Hopefully, everybody is staying home and safe! With being stuck at home you may be feeling bored and trapped in the same routine. I have been figuring out things to keep me occupied and thought, “why not share what I have been doing to keep myself busy?”
- Clean! Now, you may have already uprooted your room and everything in your house, but if you have not, it is a great time to do so. Make the most of being at home by cleaning up your space. This could be your room or desk space you do your homework at. Decluttering your space can also declutter your brain and inspire a renewed feeling.
- Master a new talent. As mentioned before, we have a lot of time on our hands. Why not master a new talent? Is there anything you’ve always wanted to learn? It could be something as small as juggling or whistling, or something as big as learning a new language. The options are endless.
- Learn and Create TikToks. We know how addicting watching TikToks are, why not create some? There are many dances and funny videos that can be fun to recreate by yourself or with your parents and siblings. This can pass some time and be quite entertaining. You can even share them with your friends and get them in on the trend.
- Exercise! It is crucial to get your body moving. Make sure to exercise daily or at least 4-5 times a week. It is good for your body and mind. Even though you can’t go to the gym, there are tons of at home workouts you can find on YouTube. I know a couple of YouTubers who have apartment friendly workouts (if you have someone living below you) and no equipment workouts (if you don’t have any machines or weights in your house). One of my favorite YouTubers is Casey Ho — her channel is called Blogilates and I linked one of her videos here, but she has many other ones!
- Meditate. Finding your inner peace and relaxation during what can be a stressful time is important. If hardcore, intense exercising is not for you, maybe yoga or meditation might help. YouTube also has many deep breathing and relaxation videos to follow. I know there are also many apps one can download on their phone or electronic device — just try searching “meditation” on your app store!
- Practice self-reflection. There is an abundance of time to think. But the question is, of what? We can easily let our minds race and run wild, but I think it is important to self-actualize. Start thinking about yourself and your choices and what there is you can approve or what you have accomplished that you are proud of. It may sound cheesy and cliché, but I think this is the best time to do some self-reflection.
- Write! Take out your journal or open google docs and write away. During this time there will be a lot of self-reflection and thoughts swimming around in our heads. Why not write down our feelings that are occurring during this time? Or maybe start a daily journal exploring our day to day activities.
- Video chats. With the amazing technology we have today, why not take advantage of it? Plan a weekly meeting with your friends or plan to watch a movie together over Skype. Or, you can even exercise with a companion. Don’t feel like you’re alone when you can talk to anyone with your phone or computer.
- Make a routine. Days are probably starting to melt together, and you may not be sure of what today’s date is, but the best thing to do now is to keep a routine. Though you may not be able to go out and do your normal daily routine, its best to make a new one. Plan your day, wake up early, take a shower and get ready for the day. It should help you feel refreshed and prepared, even if you’re only going to do homework or watch a movie.
- Revisit old hobbies. Any old hobbies you used to do? Like draw or write or read? Why not browse the books you have and find a new favorite? I, myself, have been reading more often than I used to and enjoy having the time to read for entertainment.With the excess time we have on our hands, it is nice to do things that we haven’t been able to because of our busy lives.
Written by Grace M., a Rutgers—Camden Undergraduate Student and Raptor Ambassador.