After all the zoom classes, self-care, and altering of our hair we might be close to thinking that we have run out of things to do as we social distance. However, here are 8 new activities you could try to keep indoor life creative and even a little scandalous.
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Call your family members and (attempt to) teach them technological skills. Think about it: as a young adult today, we have an entire world to explore on the internet at the touch of a screen. Your grandparents, however, may spend hours at home with little to no exposure to the novelties of the internet, or even computers for that matter. Teach them how to use Facebook or other simple messaging apps. In a difficult case, you may want to start simply with using a smartphone’s camera and texting abilities. For advanced senior citizens, you could even go as far as to explaining YouTube, Netflix, or other social media applications.
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Look to your closet for potential. Color code it. Take out old clothes, cut them up, make something new. Marie Kondo it. Put together outfits for the future. Wear amazing outfits indoors, because it doesn’t have to be a special day to wear your old prom dress. Or your graduation gown. Or even a Halloween costume? Keep it interesting, you might surprise yourself with what you own and haven’t seen in years.
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Make playlists for every specific moment that can happen in your life. Give them creative and highly descriptive names. It’s easy to go crazy with the topics, making a sort of soundtrack for moments that haven’t occurred yet. You can also make playlists that remind you of specific times in your life. For future examples, think “Exploring the Woods with a Very Small Puppy,” “Bumping Your Hand Next to Your Best Friend’s on a long walk,” “Going On a Run to Seek Revenge from your Enemy.” For nostalgic playlists, there’s “Working on a Great Gatsby Essay, 2014” and “Shoplifting as a 10-year-old, Feeling Like a Criminal.”
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Paint on anything. We’ve all seen the girls on our social media painting their sunsets and flowers and landscapes, but I just want to say there is no need to complete a coherent painting at all. Paint abstract thoughts on old papers. Recycle, no need to buy canvas, and feel free to create for the sake of creating. Paint on your walls. Paint you face, do your makeup. Paint your nails. Paint on your body, try some henna. Coloring books.
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Get a pet. Contact your local animal shelters and consider what kind of struggles it may be going through. Currently, in many parts of the country stay-at-home orders have caused many pet rescue centers to become short-staffed and unable to maintain the quantity of pets housed. However, you can become a foster parent to a pet today. Give them a home, a big hug, and some food, and you’re set with almost unconditional love and attention, at least for the time being.
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Once the pet is acquired, or localizing your own right at home, the possibilities are endless. Follow your dog around the home to learn its lifestyle, they are already used to the quarantine. They stay home all day, and take walks, they must be experts. Wash your dog, wash their toys, clean their spaces. Brush and cut their hair. Color their hair with dog-safe dye. Teach them tricks, because yes, it is possible to train an older dog.
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Try a 24 hour no internet challenge just to see if you can. We can all tell ourselves that we are not reliant on it, and we could change our habits if only we decided. However, you cannot say you can, until you do it for sure. If you are an all or nothing person, you may want to even go for 48 hours or more.
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Pretend you are 10, 13, 15, 18 years old and remember what brought you joy in those moments from the past. Call up childhood friends. Call up your ex (unless it is problematic to do so)? Your childhood crush? Who knows, creating a little suspense in your life could lead to unsuspected outcomes. Dress like different versions of yourself throughout the trends we have experienced: early 2000s,2010s. Play those games you enjoyed in your childhood. Apps? Board games? Video games? Watch your favorite shows and see how they have really shaped you into the person you are today.