Thirty things to do in self isolation

Thirty things to do in self isolation (or when bored at home)

 

We all know about Coronavirus and many of us are practicing self isolation. If you’re one of the lucky ones that are not infected with COVID-19 and you decided to stay home, here are some tips on what to do in self isolation. There are so many things you can do while social distancing and staying at home. I’ve chosen to share with you thirty things to do in self isolation (or when bored at home).

 

1. Read (books, blogs, magazines)

This is, by all means, the first thing that I would recommend to anyone who is in self isolation. I mean, I really don’t need to talk a lot about why reading is important and why reading is good. When I was a kid I loved to read. Since we weren’t able to buy all the books I wanted to read my friends and I were going to a library regularly to borrow books we wanted to read.

Now, you can buy almost any book online and have it delivered to your door, download it in PDF to your computer and print it. You can read it on Kindle. You can listen to audiobooks. The awesome thing is that you can get so many books for free. So, there is really no excuse not to read (or listen to an audiobook).

I’ll write a list of some of my favourite books ever (it’s kind of hard to choose just a few), so if you need a recommendation feel free to screenshot this and save it:

• The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
• 1984 – George Orwell
• Don Quixote – Miguel de Cervantes 
• The Orange Girl – Jostein Gaarder
• The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
• The Picture of Dorian Grey – Oscar Wilde
• The Stranger – Albert Camus
• The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
• The Name of the Rose – Umberto Eco
• Murder on the Orient Express – Agatha Christie
• Travesuras de la niña mala – Mario Vargas Llosa
• Me Before You – Jojo Mojes
• The Whisperer – Donato Carrisi
• To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
• When Nietzsche Wept – Irvin D. Yalom
• A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman
• L’Amica Geniale – Elena Ferrante.

I’m always searching for something interesting to read so you can send me your recommendations via this CONTACT FORM, write it in a comment under this post or simply send me a DM on Instagram.

Beside books, I love reading travel and lifestyle blogs. Here are some of my favourite websites and blogs:

• https://www.cntraveller.com
• https://theculturetrip.com
• https://suitcasemag.com
• https://dametraveler.com
• https://www.mydomaine.com
• https://theeverygirl.com
• https://www.taylormagazine.com

I’m sure we all have our favourite magazines which we love reading. I think you’d never guess but my favourite (beside travel magazines) are actually the ones about home decor.

I love looking at beautifully decorated spaces and getting inspiration for my own apartment. And they always have some nice DIY project. So, no matter what type of magazines you like to read, if you can’t buy them at the newsstand at this time, you can always find them online. For example, I saw that Conde Nast Italia is giving their magazines to read online for free at this time, so that’s one of the ideas.

 

2. Watch tv series and movies 

One of the things that people do most while in their free time and in self isolation is reading, but also watching movies and tv series.

I shared some of my tv series recommendations in my Instagram stories a few days ago and now I’ll write the longer list here:

• Outlander
• Peaky Blinders
• Downton Abbey
• True Detective
• The Wire
• When They See Us
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
• Big Little Lies
• Endeavour
• The Killing
• House of Cards
• Sherlock
• Money Heist (La casa de papel)
• Luther

Some of the newer movies I really liked are:

• Joker (amazing Joaquin Phoenix), 
• The Gentleman (with Matthew McConaughey, directed by Guy Ritchie so if you love his movies this one is a real treat) and
• The Irishman (directed by Martin Scorsese and lead roles are Robert de Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci and Harvey Keitel – I don’t think you can make a mistake here).

 

3. Do puzzles

My husband and I got hooked on doing puzzles at one point and now we’re gonna do them again. If you’ve never tried doing a puzzle you don’t know how satisfying it is to have a thousand little pieces you need to put together and make a picture. It’s definitely one of my favourite free time activities.

 

4. Play board games

If you’re lucky enough to be spending your isolation time with a few family members board games or playing cards are the perfect way to have some fun. There are so many of them as you probably know. Some of my favourite board games are Monopoly and Risk (I know, they’re classics but I love them).

