When you're stuck at home because of the weather, no vehicle, or simply not having any appointments, you'll quickly feel bored or run out of activities to keep yourself busy. However, learn how to keep your body and mind active while you're stuck at home.
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Method 1 of 4: Keeping Your Body Active While At Home
Step 1. Dance to the beat of the song
Play your favorite music on the stereo and dance to songs as fun activities that make you smile and exercise that gets your heart pumping.
- Try learning new dance moves from videos on the internet. You can also try classic popular dance moves such as the Moonwalk, Running Man, or the Electric Slide.
- Try watching a zumba video or program as an activity that combines dance and exercise.
- Sing along with the song! Challenge yourself to sing all the lyrics of the song or try out all the dance moves in the music video.
Step 2. Exercise or do yoga at home
Look online for free exercise or yoga videos to follow, or create your own routine. Run on a treadmill or other exercise equipment if available and listen to a song or watch a television show while exercising.
- You can also borrow sports DVDs for free from your local library.
- Try exercises that don't take up much space at home or require a lot of movement, such as squats, arm circles, and planking.
- Even if you don't move around much throughout the day, challenge yourself to get up from your seat every hour or half and do a simple stretch or a few sets of jumping jacks.
Step 3. Take a walk or run
If you can leave the house, go for a short walk or run. You can give it a try, even if it's just walking or running a few laps around the house to get your heart pumping and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
- Try identifying flowers by names you don't know or notice five new things around your house or yard that you've never seen before.
- You can also do simple exercises on your way to the garage or on the sidewalk, such as jumping rope or hops.
- If you can't get outside, but still want to run, try climbing and descending the stairs in your home as a form of exercise. Make sure you wear shoes with good traction and take other precautions to avoid slipping or falling down stairs.
Method 2 of 4: Keeping the Brain Active at Home
Step 1. Read a book or newspaper
Dive into a novel that you really want to read, or an informative book or newspaper with a new topic to keep your mind agile and active.
- Try choosing readings you've never enjoyed before or nonfiction books on topics you don't know. When you later chat with someone, you can tell them what you've learned.
- If you need to read a book that you are not really interested in for a particular class or job, try to dive deeper into the book's material by reading it in a comfortable place while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea. You can also bring the book to read outside the house or read it aloud to make it more interesting.
Step 2. Solve the word or number puzzle
Open a segment of a crossword, sudoku, or other puzzle in the newspaper and try to solve the quiz.
- If you don't have a newspaper or a word or number game book at home, look for a digital version on the internet or on your cell phone to play at will.
- If there are other people in your house or you invite people to your house, invite them to solve the puzzle. You can also invite them to play word, card, or board games with you.
Step 3. Learn a language or take a new class
Take one of the many free classes offered on the internet or mobile apps to learn a new language or skill.
- Take free classes from top universities to learn new things, right from your home.
- You can also take online courses to learn basic computer coding.
- You can spend some time without looking at a television screen or device by picking up a dictionary or encyclopedia and learning a new word or concept.
Step 4. Watch television or listen to radio shows
Keep your brain active and challenge yourself to learn new things by watching a documentary series or listening to a story on the radio.
If you can't use radio or television (or have limited access), you can search the internet for shows and documentaries. Most radio shows are available as podcasts on radio station websites or other podcast platforms, which you can download or enjoy through streaming services
Step 5. Chat with friends or family
Call, start a video chat, or text a friend or family member to chat with.
- Try writing a classic postal letter to your friend. Write your letter using cute stationery, then decorate your letter and envelope with stickers, markers, or other surprises for the recipient.
- Invite people to your house if you can! You can have a cooking show together, play a game, or just chat over a cup of tea or coffee.
Step 6. Try a meditation practice
Relax your body while revitalizing your mind by practicing meditation. You can learn one of many easy meditation techniques for free from the internet.
- Try a simple mindfulness meditation that you can do at any time if you have a few minutes of time.
- You also don't need specific instructions to meditate. Just sit quietly with your eyes closed, then think about or pay attention to the various stimuli your senses receive from your surroundings.
