Let's turn a bad situation into a good one. Social distancing and quarantine don't have to be boring or miserable, it can be a great opportunity to do all the things that you don't normally have time for. Whether you are at home by yourself or with your family, use this time to do something positive, rather than concentrate on what you can't do, concentrate on what you can do.
So is a list of 115 things you can do during this time:
By yourself
Learn a new language - If you have always wanted to pick up a new language, this is a fantastic time to do so. There are so many online courses and apps that can help you get started. I actually find children and baby language apps fantastic for this, because they start with the basics and they make it fun.
Spring cleaning - This is the perfect time to Marie Kondo your place. Go through your wardrobe, paperwork or expired goods in your kitchen cabinets (Come on, I know you have some at the back of your cupboard somewhere. I certainly do.)
Reading - Another great self-improvement activity that you can do. This is the time to go through your reading wish list.
Meditation - A great free activity that you can do anywhere, any time. There are lots of guided meditation on Spotify that you can do. If you want to do a 21 Days Abundance meditation challenge, please message me and I can send it to you.
Take up an online course - There are so many online courses now, from Photoshop to university degree courses, you have your pick. Maybe you will come out of this with a bachelors degree.
Try out a new recipe - Have you ever looked at a recipe and thought, "Oh, I would like to try that one day." Well, today is the day. Try it out, improve it and put your own spin on it.
Yoga - Whether you are a novice or an expert, this is a great activity that you can do on your own. Maybe you will come out of this as a master yogi.
Cupboard Challenge - With people going crazy at the supermarket, sometimes you might not be able to get all the ingredients that you normally cook with. So a great time to get creative and do a cupboard challenge. Maybe you will come up with the next fad.
Spring clean your phone! - I am 4 days in and barely made a dent! We all have so many photos on our phones. This is a great time to go through them, delete the bad ones and transfer them onto your computer or external hard drive.
Binge-watch your favourite TV series - If I wasn't so busy taking care of Joshua all day, I would LOVE to do this! There are so many TV series on Netflix, Amazon Prime, NowTV, Sky and many other streaming channels. I wish I had the time to watch, or even rewatching some of my old favourites.
Online gaming - Back in the day I love some online gaming. I still love playing games on my phone when I have time. This is a perfect time to play as much online gaming as you like, and people will thank you for it.
Selfcare time - Time for some home spa treatment. Do a facemask, exfoliate your skin, or try out a new skincare product that you have been meaning to. You would probably come out of this with radiant skin.
Movie marathon - Whether you are a Harry Potter fan, Star Wars fan, Marvel fan or any other franchise, why not do a movie marathon and watch all your favourite movies back to back. You might find details in the movie that you have missed in the past.
Try out some Youtube DIYs - There are so many videos that I have seen on Youtube that I have thought, what a great idea, I would love to try this out sometime. Why not try some out today.
Pick up an upcycling project - For those of you who like a bit of DIY, why not give a breath of new life to your old furniture or clothing. Get creative and have some fun. This is also a great activity for the environment.
Puzzle time - Personally I find puzzles very therapeutic, so I won't mind spending time doing a 1000pc puzzle.
Catch up on sleep - Ok this I would love to do. Ever since Joshua has been born, I can always do with a bit more sleep. Heck, even before he was born, I can always do with more sleep. Sleeping is great, as it is a time your body recover and rejuvenate. In my opinion, the more sleep the better.
Time to get fit - If you are a bit of an exercise junky, do some home workout sessions, there are so many online. With different apps and online videos, you can definitely find a workout routine that you like.
Spring clean your external hard-drive - My external hard drive can definitely do with some spring cleaning. There are some duplicated files in there or some files that are outdated that I can delete.
Grow your own herbs - I have seen people using the ends of herbs (where the roots are) to grow their own herbs. What a great idea. With supermarkets running out of things, why not grow your own.
Online shopping - Ok but please do this with caution, as you also don't want to run up a massive credit card bill at the end. Even if you don't buy anything, it is always nice to "window shop".