The game my friends and I love to play is called Catan.

Catan is one of the best board games I’ve ever played. We got hooked and we played it every night for months! The game is amazing and I think you can buy it online, but I’m sure you can play it online. Of course, it’s much more interesting to play it at home with your friends but until we’re out of self isolation try it online or, if you can, with your family. 

 

 

5. Start learning a new language 

When we moved to Italy (where we spent one year) my husband and I started learning Italian. Beside the books and worksheets, I had Duolingo app installed on my phone and it helped a lot. Duolingo app is free.

You can set your daily challenges and have fun while learning a new language. Also, on Pinterest, you can find printables of short stories, grammar exercises and even find some creative ways how to learn a new language. With so many resources you can find online you can actually make learning fun!

While you’re at home in self isolation you can also take an online course in any language you want to learn. There are a lot of platforms that are offering one to one lessons or group lessons. It’s up to you!

 

6. Get creative

There are so many creative things you can do while in self isolation. Why being creative is important? Well, beside keeping you busy, being creative will help you become better at solving problems in anything you do in life. So whether you choose to make a gallery wall at your home or make cards and other paper crafts I know you’ll enjoy it no matter how old you are. If you have kids then I’m sure you have plenty of ideas how to keep them busy with crafts. If you’re looking for something creative to do I’ll share a list of things you mind find inspiration from:

• create a gallery wall for your home
• make a personalized photo album or scrapbook for someone you love
• make cards for your loved ones
• find an old jar or a bottle and paint it (you can use it as a vase later)
• make your own bookmarks
• design your own planner (it’s easy to do it in Canva) and print it
• knit or crochet if you know how and if you’re interested in this you can always learn it by watching tutorials on YouTube
• cover your notebooks in fabric
• make a scrapbook.

 

7. Clean your home and organize your things

I think this is the first thing that comes to mind to all of us in self isolation. We always complain that we don’t have enough time to do everything in our home that we want to. So, now’s a great time to do all those things you’ve been putting off. Whether it’s general cleaning or just organizing and re-arranging things around your place, now you can do it. If you don’t know where to start there are many articles online on how to clean your home. Some are very helpful actually. 

 

8. Set a routine 

This should’ve been number one on the list of thirty things to do when in self isolation but it somehow ended up here. Anyway, I want to tell you why routine is important. Having a daily routine makes us more efficient and organized which eventually helps us feeling less stressful at the end of the day. Another benefit of having a routine in anything we do is that it reduces procrastination which also means it gives us more free time. I know that now in self isolation we have that extra time we always need but we also need some self discipline in times like this and that’s why having a routine is important. So make one if you don’t already have one. You’ll feel much better!

 

9. Exercise 

If you can’t go out it doesn’t mean you don’t need to move your body a bit. Exercise (even at home) will make you feel great! Choose a set of exercises you’ve been doing at the gym as a warm up and then find some new interesting exercises on YouTube. I’m sure there’s something for everyone.

 

10. Cook or bake

I love cooking and it is the thing I do every day. I’m always searching for new recipes and I can tell you that you can find online how to make anything. Just search for whatever you feel like eating at the moment and you’ll find a recipe for it.

 

11. Listen to podcasts

Podcasts are commonly described as on-demand internet radio talks. You can listen to podcasts about politics, cooking, health and meditation, sports, books, fashion, digital marketing, movies, anything you can think of. There are true crime podcasts which I plan on listening some of these days. According to Elle magazine these are some of the best podcasts to listen to while in self isolation.

I saved another article that has really nice recommendations and you can read it by clicking here. 

 

12. Take a virtual museum tour or watch a theatre play online

Since most of the cities are under lockdown many museums and theatres are offering virtual tours who are free for everyone. This way you can visit some of your favourite museums in the world. You can also watch the plays you wanted to see but couldn’t find the tickets or simply didn’t have time to go to a theatre. Now you can watch it with members of your family or alone at the comfort of your home.

