by: Erin Morrison
While most of us are now spending all day at home, it does not mean we have to be bored. If you get tired of scrolling through Instagram and feel like you’ve seen everything on Netflix, here are five unique ways to spend your time while still social distancing.
1. Revisit an old hobby. When you get to college, a lot of your free time goes out the window, and you might have forgotten about activities you enjoyed doing in high school. Parkland student Meghan Olthoff told the Prospectus, “I think quarantine has helped me to rediscover the things that I used to love in my free time when I was younger. I’ve been watching TV, hanging with family, reading books, and even restarted painting.” Parkland student Delaney Wright has also been revisiting past passions. She told the Prospectus, “I’ve really been getting into my music again by playing my piano again and teaching myself more in the guitar.”
2. Have a picnic. As the weather gets warmer, Olthoff suggests putting together a picnic in the park. CDC guidelines encourage getting fresh air staying active, but advise staying in a park near your home, staying at least six feet away from others, and staying home if you feel sick. If you are concerned about being in a park, an alternative way to have a picnic is by having it in your backyard.
3. Start a creative project. Projects can be fun and fulfilling to complete, but they often take up a lot of time. With your increased amount of free time, now is a great time to start. “My favorite project started last night as I began a big sewing project for a 50’s inspired dress,” Wright said. This can also be a great time to complete any unfinished projects you didn’t have time to get around to before.
4. Spend time with your family. While some students have had to move home with their parents for the rest of the semester, they might currently be getting more family time than they bargained for, but Olthoff said this is a great opportunity to spend quality time together. You can all catch up on missed time or find an activity you all like doing together. Olthoff told the Prospectus, “I’ve heard of people who make forts with their family in their living room.”
5. Work on self-improvement. It is important to know what is going on in the world, but it is also important to recognize your limits and when it might be time to take a break and focus on other things to avoid stress. “Find something that makes you laugh and smile… Discover what you want to better about yourself while you spend so much time with yourself so you can apply it and be ready for when we are released. Even just cleaning your house will do wonders,” Wright said.