Create your Vision Board - If you have heard people talk about visualizing their lives in 5 years time, then creating a vision board is a great way to do it. Find images online and print them out if you want to make one by hand. Or you can create a digital dream board on your computer. You can even use Pinterest to create your vision boards.
Time for self-reflection and do some soul searching - I am very big on spending time doing self-reflection, so I can see how I can improve and what I can do better.
Scrapbooking - Ok I know this is not for everyone, but scrapbooking can be a lot of fun. With lots of stickers and other materials you can use, you can make it look very pretty.
Create a photobook - I love making photobooks, especially for holidays and birthday present for loved ones.
Try out makeup and hair tutorials - I would love to use this time to try out all the different hair and makeup tutorials I see online. They make it look so easy, however, when I try to do it myself it normally takes ages. The "2 minutes" hairstyle, takes me about an hour and it still won't look as good. So a good time to get practicing.
Time to sort out your finances - Ok this one is not so fun, but necessary. I will own up now that I always put this last on my to-do list. I don't enjoy doing this, but it is an important one to do if you want to get your finances in line.
Declutter your email - Delete those spam mails, and unsubscribe some that you never read. I certainly need to do that.
Gardening - If you are lucky enough to have some outdoor space, then this is a great time to do some gardening. Even if you just have a balcony, it will be a good time to make it look like a little heaven with some potted plants.
Painting - If you have always wanted to try a bit of painting or even get back into painting. This is a great time to do it. You can set a few items and do a still life painting, or simply paint the view outside your window.
Knitting - It is never too early to start knitting your Christmas gifts. Challenge yourself and try something more difficult than a scarf.
Model building - Model planes, robots or battleships, time to take out those models that you have been keeping at the top of your shelves and get a crack on it.
Pottery - Maybe make yourself a new mug, bowl or a plate.
Sketchbook - Why not turn one of your unused notebooks into a doodle book. They can look so pretty. All you need is a pen or a pencil and a notebook if you don't have any other materials.
Quilting - This can be a great upcycle project. If you have some old clothes that you are thinking of throwing away, why not cut them up and make a quilt out of it.
Take a virtual tour - For the culture buffs who want to broaden your horizon in the comfort of your own home. Take a virtual tour of different museums around the world.
Start a journal - Practice your writing skills and start a journal. Afterall the situation we are in now doesn't happen every day. (Well, at least I hope it won't be like this in the long run.) So write down how you feel and what is happening around you. One day they will make great stories for your children and grandchildren.
Pick up Caligraphy - A great time to pick up a new skill. You can even do it as a part-time job. Megan Markle did it when she was a struggling actress.
Listen to Podcasts - there are so many different podcasts out there, I am sure you will find one that interest you.
Origami time - Time to practice some paper art, try something more advance, or you can go old school and just fold 1000 stars and give it to someone when this is all over.
Do some colouring - Thanks to Johanna Basford colouring books are trendier than ever. This is a fun activity for both adults and children. There are a lot of free downloadable ones too where you can print them out at home.
Write poetry - Think you have a poet within you, why not try out some poetry writing.
Practice some Standup Material - If you love to make people laugh and have thought about doing Standup, why not try out some of your own jokes with friends and family via facetime.
Organise your pins - If you love Pinterest like me, then you can use this time to go through your pins and reorganize them. This can take hours, if not days or even weeks.
Have a bath - Salt, bubble or milk bath, they are all super relaxing, especially after a long day of cleaning.
Fix things around the house - We all have things that we need to fix around the house but we keep putting it off, why not do it now.
Frame some photos - Having photos around the house instantly make it more homely and cozy. Why not go through your photos and see which ones to print out and frame.
Create TikTok videos - I have been seeing people create funny TikTok videos and TikTok challenges on Instagram and honestly, it looks really fun. So time to get creative and film some TikTok videos. At least it will give everyone a laugh.
