By Christopher Holland • The Current Contributing Writer
So, you’ve stocked up on canned goods and toilet paper but what on earth will you do with yourself while holed up at home for days on end?
Our social lives are shrinking by the day. Whether you’re ill or not, it appears most of us will have to spend more time at home in the coming weeks.
Here’s a compilation of things to do at home in case you have to self-quarantine.
ORDER IN
Whether you need comfort food like pizza or pasta or crave a healthy snack or sushi, you can order from a variety of restaurants, some which offer delivery services including Über Eats, Dominos and more.
Many local restaurants who had been forced to close down are even offering delivery services – please support them. Search for your favorite restaurants on Facebook, Instagram or Yelp! Throughout town and the county many local restaurants and cafes are offering these takeout services. It’s more important now than ever that we do all that we can to sustain their business. If we don’t support them now, they might not be around when all of this is said and done. You don’t want to lose out on your favorite dishes, do you? Pick up the phone and order those delicious veggie tacos you’ve been craving.
BUY YOUR GROCERIES ONLINE
Many local supermarkets, including Aldi’s and Walmart, offer delivery or pickup options. But choose your slots early to ensure you get your groceries at your desired time. We’re living in a time where we don’t want to leave the house, so why not take advantage of these desirable services? Not only does it help you get the foods you need, but it helps keep businesses afloat during these darkened times.
And oh, make sure that you thank the service personnel that are doing this for you! They’re putting themselves out there, working long hours to ensure that we’re able to get the things we need. They deserve all the recognition in the world right now. And don’t hesitate to leave generous tips!
KEEP THE KIDS ENTERTAINED
If you’re worried about children off school and going stir crazy at home, pre-order some boxed activities to pull out when tempers fray and tantrums threaten. There are so many subscription services you can take advantage of. Amazon has thousands of items at your disposal. Play board and video games, color in coloring books, read books. If you’re musical, it could also be a good time to start engaging your children in playing a musical instrument.
READ BOOKS
Myself, like many, always say “I’d like to read more, but I don’t have the time…” But now, you can’t really use that excuse, can you? Pick up from the shelf that dusty book you bought two years ago and never got around to starting. Not only is reading stimulating for your brain, but it’s one great way to pass time, especially if it’s intriguing. Before you know it, you’ll be 6 or 7 chapters through and you won’t even realize how fast the clock has moved.
Reading is a win-win here. If you don’t have any hardcopy books laying around, check out Audible or Amazon. The digital and audio libraries are endless. You won’t be able to say that you weren’t able to find anything entertaining. There are books out there for everyone!
LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE
How many times have you ever said to yourself, “It would be fascinating to learn a new language”? Whether it would be to prep for a trip to Germany or France, or China or somewhere in South America, learning a new language and culture is a great option to explore. Even if you’re not planning on going anywhere in the future, there’s still great joy in undertaking such a rewarding endeavor.
Check out software programs such as RosettaStone or Duolingo. These programs are designed to work with and for you, and you can ultimately learn any language in the world! Wouldn’t that be something, to come out of quarantine speaking fluent French or Italian?
While you might not be able to use it in the real world right away, it’s an invaluable tool that provides great satisfaction. And maybe one day when you’re ready to travel, you won’t have to rush to learn the language or culture, because you’ll already have it locked in.
MEDITATE AND BE MINDFUL
This seems to be the ideal time to reflect on your life or to clear your head and calm your thoughts with guided meditations aimed at tackling problems like anxiety and sleeplessness. An excellent app to use is called headspace. The foundation pack is free and it’s very user friendly. Sit down, relax, take those deep breaths that you never seem to have time to take.
Exercising is another zenful way to relieve your stress and anxiety, and you don’t have to leave your home to do it.
Yoga, basic cardio exercises, etc. There are a multitude of options out there that you can bring into your home. If you’re interested in exploring the Yoga outlet, YouTube has hundreds, if not thousands, of instructional videos, ranging from beginner to intermediate to advanced. Throw down that mat, turn on the tube and start stretching those legs. We know that sitting on the couch isn’t going to do it for you.
TAKE A STROLL OUTSIDE
If you’re not in official self-quarantine but forced to stay home because your company or university has shut down, taking a walk in the fresh air is always a good idea.
Take a leisurely stroll along the Mauch Chunk Lake or a hike through one of the county’s local parks. Take a bike ride on the D&L or at the Lehigh Gorge. Just be sure when you’re out that you continue to practice social distancing. While we all want to enjoy the fresh air, let’s be mindful of each other and keep to our own space. The more that we work together to enforce these social practices, the sooner the better things will be for us all.
DRINK SOME WINE
Finally, one thing that I think a lot of us have already been doing; imbibing. After a long day of working from home or doing household chores, take a moment to just sit down, relax, and have a sip of your favorite beverage. While the state liquor stores are currently closed, as enforced by the government, local beer distributors and wine retailers are still plenty stocked.
Stop in at Mason’s Cold Beer, Highland Beverage, or Big Creek Winery. Even some of the local restaurants are offering takeout beer services. Just make sure, as always, that you drink responsibly! Hopefully sooner than later, bars and restaurants will be open again, and we’ll be able to go have a seat, raise a glass to the person next to you, and cheers!
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