Method 3 of 4: Completing Tasks at Home
Step 1. Plan your time at home in advance
Make one or more to-do lists for a day, week, or other duration so that you can complete the tasks at home during that “period”.
- Try prioritizing your to-do list by sorting tasks by importance or dividing them into categories (e.g. “Today”, “Tomorrow”, “Weekend”, “Important”, “Soon”, and “If Possible”).
- To make the tasks at hand feel more fun and satisfying to complete, use colored pens, stickers, or other decorations when making lists, and make sure you cross each completed task off the list!
Step 2. Clean or tidy up your surroundings
Do work that has been neglected, such as vacuuming, wiping windows, or washing dishes. For more fun, play some music or sing while you work.
- Active tasks that require you to get up from your seat and move around such as washing clothes, vacuuming, mopping, or wiping windows provide the added benefit of being able to exercise while getting the job done.
- If you work from home, clean and tidy your desk or workspace first so you can think more clearly and focus better when you're working.
- Try organizing or reorganizing areas that are usually messy, such as wardrobes or kitchen cabinets so that it is easier for you to keep them tidy.
Step 3. Repair the damaged items
Try repairing damaged household items or clothes, or repairing simple things that have been neglected.
- If you don't know how to fix something, look online for repair instructions. Maybe it's easier to fix than you think.
- Use a needle and thread to thread or patch a thread, sew a torn part, or make other adjustments to a damaged garment to make it wearable again.
Step 4. Do yard work if you can go outside
Sweep fallen leaves, cut grass, trim branches from trees, or plant something to beautify and tidy up the yard while “exercise”.
- If you don't have a yard, you can decorate your terrace or balcony with plants, chairs, or decorative lights.
- If you can't be outdoors, try preparing some plants to plant or place on the windowsill. All you need is a pot, soil, plant seeds and water.
Step 5. Plan future events
If there's an upcoming event (e.g. someone's birthday or graduation, or other event), take the time at home to plan what needs to be done and contact the parties concerned to rent a space or order equipment.
Try making your own invitation cards or decorations for the event so you can save money and give it a creative personal touch
Method 4 of 4: Get Creative at Home
Step 1. Make a craft project
Create a pencil or marker drawing or sketch, an oil or watercolor painting, or a clay or dough sculpture. You can get inspiration from a variety of new art projects or paintings.
- Try coloring pictures in a coloring book. You can print image templates from the internet to color, or download applications and computer programs to color virtual images.
- Choose a form of craft that you've never tried before, such as embroidery, origami, or drawing cartoons.
Step 2. Play a musical instrument
Choose an instrument that you haven't played in a long time or haven't had time to learn. Try learning a new song or mastering a scale or chord progression.
You can search for chords or scores of guitars, pianos, and other common instruments for almost any popular song on the internet. You can also use an online tuner to tune an instrument before it's played
Step 3. Choose a new hobby
Take up a hobby you've always wanted to do or haven't thought of trying for a long time. Try knitting or crocheting, juggling, photography, or other activities you can do at home.
If you're struggling with one hobby, try taking half an hour to focus on that activity before trying another, especially if you're easily irritated or you get distracted quickly
Step 4. Try a DIY or DIY activity
Create crafts or items that make work easier at home, decorate, or make furniture or other interesting inventions by searching the internet for DIY project tips.
- Combine photos into framed collages to display on walls or shelves, or organize them in albums or scrapbooks.
- Try making your own beauty or cleaning products, wall hangings and lights, or unique media for growing plants indoors or outdoors.
- You can also keep your house neat and clean by making your own storage solutions out of simple items like cardboard, jars, or metal cans.
Step 5. Create a new recipe or create your own recipe
Prepare a meal for yourself, family or friends. Look for new healthy recipes, fancy desserts, or exciting appetizers for a themed event.
- Don't worry if you don't have many ingredients at home. Look for recipes that use ingredients you may have stored in your pantry or refrigerator, or recipes that require only a few simple ingredients.
- If you don't have much time or opportunity to cook yourself regularly, take the time to make large meals, then divide them into individual meals that are ready to be served or enjoyed for a week.