Reorganize your Spotify - Go through your Spotify playlist and delete and reorganize your playlist. There might be songs on there that you have now grown bored of.
DIY beauty products - If you are into cruelty-free and fresh beauty products, why not make your own.
Write a review - Writing reviews are oddly addictive, you can write it on your latest Amazon or Taobao purchase, or on Openrice or even on Tripadvisor. It can be really fun.
Create your own nut butter - You can use almond, peanut or walnut. Or you can get creative and try something completely new. It might turn into the next big thing.
Delete apps - Do you have apps on your phone that you haven't used in a long time, or that you can not remember when or why you downloaded it in the first place? Well, time to clean up those apps.
Play dress up - Are you always late because you don't know what to wear? Why not try out all your clothes in your wardrobe and play mix and match. Mix tops and bottoms that you won't normally put together and see how it looks? Remember to use your accessories as well. Take a picture of the combinations you like and wear it when you next go out.
Teach yourself to juggle - adding another skill to your resume.
Teach yourself sign language - I started learning sign language because I want to teach Joshua so he can communicate with me before he can speak. He can't sign back to me, but he seems to understand a bit when I sign to him.
Get to know yourself better - Take an online quiz, to find out more about your personality. Personally I love the 16 Personalities test. It gives you an in-depth analysis of your personality, so it will take you some time to read through it as well.
Hand draw a card - There is something quite special and heartwarming when someone handmake you something. Why not handmade and draw a card for your loved one? Or be super organize and handmake all the upcoming birthday cards. If you really enjoy it, you can even get a start on your Christmas cards.
With your family
If you are lucky enough to be staying at home with your family like me then here is a list of things you can do:
Bring out the board games! - A great family bonding activity, especially for those who have slightly older kids. I loved board games, I cannot wait until Joshua is old enough to play with me.
Create your own board game - One level up from playing board games with your little one. Why not create your own, this can be a great Arts & Craft activity with your children as well.
Spending quality with your family - Whether you live with your loved ones or not, this is a great time to reconnect with your loved ones and have some quality conversations. Whether it is via facetime or just chatting on your sofa, this is a great time to have some bonding time.
DIY sensory toys - For those of you who love a bit of Arts & Craft, why not make your own sensory toys. There are so many different ideas out there. You can check out my Pinterest board for some ideas.
Make homeschooling fun - I know homeschooling can be very daunting to a lot of parents. I know I would be too, but you can also make it fun. Make it into a game or a quiz.
Cook together - Cooking is a great way to bond with your family. Whether it is making your favourite recipe together or trying something new. This can be a great group activity with all the family.
Time to do some interior decorating - If you have been wanting to give your home a bit of facelift, but have been putting it off. This is a great time to do it. Hang up some pictures that you have been meaning to do so, or repainting a wall that needs a bit of updating. It can be fun when you are doing it with your family. I love doing home DIY with my husband.
Exercise together - It is always more fun when you are exercising together. Work out with your partner, or your kids. My husband and I want to start doing an exercise routine with Joshua, where we use him as weights. He loves it, as he loves to be picked up.
Sensory Play with your little one - You can create sensory bins or different sensory play and play with your little ones, they will love it.
Build your own obstacle course at home - I saw this online and thought it was a brilliant idea! When Joshua is a bit older and can walk, climb and jump on his own, I would love to make one for him at home. It would be so much fun!
Role-playing - Ok, I am not talking about Adult role-playing, (although for those of you who are into it, go for it.) I am talking about imaginary play with your kids. Kids have the best imaginations, they can turn your living room into a princess castle or a submarine. Let them take the lead, and go along with it. You will probably end up having more fun than you think.
Learn something new together - Maybe you have always wanted to learn the guitar or learn how to bake. Why not do it together as a group activity.
Treasure hunt - You can this do with kids or with adults. You can hide certain objects around the house, and give them clues to find them. Depending on how hard you make the clues they can be busy for hours.
