It’s no secret that things are tough right now.
At the time of writing this, we’ve just been advised by the UK government to stay at home as much as possible, unless you need to buy essentials or exercise.
Sure, this is a massive adjustment compared to what we consider the norm. It’s going to take a while to adapt and we’re going to struggle being confined to our houses when we’re so used to being out amongst society.
That said, there are many ways you can keep yourself busy during lockdown and distract yourself from the dreaded C word.
Don’t believe me? Try these 110 things to do at home while self-isolating — and I guarantee it’ll be pretty hard to feel bored.
Things to Do At Home While Self-Isolating 101: Have Fun with Solo Activities
1. Paint or draw a picture
2. Take up sewing or knitting
3. Create a vision board of places you’d want to travel to once all this is over
4. Make a bucket list of things you want to achieve in your life
5. Make a travel bucket list of places you want to go to in your life
6. Get your old photos printed and create a scrapbook of memories
7. Find a new recipe and cook it
8. Journal every day
9. Read a new book
10. Write a short story or novel
11. Sit outside in your garden and get some fresh air
12. Dig out an old colouring book and spend some time colouring your anxiety away
13. Play an old instrument or learn a new one
14. Make a card for an upcoming event like a birthday or wedding
15. Clean your makeup brushes
16. Maintain your garden
17. Plant something new in your garden and watch it grow
18. Re-decorate a room
19. Feng shui a room
20. Solve a puzzle
21. Spend some time meditating
22. Take a long, hot bubble bath
23. Have a pamper night with a face mask and give yourself a manicure and pedicure
24. Dye your hair a different colour
25. Organise your bookshelf into a rainbow of colours
26. Write a poem about your life
27. Learn how to make jewellery and send gifts to your loved ones
28. Write a list of everything you are grateful for every day
29. Write your very own song with lyrics you made up
30. Catch up on sleep
Use Technology
31. Listen to a new album from start to finish
32. Start a daily vlog
33. Listen to an audio book
34. Find five new podcasts to listen to
35. Catch up on your favourite TV shows
36. Play video games
37. Play games on your phone
38. Create your own magazine and mail it to your loved ones
39. Learn a new language
40. Learn calligraphy
Keep Fit Even When You’re in Quarantine
41. Go outside and take a short stroll around your house or the block
42. Do a workout in your garden
43. Dig out an old exercise DVD and do it every other day
44. Find a new form of exercise you’ve never done on YouTube and give it a try
Grab a Roommate
45. Play board games
46. Play charades
47. Play cards
48. Create a cinema in one of your rooms and have a movie marathon (I recommend Lord of the Rings, Star Wars or Harry Potter)
49. Bake cakes or scones or something yummy for you all to enjoy
50. Have a karaoke party
51. Learn a dance routine and perform it for others or create a video to post it on social media
52. Have a living room disco and do a dance-off
53. Buy something your roommate would like and create a treasure hunt for them to find it
54. Create your own game and play it until you’re tired of it
55. Make up a workout together and do it every day
56. Give each other massages
57. Have a picnic lunch in your garden
58. Make a time capsule to be opened in 10 years
59. Go camping in your garden
60. Make your very own movie
61. Make your very own TV show
62. Create new outfits and put on a fashion show for each other
63. Create an indoor den (no, it’s not just for kids!)
64. Learn how to braid and practise it on someone else (with long enough hair, of course!)
65. Have your own wine tasting of whatever you’ve got in your house
Grab Your Pet
66. Teach your pet a new skill
67. Play a new game with your pet
68. Take your pet for a short stroll
69. Groom your pet on a regular basis
Make the Most of Having an Internet Connection
70. Research Spring/Summer 2020 fashion trends
71. Create a “spring picks” wishlist
72. Online shop to update your wardrobe for when you come out of self-isolation
73. Online shop for groceries
74. Online shop for new things for your home
75. Enrol for an online course so that you can learn a new skill
76. Research your family tree
Sort Out Your Home
77. Do some spring cleaning (especially areas you usually miss like your oven or garage) and tidy every drawer, cupboard and nook and cranny
78. Have a clear-out
79. Sell old, unwanted items on eBay
80. Host a small swapping party with healthy friends and/or family
81. Create a capsule wardrobe for spring
82. Colour co-ordinate your wardrobe
Communicate and Connect
83. FaceTime a far-away friend
84. Send voice notes to your loved ones
85. Call your grandparents or other family members who live alone and might appreciate a chat
86. Find your next new love interest on a dating app
87. Go on a Skype date where you cook together or watch a movie together in your own houses
88. Create a new social media profile (like Tik Tok? It’s all the rage!)
89. Write a letter to a loved one and mail it
90. Get back in touch with that old friend you’ve been meaning to re-connect with
91. Make a gift for a loved one’s special occasion and mail it to them
Let’s Get Down to Business
92. Do a social media audit and sharpen up your online presence
93. Start a blog if you love to write
94. Guest post on other people’s blogs or website if you love to write
95. Start a business if you’ve been temporarily laid off or you’ve lost your job
96. Assess where you are in your career, where you want to be and how you get there
97. Organise your computer documents into files
98. Back up your computer files and clear your desktop
99. Go through your phone photos and videos and delete any unnecessary files
100. Go through your phone apps and delete any you don’t use
101. Back up your phone photos and videos
102. Go through your bookmarked websites in your internet browser and delete any irrelevant ones
103. Track your finances and get them in order
104. Create a savings plan for your next big adventure or item
105. Come up with a budget for the foreseeable future (seen as though times are so uncertain)
106. Do your income taxes while you have the time
107. Set up a pension if you’re self-employed (and haven’t already)
108. Update or write your will and organise your affairs
109. Create some long-term and short-term goals for things you’d like to achieve in the next month, year and five years
110. Spend some time filing important paperwork or recycling any documents you don’t need anymore
Things to Do at Home While Self-Isolating: It Doesn’t Have to Equal Boredom or Loneliness
Even though self-isolation isn’t ideal, it’s become somewhat necessary during this global pandemic. There are still so many things to do at home while self-isolating to keep yourself occupied in the meantime.
Plus, look at it this way, being in quarantine allows you to hit the reset button on your life and reflect on which aspects you’re happy with and which areas need improvement. Then when this is all over, you’ll have done all the hard thinking and know exactly what to do to get your life back on track.
Take care of yourself!
Do you have any more ideas when it comes to things to do at home while self-isolating?
Makeup Muddle says
Oh my gosh this list must have taken you ages! Thanks so much for sharing these great ideas with us. I’d love to do some painting haha, I might have to buy some paints from Amazon xo
Makeup Muddle
katie says
Aww you’re very welcome, Gemma! I’m so happy that you find this list useful.
Oh, painting is the best! It makes me feel so calm. Go for it!
Hugs!
– Katie xo
Maddie Nelson says
Thanks for these tips!
Katie Davies says
You’re very welcome, Maddie! Thanks for stopping by.