want when in self-isolation – no one can stop you!

7-   Sing on your Balcony:

We’ve all seen the videos from Italy and Spain where people in isolation come to sing, dance, and play instruments on their balconies. It keeps the whole community involved. Well, who says only Europeans can pull that off? Go to your balcony with an instrument, belt out your favorite song, or dance for everyone. But don’t blame us if all you hear in response is “Shut-up!”

8-   Nap:

Need we say more? We’ve all been looking for the opportunity to nap for hours since we were children. No amount of sleep at night can match a nap you accidentally take when you’re tired while sitting on the sofa. This is the best time to nap as much as you can when you can!

9-   Sell Unused Things on the Internet:

While you were tidying or reorganizing your house did you find things that you haven’t used in a long time, or haven’t used ever? Why keep them lying around and taking up space? Sell them online via any site such as eBay, Gumtree, Craigslist or a local selling website. It could be another good way to get your hands one some well needed cash.

10-  Play Games with your Family:

Perhaps it’s time to revert back to the era of no internet, of landlines and self-entertainment. Engage your family in some hearty games that are sure to leave everyone laughing. It could be Marco Polo, hide and seek, card stacking, chess, checkers, a hula hoop competition or any other game you enjoyed as a child. Whether you have children in the family or not, this could be a fun way to spend some time together. 

11-  Play Games Online:

We don’t have to be stereotype gamers with expensive consoles in our house to enjoy a game online. Many games can be downloaded on your phones or laptops that allow you to play with strangers on the internet or even your friends. This could be a good way to spend time with your friends virtually when you can’t see them face-to-face.

12- Indulge in Arts and Crafts:

If you have kids in the house, Arts and Crafts are a fun way to involve everyone. Perhaps there are some pending Father’s Day or Mother’s Day gifts that need to be made. A little paper, glue, and some colors can help you go a long way when it comes to Arts and Crafts. There are many mature forms of Arts and Crafts as well, such as jewelry making, crochet, macramé, origami and papier mache. 

13-  Have a Picnic:

Nobody can stop you from going out into your own gardens. Grab a basket, make some sandwiches, and head outside to have a nice family picnic. This could be a fun outdoor activity without actually going outdoors. Play some outdoor games and sports, like baseball or Frisbee, and make it fun for everyone.

14-  Camp Out:

Extending on the picnic idea, maybe you can also camp out without actually going anywhere. Pitch up some tents in your own backyard, gather your family and melt some marshmallows on a small fire. Tell each other ghost stories, and with pollution decreasing due to quarantine maybe you’ll be able to see some stars as well.

15-  Photograph Sunsets and Sunrises:

Photography may be a hobby or career for many, and while we find ourselves isolated in our homes, maybe photography subjects won’t come as easy. However, that shouldn’t stop you from keeping it up. Photograph sunsets, sunrises and views from your own home and garden so that it doesn’t have to come to a stop.

16-  Do a Photo-shoot:

You might not have the perfect view of a sunset or a sunrise, or maybe you just don’t enjoy photographing them, but that doesn’t mean your photography should be put on hold while isolating. There are plenty of photography hacks on the internet that can create interesting backdrops and lightings for your photo-shoot to turn out successfully.

17-  Get to Editing:

If you are a professional or aspiring photographer, there is no doubt you will probably have a phone or pc full of photos that you probably haven’t found time to edit. This might be a good time to open it now and find your favorites. Edit them and post them somewhere for everyone to enjoy. Also, do you have loads of old photos in drawers and boxes. Order photo albums online and get all those old photos organised. You won’t be sorry when you can pull out those albums to look at any time you want. Digital photography is great but it’s so lovely to be able to look through an album of old photos!

18-  Play a Prank on your Family:

A few laughs here and there can lighten the mood. Play a friendly prank on those around you. We don’t mean faking your death or something serious, but if you’re feeling evil, you can try changing the Wi-Fi  password to really freak people out!

19- Practice your Makeup Skills:

Practicing makeup on yourself can be difficult, especially when you’re going for a professional look. Your sisters probably don’t let you practice on them during their normal routines claiming to be “too busy.” Well, they don’t have an excuse now! This could be the best time to get a hold of one of your family to practice your makeup skills on. Or follow tutorials on YouTube to get some looks perfected for when you are let loose on the town again…Hey Dad, what could possibly go wrong if you let your daughter practice on you? Keep a camera handy!

20-  Do a YouTube Challenge:

You may not have a YouTube channel or any audience willing to watch you but it can be quite fun to get you and your loved ones involved in an exciting YouTube Challenge. The internet is full of ideas: the Bottle Flip Challenge, the Try Not to Laugh Challenge, and the Yoga Challenge, to name a few. Just look them up.

60 ideas for making your time spent at home more valuable in the past 3 days. Have you completed them all – one? 2 more days of ideas coming up. If you haven’t added your name to my list to receive this blog automatically, then please return to the top right hand side and do it now. Don’t forget to share these ideas with friends and family – they may be going nuts by now too.