40 Things to Do While You're Stuck at Home Because of COVID-19

As someone with bipolar disorder, routine is essential in keeping me stable. I love waking up at the same time every day, I love going to work and I love doing the same thing over and over and over again.

Except, I work in a school, so because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) — the new viral strain in the coronavirus family that affects the lungs and respiratory system — I’m now out of my routine for three weeks.

So, what now?

Well, it’s only day one of my journey with social distancing, and I’ll admit I’m already going a little “crazy,” but here are 40 ways to occupy your time:

Learn a new hobby using YouTube Tutorials. For me, it’ll probably be drawing.
Text your friends. Stay in contact.
Go for a drive, even if you have no destination.
Schedule a therapy appointment!
If you have a dog like I do, teach them some new tricks.
Limit your social media time. You might be bored, but social media is not your only cure. Trust me.
Play a game with friends or family — even if it’s digital. For example, me and my partner sometimes play Boggle together on our phones. We each have a username and get a notification when it’s our turn.
Start journaling.
Get dressed and ready for the day every day, even if you aren’t going anywhere.
Write a list of things that make you happy.
Go out of your way to look for positive news stories. There are always some out there!
Write a story, poem or novel. Even if you aren’t a good writer, just give it a try. There are plenty of idea generators out there too, if you don’t have one in mind.
Write an article for The Mighty. Share your story. I promise it’s empowering and will probably help others. Submit your story here.
Volunteer online. I currently volunteer with the ACLU and it’s entirely online. It was easy to sign up and I got started the next day.
If you have money, buy an item you’ve been wanting off Amazon.
Do your laundry.
If you’re in school, get some schoolwork done.
Learn how to dance. To get you started, there are plenty of TikTok tutorials floating around right now — as silly as that may seem.
Create a PowerPoint of why you should stay alive, including quotes, pictures and sources.
Create a playlist of your favorite music.
Find a good podcast. My current favorites are “Snacks Daily” and “Mythology.”
Learn a new language.
Take a bath or shower.
Do the dishes.
Learn how to do stand-up. I hear it’s hard, but everyone loves a good comedian.
If you have an instrument lying around, practice it. (Or in my case, finally learn how to play it.)
Write a list of things you love about yourself — and make it long. There are plenty of remarkable things about everyone I’ve ever met, so there are about you too.
Do sensory grounding activities. Sometimes for me that’s as simple as running my hands under hot water.
Learn how to meditate. I won’t be doing that, because meditation isn’t for me, but I know it really helps others.
Take a walk around the block.
Reorganize or redecorate a room in your house.
Reach out to loved ones when you need support. And if that’s not enough, call a crisis hotline.
Go on Instagram and search “dogstagram.” You’ll find a lot of pictures of cute dogs. You’re welcome.
Go through old photos on your phone and find those ones that make you super happy. We all have that one picture that makes us burst into a smile. Find it.
Learn how to cook. Or if you already know how, try making something new!
Watch your favorite TV show on Netflix.
Learn how to do something you’ve always wanted to do, but have never had the time. Apparently, the world is your oyster right now.
Make a to-do list every day and complete it.
Don’t dwell on darkness. Find the brightness in the world too. Even during pandemics, there’s still light at the end of the tunnel.
Write your own list of activities because I’m sure I’m missing a lot.

If you have time, share your favorite activities with me in the comments below. I have three weeks off to read them. And as always, you can find my social media on my Mighty profile if you need a friend.

Hang in there Mighties.

Concerned about coronavirus? Stay safe using the tips from these articles:

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

40 Things to Do While You're Stuck at Home Because of COVID-19