Create your own masterpiece - Don't want to spend thousands of dollars on a piece of artwork? Why not create your own with your family. You can make is a group activity and create something fun and beautiful together. You can always go online and find inspirations.
Sleep training - Ok this is not fun, but this is the perfect time to do it. Since you are at home all the time, it is much easier to get into a routine.
Potty Training - Another good training to do while you cannot go out. The best part is, your kid can be potty trained by the time we can go out again, so you can tick that off your list.
Baby Proofing the house - If you have been putting off baby proofing the house, this is a great time to do it. It takes longer than you think.
Teach them to swim - You don't need a pool to do this, all you need is a bathtub. Get in the tub with your baby and teach them to blow bubbles in the water. They love mimicking you right now, so it is a good time to teach them.
Supermarket Mathematic game - I saw this on Facebook and thought it was brilliant. This one is for older kids. Put a price on different items in your cupboard or lay them out on the table. Give your kids some Monopoly money, so they can shop for the items using the money they have. They will need to calculate what they can get with the money they have, and the amount of change they are going to get back. A great way to train their mental arithmetic and good life skills.
Do a crossword puzzle together - I can never do these by myself, as they are too hard, so why not do it as a family. After all two heads or more is better than one.
Build a tree house - For those who have a large enough garden or outdoor space, why not build a treehouse with your kids. You can design it together and build it together.
Have an indoor picnic - Make your next mealtime more fun, by having an indoor picnic. You can make picnic food with your kids, put it in a basket and have a lovely little picnic set up in your living room.
Build an indoor fort - Get creative and build a fort, click on the link for ideas.
Start making your Halloween costume - Ok I know this is still a long time until Halloween, but instead of buying a costume this year, why not make one instead. You can be as elaborate as you want, you have the time.
Teach your kid chess - a good bonding activity for older kids. Hey, you might have a chess genius in the making that you never knew about.
Play Charades - One of my favorite things to do. Being silly while acting out a movie title what is there not to like.
Set up indoor hopscotch - Use masking tape to set up hopscotch in your living room. It can be fun for the whole family.
Karaoke - For those of you who like to sing, why not bring out the old Karaoke machine, or even just go online and find some sing-a-long videos.
Theme night - You can have an Italian night, where you make your own pizza, pasta, and garlic bread. If you don't know how, learn it together.
Google 3D Animal - Type in an animal name in Google (on an iPhone or Android) and then press "View in 3D". It will bring up your camera and 30 seconds later you will have a 3D animal in your house! It is a lot of fun. Here are the list of animals you can try: Lion, Tiger, Cheetah, Shark, Hedgehog, Duck, Emperor Penguin, Wolf, Angelfish, Goat, Rottweiler, Snakes, Eagle, Brown Bear, Alligator, Horse, Shetland Pony, Macaw, Pug, Turtle, Cat, Octopus, and Dog.
Play indoor hide and seek - kids love playing hide and seek. I remember playing hide and seek with my friend's kids, and they can go on for hours. Even if they end up hiding in the same place every time, they love it and have so much fun.
Create dance move to nursery rhymes - My son loves it when I dance along with nursery rhymes, he thinks it is the funniest thing ever. I really over exaggerate my movements, and the more exaggerated I get, the harder he laughs. It is a great exercise for me too.
Make a piñat, and smash it with your kids afterward. Double the fun.
Create a family tree - a good activity for your kids to learn about their heritage. I have always found it fascinating hearing stories about my grandparents and how my parents grew up.
Play indoor volleyball or football with balloons - Kids love balloons, you can even have a contest to see who can keep the balloon in the air the longest without touching the floor.
Have a tea party - have your own tea party in your dining room, or get really creative and recreate a Mad hatter tea party with dress up.
Create a time capsule - Write a letter to your future self, and put a small object in a time capsule and bury it in the garden. If you don't have a garden, put it at the back of your wardrobe, and revisit it when you move house.