I wrote a blog post about 24 amazing virtual museum tours. If you want check it out by clicking this link.

Travel and Leisure website has some great recommendations HERE.

 

13. Call a family member or a friend

This goes without saying but it’s just a little reminder. I’m sure we’re all in contact with our family members and friends daily, but it can happen that we forget about someone who we want to hear from but never have time. Now you can take a cup of tea and chat with that someone you wanted to call for some time now.

 

14. Write 

Whether it’s a journal, a poem, a recipe, a book, a blog post or a card to someone, just write. Writing is one of the best ways to express yourself, to ease your mind and to get creative.

 

15. Learn a new skill (videos on youtube, blog posts, online courses)

Internet is such a powerful thing and I get amazing day after day how much information we have only a click away from us. There is so much we can learn online and a lot of things that interest you are actually free. If you want to learn how to cook you can find literally everything on YouTube and different blogs. If you want to learn a new language there are apps like Duolingo that can help you start and you can take online classes on so many different platforms. There are literally thousands of free printable worksheets for so many languages. 

If you ever wanted to learn about marketing, to know how to sew or knit, how to write – you can find everything online. Just do a bit of research and you can know more about certain topics than you’ve ever imagined.

There’s a great website called Skillshare and I recommend checking it out. You can start your online learning for free and see where it gets you.  

 

 

 

16. Organize your phone and your computer

I think I don’t know anyone whose phone or computer are always organized. So, whether you have unread emails or thousands of photos you need to sort just do it. It will take you some time but now you are in self isolation time is the one thing you certainly have. Delete the apps you don’t use. Delete old messages and photos.

 

17. Sort your photos

We all have photos from our previous trips, weddings, kids birthday parties or company gatherings that we want to sort one day. Today is that day! I know it’s a lot of work (especially for us who take a lot of photos) but it’s worth it.

You can make personalized albums and give them to your friends or your family.

There are so many platforms where you can upload your photos to and have them printed for you. You can also get creative and make a scrapbook for someone you love.

 

18. Colouring pages 

Colouring pages are not only for kids. In fact, there are many colouring books for adults and you can find a lot of free printables online. My favourite source of inspiration is Pinterest. Simply type colouring pages for adults (or kids) and you can save some great colouring pages downloaded to your computer. You only have to print them. Enjoy!

 

19. Take photos of your home and details in your home

This is for those who love photography. When I have the option to go out I usually take photos outside. But staying in more hours a day makes you appreciate all the details that make your home beautiful. So take some nice flatlays, rearange things for photos and make some cool set-ups at home. 

 

20. Wake up earlier than usual to enjoy sunrise

If you can’t go out it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy sunrise from your window or your balcony. Grab your coffee and if you’re lucky enough to have a balcony, have a seat and watch the beginning of a new day. 

 

21. Research interesting topics online

Remember that time you saw something online or on TV and it sounded really interesting. You said to yourself that you’ll check it out later but you forgot or you didn’t have time. Now that you have more time research topics that interest you. Learn something new. 

 

22. Teach someone something you’re good at

If you speak a language that your friend was eager to learn now’s the time to help them start. Do it via video call. You’ll have fun practicing and your friend will learn something new. It doesn’t have to be learning a language. I’m sure you have kids in your neighbourhood that are currently not going to school. Ask their parents to help them (also via video call) with math for example. It means a lot to someone and at the same time you’re helping and that’s a great feeling. 

 

23. Create a vision board (dream board or mood board)

So many people are talking about vision boards. Vision boards are also known as dream boards or mood boards. I’ve been meaning to do one, not so much for the sake of “vision” but more for the sake of creativity. I think now is the perfect time to create one. You can do it on your computer or you can do it manually. Vision board should represent your dreams, your goals and simply put – your ideal life or something you strive for. They are a collage of pictures and words that represent those goals and dreams. 

