How To Entertain Yourselves At Home

Hello my Vocal friends! I hope you are having a splendid day today! Home is a great place! Some people like to stay home more than others, and that's perfectly fine! Some people love to go out and explore the world around them, and that is also very good! However, circumstances such as the weather, our personal matters, mental or physical illnesses, high levels of crime in your area or a public health crisis (e.g. The Coronavirus Pandemic) can determine how often we stay at home. Staying in one place for prolonged periods of time can get boring, so we need to find things to do to keep ourselves busy and feel good at the same time!

Hobbies are a smart way to keep yourselves busy at home. Some people do not have much time for hobbies due to their work situation, family life or they have the lack of motivation. Many people make time to do what they love at the best of their abilities. Anything is possible, as long as you are happy, healthy, busy and using your time wisely!

Here are some ways to make the best of your time at home!

1. Play Video Games

The beauty of living in this new world is that technology has developed for the better! The amount of electronic devices (e.g. Nintendo, XBOX, Wii, Laptops, iPad, iPhone and PC) can provide more opportunities for in-home recreation and leisure. Video gaming is an example of an in-home pastime that can be accessed through multiple electronic devices.

Ultimately, I play video games on my iPhone, PC and iPad and always attempt to find free games, so I don't have to take advantage of expensive prices. My favourite types of video games include RPG, Puzzle, Card, Casino, Word, Fantasy, Mystery and Trivia. Any genre you enjoy is amazing, and can be found on the iPhone, iPad, your laptop or your PC. All you need to do is get comfy, grab some drinks/snacks and get your game face on! Time will tick like a time bomb, when you are playing video games, especially during long hours in a specific room!

2. Paint!

To all of the artists out there, a day at home is the perfect opportunity for you! Painting is a healthy way to release raw emotions and to express yourselves without being judged. Painting is also a fun and engaging way to create your own masterpieces without visiting the local art gallery to buy pricey portraits to hang on the walls. You can purchase some canvases and art supplies from your local art store, the dollar store, or online on Amazon and Walmart.

There are many art styles that you can discover and practice. I personally prefer freestyle abstract, cubism and pointillism, because it requires less concentration. The types of mediums I use are acrylic paint, because it stands out better compared to the other kinds of paint. Oil paint is very pricey, so I try to stick to acrylic paint as much as possible. But feel free to practice your favourite painting style and use the mediums that you are most comfortable with.

Pick a specific room in your home to do your artwork. Put on your favourite music and create your masterpiece! Ditch the expensive art pieces at the gallery or the home decor store!

3. Watch a Movie or TV Series

Watching TV does not always have to be considered "a time-waster" if you spend your days cleaning, working, doing school work, reading, spending time with people or attending church! It is a treat to spend the odd day watching your favourite films and series. You can find phenomenal flicks and series on platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Crave, Apple TV and Vimeo. Whether you love jump-scare horror movies, cheesy romance flicks, intriguing crime shows or the-good-old-times classic movies and TV shows, they are all easy to discover on these platforms nowadays!

There are days when we want to give our brains a vacation! We don't always have to run around like dogs. We don't always have to fill up our calendars with parties, events and appointments. We don't always have to pick up that textbook or novel to read in our rooms! Some days we just need to vegetate and get lost in a film or series that we have watched multiple times or that we have not yet seen. Grab your pajamas, some drinks and snacks, a blanket and pillow and have a little movie party on your own, with family, friends or your little furry friend!

4. Vlog/Make TikTok Videos

With all of the endless social media platforms such as TikTok, BIGO, Spoon, Tango and YouTube, why not reveal your hidden talents to the world?! Some days we get lonely and feel like we want to contribute to something meaningful. Stay-at-home days are the perfect days to grab your vlogging camera or device and start filming about what you are passionate about! There are tons of things you can film about such as cooking, fitness, nutrition, environmental awareness, travel, dance, anti-bullying, book hauls, fashion, gaming and music! Pick something that you're most passionate about and create your own channel for a chance to get some subscribers and real money! Even if you only have a few subscribers and do not earn any amount of income, it is still a fun thing to do! Pick a room that you feel most comfortable filming in, create a vlogging schedule and have fun!

5. Play Board/Card Games

Board games and cards are a classic in-home pastime! The greatest thing about playing card and board games is, you can choose to do them on your own or with family and friends, depending on the kind of game you are playing. Board games and cards are interactive and also very stimulating for the mind. Growing up, I loved board and card games. I would play numerous games with my friends and family, but I also loved Solitaire. There were moments when people did not want to join me for a game, even if I was in the mood to play. Once I knew how to play various games like TriPeaks, Solitaire, German Solitaire, Memory, Klondike and Pyramid Solitaire, I was able to play cards without relying on anyone to come and join me. I would either play Solitaire in the quietness of my bedroom or in the dining room when I wanted to be around my family.

Board and card games are also an impeccable excuse to disconnect from social media. Our lives are beginning to revolve around social media, and we occasionally need to ditch social media. Instead of spending hours on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, invite some friends and family to play some of your favourite games! If you are alone, grab your playing cards and have a blast!

