7 ways to keep yourself entertained during quarantine

With whole countries quarantined in their homes and toilet paper inexplicably flying off supermarket shelves, you’d be forgiven if you thought the end of the world was nigh. The coronavirus pandemic has swept across the continents and with it, hysteria and panic.

Things to do at home

Being quarantined can be scary (and rather boring). So, in the interests of keeping people's spirits up, and to alleviate the creeping sense of boredom, we have put together a list of seven things to do while you are self-isolating.

1. Pick up a book

In an age of Netflix, Youtube and Disney+, it is easy to forget what we used to do with our free time before hours and hours of digital entertainment was available at the push of a button. Can you even remember the last time you sat down with a really good book?

Quarantine is the perfect opportunity to sit down with a classic novel or even educate yourself. Get away from all the stresses of today and immerse yourself in faraway lands, desperate struggles and mystical quests. If that isn’t exactly your cup of tea, take this time to learn something new or improve your skills.

2. That big spring clean

Being quarantine has provided you with the perfect opportunity to give your house that big spring clean that you never get round to. Now that you have little else to do it’s time to break out the rubber gloves and feather duster and get scrubbing.

Not only is keeping a clean house good practice in the midst of this coronavirus pandemic but it is also great at relieving stress. According to physiologists cleaning and removing clutter from your home can help with stress and anxiety, which is probably what everyone needs right now.

3. Catch up on your favourite show

If you’re self-isolating and you aren’t working from home then now is the time to relax and take your mind off things for a while. We all know how hard it can be keeping up to date with your favourite show, the struggle of having to avoid spoilers, being consistently reminded by your friends that you need to catch up. So take this opportunity to grab some snacks, make yourself comfy and settle in for a huge catch-up binge. There’s never been a better time for it!

If you’ve kept up to date with all your favourite shows and you’re struggling to find something new to watch then take a look at our top picks for German Netflix series.

4. Practice your cooking

In the words of the great Gordon Ramsey, “Cooking is the only skill that you have to use three times a day, seven days a week, for the rest of your life.” Quarantine is the perfect time to sharpen up your cooking skills or even learn a few new dishes. Just remember to wash your hands!!

5. Exercise

With all this extra free time on your hands, what better way to spend it than improving your fitness? While it would probably be wise to stay away from the gym, there’s nothing wrong with throwing on a tracksuit and going for a run. Just make sure you keep a safe distance from other people (about 1,5 metres).

If you'd rather stay safe between your four walls, there's no end of fitness gurus on YouTube just waiting to guide you through a home work out. 

6. Learn to play chess

This one may seem a bit random, but learning to play chess has loads of benefits and you’ll be infinitely rewarded if you decide to give it a go. Learning to play chess is easy enough; mastering it is a different challenge altogether. Regular playing can help you develop skills that benefit you in many other areas of life. It not only helps you to focus, plan ahead and develop problem-solving skills, but it also exercises both parts of your brain - to name but a few benefits!

Athletes have long spoken about the transferable mental skills from chess to sports and you’ll be surprised to learn that some of your favourite sports personalities are big chess players. Boris Becker, Wladimir Klitschko, Anthony Joshua, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Usain Bolt and Floyd Mayweather all play chess and have endorsed it as a performance-improver.

7. Visit a museum

Yes, you read that right. “But how can we go to museums if we are supposed to be in quarantine?” I hear you ask. Well, some European museums have opened their doors, virtually speaking, and are providing online tours through Google Arts and Culture. The service provides beautiful high-res images as well as street view tours that allow you to navigate around the museums. They also offer interactive, online exhibitions that explain particular features and nuances of certain works.

Delve into the mysteries of forgotten cultures, learn about the sculptures of the Pacific god A’a at the British Museum or discover the obscurities in Rembrandt’s, The Night Watch at the Rijksmuseum, all from the comfort of your own home!

Help prevent the spread of coronavirus

We hope these can help you stop going mad with boredom, but, just while we are on this note, it is better to stay at home bored than continue as normal. It’s not just for your own good but the good of others.

Since there is no treatment or vaccine for the virus, we all have a responsibility to help prevent the spread and relieve the pressure on the healthcare system and the emergency services.

So stay home, slap on a show, preheat the oven or crack out the chessboard and try to make the most of life in quarantine!