There is a Chinese curse that says, “may you live in interesting times”.

Well, I think that we can all agree that these are pretty damn interesting times. The worldwide pandemic Covid-19 is forcing many of us to stay indoors or practice social distancing. But not all is at a complete loss. If you are strong and healthy there are ways you could make the best of this imposed upon new found time.

I compiled a list to help us all stay a little saner as we’re hunkering down at home. 

Interesting Things To Do While Forced To Stay Inside During The Coronavirus

Start A Journal, Blog, Memoir 

You don’t have to be a writer to write. Why not start by writing letters to people who you have lost touch with, to your parents or children. Start that memoir, if only to leave something to shock your children into believing that you had a pretty cool life before you became a parent.

Teach Yourself A Foreign Language

I mean let’s face it, we will be traveling again so why not learn to say in numerous languages, “my friend will pay”. 

Best Language Apps

Organize Your Closets, Cupboards & Drawers 

You know that closet, the one that almost kills you with falling stuff every time you open it. Now is the time for you to tame that beast and clear out some of that crap. Organize your kitchen drawers, your spice cupboard. Know you will only ever need one Cream of Tartar in your lifetime, let the others go. Your Tupperware lids will thank you. 

Take that organization to the bathroom. Throw out those broken eyeshadow palettes and lipsticks older than most of your relationships. Discard anything that has past its expiration date. 

Try on all your old clothes. Get rid of what doesn’t fit you or doesn’t jam with your current fashion diva self. If it doesn’t spark joy or if it sparks too much muffin top, donate. 

Deep Clean Your House, Apartment, Flat

That includes, (but not limited to) vacuuming under carpets, cleaning the oven, dusting the tops of your dusty house plants, and lifting up (not cleaning around) your Jo Malone candles and your artistic accumulation of coffeetable books. While you are at it, oil those wooden cutting boards and wash your makeup brushes.

Read, Read, Read!

This is a great time to catch up on your reading. I am a big non-fiction reader so I can highly suggest;

Catch and Kill ~ Ronan Farrow

Becoming ~ Michelle Obama

Educated ~ Tara Westover

Still stuck for content?

Here is The Independent’s List Of Books to Read Before You Die (don’t let the title scare you).

Also if you haven’t discovered audio Books (I love Audible) it is well worth the low monthly subscription fee. Listen to, Talking To Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell, better listened to than read. There are 1000’s of podcasts on any subject you can imagine and some you can’t. So you can multitask listening to Colin Firth narrate The End of The Affair while you are cleaning out that junk drawer. 

Home Spa Treatments 

Deep condition your hair, take the time for long scented soaks in your tub. Try detoxifying skin treatments and anti-aging face masks. Why, because you’re worth it. 

Take An Online Course, Learn Something!

Learn to code…or not. There are 1000’s of free online courses. Learn how to play chess, an instrument, meditate, how to hypnotize people, build a blog, understand SEO, or how to Bio-Hack Your Brain’s Health (it’s a thing). 

Although a little pricey I love Masterclass.com. Spend some one-on-one time with Margaret Atwood or Dan Brown as they discuss how you too can write a novel worthy of cinematic adaptation. Or impress your friends as you learn from master pastry chef Dominique Ansel how to bake his world-famous Cronut.

Knit

You heard me, knit or crochet.  If you don’t know how there is an online course for that. 

Miss Working Out?

Try at-home workout videos 

Create New Playlists on your Spotify or Apple Music

Preferably ones to accompany your deep cleaning efforts or your home workouts. 

Make A Photo Book. 

You have thousands of photos sitting on your iPhone, computer or somewhere up in the cloud. Now is your time to not only delete those duplicates, those unexplained photo bursts and those photos of your ex that cause you to shutter, but to organize them in the way of creating something practical and beautiful, a Photo Book. Make one for a friend, family member or make one that shows highlights of your wonderful existence. Let’s face it, this is a much better way of sharing photos than on Instagram. 

Board Games & Puzzles.

In with your family? Finally learn all the rules to Settlers of Catan. 

FaceTime Your Friends & Family

Stay in touch. 

Cook, Bake, and Experiment 

Expand your culinary repertoire without judgment.

Stream, Watch, Explore & Binge

I am not talking about watching old reruns of Ally McBeal, although I have to say aside from the “everyone openly doing everyone” in the sexually charged workplace it still stands up. There is a world of brilliant streaming platforms, some of which are now kicking it up a notch.

Feel you are missing out on Theatre, Films, and Culture

Globe Player brings to you over 50 Shakespearean Globe productions.

Opera Streaming. Met Opera on Demand. The Met is also streaming free encore presentations for the duration of the opera house’s closure.

Check out what’s streaming from venues around the work with the Social Distancing Festival.

Curzon Home Cinema brings to your sofa films still currently playing in their cinemas, plus more that aren’t.

Google Arts & Culture, is bringing us virtually into museums and galleries around the world like the Museé d’Orsay, The Uffizi, and The National Gallery. Or immerse yourself in a Banksy treasure hunt exploring his street art virtually.

CNN Style has a great extensive list of more suggestions.

Stream the Oscars and Independent Spirit Award Winners for Best Picture. 

Think that there is nothing binge-worthy you haven’t seen? Think again. Here is The New York Time’s Best Movies and Television Lists for Netflix and Amazon Prime. You're welcome. 

The New York Times List For Best Television and Movies on Netflix

The New York Times List For Best Television and Movies on Amazon Prime

Have Kids? 

Bake cookies, make homemade slime and Play-Doh, subscribe to Disney Plus Channel (just do it). 

Help

If you are living in the UK, fit and well you can help vulnerable people in your local area. People are self-organizing into volunteer groups under the umbrella of Covid-19 mutual aid UK.

Donate

Want to donate to food banks, but aren't able to go to the supermarket? There's an app for that. In fact, there are several.

Also, if doctors say it’s okay to go outside as long as you practice social distancing go for a bike ride or a walk in your local park.  Get some fresh air.

This is a very challenging time we are now in, and for some life-threatening. So follow the instructions from our elected leaders and our health care professionals…and please, please be nice to each other.

Something Worth Noting…

When Martha Stewart went to jail she thought it was the end of her world, her empire. With the right attitude, she emerged thinner, richer and with a fancy new crocheted poncho who’s pattern sold in the thousands.

When Isaac Newton was forced to stay at home during the Great Plague of London in 1665 he invented calculus, optic theory and The Laws of Motion. So game on people.

And finally…our grandparents were called to war. We are being called to sit on a couch. So now that you have this list you have no excuse to do nothing but sit. Look forward to hearing how you made the best of this time. Please share.

Stay Healthy My Friends.