By putting a vision board somewhere you can see it every day, you will prompt yourself to visualize your ideal life on a regular basis. By adding a visualization practice to your daily routine, you will become more motivated to reach your goals.

How to create a vision board? Find pictures that represent the experiences, feelings and also the material things that you want to attract into your life and simply place them in your board. You can use your own photos or photos from the internet, even magazine cutouts. Beside photos, you should use words. That means that you can print any quote you love and some positive thoughts. You can also add a piece of paper with only one word on it like LOVE or HEALTH.

This whole process of making a vision board should be fun! So, go and be creative! Make your dreams come true!

What not to do when creating a vision board? Don’t make it chaotic by putting a lot of photos or quotes on it. That’s the only thing. 

You can pin your photos on a cork board or a bigger piece of carton, it’s your choice. 

If it’s easier to make your vision board online you can use Canva to do it. Canva has great tools and some ready made templates to inspire you. You can also find inspiration for your vision board on Pinterest.

 

24. Take online quizzes, crossword puzzles or do Sudoku

Doing quizzez have always been fun if you ask me. Nowadays, you can find everything online. If you like Sudoku and you didn’t have a chance to buy it you can find it online and play for free here (you can choose the difficulty level of your game). At this website you can also play some of the best games ever like Solitaire, Spider and Mahjong. Mahjong was my favourite computer game for a looong time and I’m happy that I have time to play it again. If you haven’t played it yet, I have to tell you that it’s pretty addictive 🙂

 

 25. Draw

You don’t know how to draw? Who cares! Draw anyway! Remember when you were a kid – you were drawing all the time. Draw anything and everything you can think of. It’s a great way to relax and some of the best things to do in self isolation.

You can find some drawing ideas here.

 

26. Send a card to someone you love (virtual or real)

There are people who love to be creative and if you’re one of them try making some pretty cards for your loved ones, your friends or someone you don’t know. Send that card by email or by post (if possible). You’ll feel good and the person who receives your card will feel great. Small things do matter, during these days even more.

 

27. Drink coffee online with friends

If you can’t sit at a coffee shop with your friends, you can make a conference call and enjoy that time together.

 

 

 

28. Help others

There are many ways you can help others even when you’re alone at home. You can call a family member or friend who feel lonely. You can teach things you’re good at online.

 

29. Write down gift ideas for family and friends

I’m sure you have some birthdays in your family soon so even if you can’t see some members of your family right now, it’s a good idea to think about what you want to give them as a birthday present. 

 

30. Get cozy and do nothing

This is something we all need from time to time. To simply do nothing. You can take a cup of hot coffee or tea, sit down in your favourite corner of your home and just relax. Just because you’re in self isolation and spending more time at home than usual you don’t have to feel the pressure to do something. Don’t burn yourself out by thinking how you have to be productive even if you don’t feel like doing anything. Take your time and slow down if that’s how you feel. Listen to your mind and body and if it tells you it’s time to rest then it is definitely time to rest. 

 

Some people are still going to work and some are allowed to go out. If you’re in this category here are some of the things you can do.

Things to do if you can still go out:

• Take a walk and enjoy fresh air
• Exercise outside
• Help an elderly by buying them groceries or checking on them by phone
• Volunteer
• Gardening is a great way to relax and if you’re lucky to have a garden, this is perfect. The weather in Northern hemisphere is perfect for gardening. If you have a balcony plant something new and take care of your plants. 
• Help someone who can’t go out by walking their dog. Do I even need tell you how satisfying this is? Dogs are amazing creatures. My husband and I are lucky to have one little sausage dog living with us and making our days better (always!).

If you feel like planning a trip for when all this is over check out my blog posts related to travel:

• What to see and do in Bratislava
• Istanbul neighbourhoods you must see
• Coffee shops in Budapest that you cannot miss.

I really hope this blog post will help you organize your time during the self isolation. I’m always here if you have any questions. Thank you for reading! Stay home and stay safe!