6. Read Something Interesting

Spending a day at home is a bookworms dream come true! Nothing is better than hibernating in your safe spot with a good read. Reading is a healthy hobby for the soul and mind, and can take you to a whole different world. We spend long hours and days reading our textbooks and things that "we have to read", as opposed to something that you can just read for fulfillment! Rainy weekends, snowy weekends, extra time at home and holiday breaks are the perfect times to grab your favourite reading material! It does not necessarily have to be a novel. If you like to read newspapers, comic books, picture books, magazines and biographies about an interesting person, go ahead and read those! I love to borrow books digitally and manually from the library and purchase them from a local bookstore or thrift store. I also enjoy reading non fiction books and online material about multiculturalism, human behaviour, crime, nutrition, mental health, diseases, history, war, spirituality and travel. I have my own little library that is situated in my living room. If you have any vacant cupboards or shelves in your bedroom or living room, fill it with your favourite stories and reading materials! Grab your favourite drink, wear your favourite cozy outfit, sit back and start reading!

7. Cook/Bake

Was there something you have always wanted to make but could not find the time? Are you craving one of your childhood comfort meals? Are you wanting that double fudge brownie and two scoops of ice cream from your favourite diner? Was there a recipe of your favourite pizza that you discovered that you've been longing to create for days? If you answer yes to all of these questions, I have the perfect solution for you!

Bakers and chefs do not have to make money for their edible masterpieces. Baking and cooking doesn't have to be considered "a chore". Cooking and baking are awesome ways to ditch the extra trips to the restaurants and bakeries and keep your mind and body busy. Some days we want that baked good from our local pastry shop. Some days we just don't have the energy to cook, and that's okay! However, there are going to be days where you cannot leave your home for whatever reason and need to figure out a way to "satisfy your cravings" at home. On rainy and snowy days, I love to keep myself busy by cooking and baking. I discover recipes on YouTube, Tasty, and I surf the internet for various recipes that I want to make. I encourage you to do the same, since recipes are very easy to access digitally. If you have an unused cookbook, feel free to use that as well! You can even cook with your families as a way to bond with each other.

8. Write a Story, A Letter or a Diary Entry

Writing is one of my favourite activities of all time! Both creative writing and writing for personal reasons are of interest to me. What types of things do you like to write about? Are you creative writers yourselves? Do you write as an emotional outlet? Or both? If your answer is yes to all of these questions, staying at home will be perfect for you! Writing is not only a creative and emotional outlet for people who are passionate about writing and literature. Any kind of writing is beneficial for the cognitive wellbeing of humans.

Writing is also a cheap and convenient hobby to pursue in the long run. You can choose whether you prefer to write in your diary or electronically by using your phones, iPads, laptops and PC's. If you are just starting out as novice writers or diarists, I recommend taking a trip to your local dollar store to purchase some best-priced journals, diaries and lots of pencils and pens to keep in your bedroom. Using your phone or laptop is another alternative. For experienced writers who want to boost their creative writing skills can take advantage of the virtual creative writing courses that are offered on Udemy. You can choose to write about anything that you feel strongly about, things to remember for the coming days and weeks, or you can spend your day at home creating a manuscript for the bestselling novel you've been wanting to write for decades. Other great ideas include writing a letter to your boyfriend, your grandparents, your best friends or an old friend that you have not kept in touch with for a long time.

9. Listen and/or Create Music

As I said in one of my previous blogs, listening to music will always be a favourite hobby of mine. If you are like me, we have one special thing in common! It was not until the pandemic when I started composing my own music through an app called Groovepad. I also became motivated to create beats after listening to my neighbours awesome beats on SoundCloud and YouTube. Other music making apps such as DrumPad and GarageBand are also good options. You can download them on your iPhone or iPad for free.

Beat making or listening to music on your devices are not the only options. If you play an instrument such as the guitar, the flute, the recorder, the ukulele, the xylophone or the drums, learning some new songs to play or recording a video of yourself playing an instrument is also lots of fun. For people that sing, downloading apps such as Smule can be a perfect activity to do on your own or with your friends. If you do not play an instrument, it is not too late to learn. Download an app, watch a tutorial on YouTube or have one of your friends or family members teach you virtually or in-person. If you just enjoy listening to the music, that's perfectly okay. Dancing to your favourite songs is great exercise and has lots of health benefits.

10. Chat with Friends/Family on Social Media

Social media has its pros and cons. When you spend too many hours on social media, it can affect your overall wellbeing. Depending on how and when you use social media, it can also be a convenient way to connect with your loved ones. When we are home or in a room by ourselves, we can feel desolate. We can feel isolated or depressed when we lack communication with people. The good thing about living in the modern world is, there is a magic solution- social media and email! You are no longer obligated to write and send those eccentric telegrams or pick up that classic-style telephone on your walls!

Social media and webcaming is a popular communication method among teens and young adults. Since many teenagers are spending the majority of their hours on their phones and using social media, why not make some time to call someone you love? Schedule a time to text or FaceTime your best friend, grandparents, relatives, cousins or boyfriend. Maybe have a little zoom hangout in your bedroom. Maybe you can host a Netflix party or play a multiplayer game on your phones! If one of your family members or friends is having a birthday, host a virtual birthday party. There are always ways to work around things!

To all of my friends on Vocal, maybe this can give you some ideas. You don't have to be an introvert or a hermit to enjoy hibernating in your living rooms or bedrooms. Anyone can be a homebody! Staying home can make you feel safe, it can help you save money, and it is a healthy place to release all of youe emotions. If you live with a roomate or your family, you automatically have people around you, so your level of loneliness is reduced. If you live on your own in an apartment or a little house, that is also very good. However, you may experience periods of loneliness, so it is always beneficial to have strategies to keep in touch with people. Like I said, staying in one place for a long time can get pretty tiring, so you always want to have things to do to stimulate yourselves. I hope you enjoy this blog. Have a great weekend and cheerio to all of you!