Being stuck at home can cause cabin fever but if you’ve got some things to keep you busy, it might not seem so bad. Here are some great ways to stay busy while stuck at home:
Grow a garden
Growing your own garden is a great way to stay busy and brighten up your home. It’s also a great idea to grow some things that you can eat like tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, strawberries, and herbs. This can help you stay at home and avoid a trip to the store. You can purchase some seeds or small plants from your local hardware store or online at retailers like Amazon.com (affiliate link).
If you’re not great at growing or your home is lacking sunlight, try an AeroGarden (affiliate link), which will allow you to grow plants indoors with very little work and zero sunlight. I personally love to grow Romaine lettuce along with some herbs like basil, parsley, and Thyme.
If you have kids, growing food can be a great learning opportunity. There’s nothing better than watching a plant grow from a seed and being able to actually eat the final product.
Learn To Cook Something New
Having extra time on your hands could mean inspiration in the kitchen. Maybe you have an Instant Pot (affiliate link) that you’ve been putting off learning how to use or maybe you can’t find your favorite bread but you’ve got the recipe to make it. Spending some time in the kitchen can be very therapeutic and can also bring some wonderful smells to cheer up your whole house. Find some of my favorite recipes here.
If you have kids, this is also a great way to get them involved and to teach them something they can use for the rest of their lives. You’ll also make some memories that will last a lifetime.
Try setting up a make-your-own pizza station with homemade pizza dough, cheese, veggies, and pepperoni. Challenge the kids to make the most creative art or silly faces on their pizzas.
Pick Up That Book
There’s always a book or two that you’ve been meaning to read but just haven’t had the time to get to. If you’re not sure about where to start, try getting a free 30-day subscription to Kindle Unlimited (affiliate link)to discover something new. This also includes audible books, which I prefer, since I like to get chores done while my kids are sleeping. Just pop in your headphones or ask Alexa (affiliate link) to read your audio book and you’re good to go!
Kids can also benefit from quiet time, so if your kids are no longer napping, you can set aside time every day for some quiet reading. Let your kids pick out their favorite book or graphic novel (affiliate link) and settle down for some nice relaxing reading.
Get Creative
We can’t all be Pinterest perfect when it comes to projects but we can certainly think outside the box. Maybe there’s a room in your house that you’ve been meaning to paint, a shelf that needs installing, a leaky faucet that needs to be fixed, or a closet that needs to be organized. Now is a great time to challenge yourself to learn something new, especially when it comes to tasks around the house. There are YouTube videos that can teach you anything from changing a light fixture to painting a room. The sky is the limit!
When it comes to keeping the kids busy, a spur of the moment craft can make for some good fun. Try making your own placemats with cut-outs from the weekly grocery ad or their favorite magazine and placing them on contact paper(affiliate link). Kraft paper (affiliate link) can make for some awesome little towns that your kids can draw out and play on. If you’re not the creative type, a simple Google or Pinterest search can yield some awesome ideas.
Get Outside
Going for a walk or run can do wonders for your mind. Even if it’s cold where you live, get your warm clothes on and head out for a little adventure. Even having your cup of coffee on the porch can brighten your mood.
Getting outside is especially important for the kids. Encourage them to splash in the rain and make snowmen in the snow. Let them get a little dirty and enjoy the smiles and giggles.
Being at home can be a great opportunity to try new things. Go and have some fun!
Disclaimer: This post is the opinion of the author. The information provided in this post is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, legal, or other professional advice. Read and/or use any of the information from this post at your own risk. Some or all of the links displayed on this site may be affiliate links.