Make slim - I have never been into slim, but I know kids love it. It is a good sensory play for kids as well.
Learn coding with your kids - A very useful skill to have for our children's generation. There are online courses that they can do, and if you are interested, why not learn it with them too.
Have a mini fashion show - If you kids love playing dress-up, why not put on a mini fashion show at home. Use your corridor as a runway, and your kids can dress up to their heart's content. They can play around with your make up too if you want the whole look.
Sort out your kid's toys and clothes - Our kids grow up so fast, they grow out of their clothes and toys every few months. So why not take this time, to organize their stuff. If your kids are older, you can do it with them, and see which item doesn't "Spark Joy" anymore.
Ask your kids to teach you something - This is a great one for older kids. Give them a subject, ask them to research it, and teach it to you afterward. This is great training for them to improve their communication skills, confidence, and leadership ability.
Online Activities with your friends
Spending time with your friends doesn't have to be face to face. With facetime and video calls, it has never been easier to stay in touch with your friends. Why not make it fun and have some healthy online competitions. Here are some ideas:
Have a Bake-off Competition - For those who love watching baking shows such as The British Bake-off or Nailed it, why not hold your own virtual competition with your friends. Find a recipe that neither of you has ever tried, set a time limit and film how you get on. You can either do it live or film it and send it to your friend after. It can be a great laugh. You can even post it on Facebook or Instagram and get people to vote.
Monopoly App - Good old Monopoly, always so much fun. Now you can play it on your phone, any time anywhere.
Create an online quiz - Have you ever had that conversation with your friends to see who is the biggest "Friends" or "Marvel" fan? Well, why not create or find a quiz so you can do it with your friends via Facetime, Zoom or Houseparty, and see who gets the highest score.
Virtual Boot Camp - For those who love a workout. Set up a group chat or a group video with your friends so you can work out together. Set challenges for each other to motivate one another.
Virtual Book Club - If you like book clubs, why not start a virtual one. Pick a book that you and your friends have always wanted to read. Read a chapter and set up a group chat to discuss it. You can have a cuppa and a slice of cake while you are at it.
Virtual Happy Hour - You can still have happy hour after work, but instead of sitting in a bar, you can enjoy a nice glass of wine on your sofa or even in a bath while you catch up with your friends.
Uno App - For my Uno loving friends, you can now play it on your phone. Want to make it interesting? You can bet money on it or have drunken Uno.
Mario Kart Tour App - If you loved Mario Kart, you can now play with your friends on your phone. You can play with up to 7 players.
Scrabble Go App - I love scrabble, even though I am not the best, but I always enjoy the challenge. You can play with 2 - 4 players.
Have weekly group video chats - Miss hanging out with your friends in a big group? You can always create a group video chat so it will feel like you are all together. The best part is you can have friends in different locations and time zone but hang out at the same time.
Things you can do to help others
Why not use this time to help out someone in need.
Deliver food and essentials to your family members who are not as mobile. You don't have to see them if you are social distancing. You can drop it off at their door and they can pick it up themselves.
Help out an elderly neighbor - If your neighbor has no family living close by, but is in need of supply. You can always offer a helping hand. You don't have to see them, you can simply leave the supplies outside their door.
Facetime a friend or family member - some people don't cope so well being on their own, so why not give someone you care about a call, so they feel less lonely.
Donate spare masks - There are a lot of people who do not have enough masks or simply cannot afford them at the premium prices they are being sold right now. So if you have more than enough, you can donate some to the needy.
Donate food - With supply running low and people hoarding, if you have extra at home, you can consider donating food to the needy.
We might not be able to control the situation of how the virus is spreading, or how other people are behaving. What we can control is our outlook, and how we handle the situation. I hope this list will give you some inspiration on what you can do during this difficult time.
If you do end up doing them, please tag me (@mummy_diaryhk) in your posts. I would love to see how you get on.
Stay Safe, Sending you love & positive thoughts,
Christine xxx