The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to stay inside our homes. Leaving us with nothing but plenty of time on our hands and tons of boredom. Being in quarantine for days, weeks, and even months can drive any person insane. It is very unhealthy for us, both mentally and physically. Staying healthy, especially at this time, is of utter importance.
If there’s one thing this virus has taught us, it’s that we should never take our health for granted. We must do what we can to stay healthy. So if you’re bored at home with nothing else to do, why not try some of these activities? They won’t only kill boredom; it’ll keep you mentally and physically fit too.
1. Building puzzles
Building a jigsaw puzzle proves to be very beneficial to a person’s mental well-being. Some people find building puzzles to be stressful. However, that defeats the actual purpose of building puzzles. They’re supposed to be a challenge, but it’s not supposed to stress you out. It’s supposed to help you become more mindful and relaxed. It teaches you to be patient, learn to look at the smaller details, and even sharpen the mind. Studies have also shown that doing puzzles can help soothe people who have Alzheimer’s, improving your memory. Another great thing about building puzzles is that you can enjoy it alone or bond with your family through building puzzles.
2. Knitting
A survey conducted by a U.K. non-profit organization called Knit for Peace showed that 70% of those who knit report that knitting has improved their health. They said it helped them relax, made them feel useful, and even boosted their moods. It didn’t only benefit their mental health, but their physical health too. Saying that it lowered their blood pressure levels, distracted them from chronic pains, and even helped slow the onset of dementia. A book written in 2012 by an orthopedic surgeon and a psychiatrist showed that knitting helped with depression and anxiety and helped prevent arthritis and tendinitis. Their book was called “The Creativity Cure: Building Happiness With Your Own Two Hands.”
3. Exercising
In the past few years, we have made mental health our priority. No one is complaining, of course, as that is a good sign. However, we should also not forget to put our physical health aside. Our physical health and our mental health go hand-in-hand. If one is not fit, the other will be affected too. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that an average adult needs to exercise at least 150 minutes a week. That sounds like a lot of minutes, but if you learn to split it up efficiently throughout the week, you’ll see that it’s very doable. You can use either exercise for 30 minutes a day for 5 days. Or exercise for 75 minutes (1 hour and 15 minutes) a day for 2 days each week.
4. Playing online games
Most of the time, when people talk about online games, you usually hear something negative. People believe that playing online games promotes violence or makes kids more aggressive. As recent studies have shown, that is a myth that violence in video games has no association with aggressive behavior. It is an outlet for aggression, but it is not the cause. The truth is playing online games has more benefits than negative “side effects.”
It teaches people about cooperation, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. You get better concentration, attention to detail, and a better awareness of the environment. So before you nag your kids (if you have any) about playing too many video games, think again. It could be improving their skills. Why don’t you give it a try yourself?
5. Painting
Painting has always been a good outlet for people’s emotions. No matter the skill level. You don’t have to be great at painting to enjoy it because you can get as abstract or as realistic with it as you like. You can even join an online painting class if you’d like. There are tons of free webinars and YouTube videos on the net that could teach you how to paint. Why not follow along with a Bob Ross painting video?
Now that you’ve got plenty of time on your hands make the most out of it. You can do these activities alone while you’re self-quarantining. Or do it together with your family if you can. The best way to kill boredom is through a little creativity. Anything you can release your emotions onto is great right now.
