10 Actually Fun Things To Do This Weekend While You’re Self-Isolating
Alana is the staff writer on AWOL who thinks the…
Just because coronavirus has us house bound right now doesn’t mean we have to cancel our weekend plans. There are so many things to do when you’re self-isolating besides staring at an empty wall dreaming of simpler times.
Whether you want to hang out with your housemates or enjoy some true alone time, there are lots of options this weekend.
me in 1 week watching a scrap of plastic blow across the street pic.twitter.com/ZvXlCIQbzy
— Jill Gutowitz (@jillboard) March 17, 2020
We’re rounded up some of the best things to do at home that will pack your days off with fun, food, tunes and booze.
Here are 10 of the best things to do when you’re self-isolating because of coronavirus:
#1. Finish That TV Show You’ve Been Watching For Months
With so much TV in this, the cursed year 2020, it’s almost impossible to watch everything you want to watch.
Hoo boy, not anymore! Now that we’re all self-isolated, it’s the perfect opportunity to burn through all the shows on your list.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again landed on Netflix this month, sitting alongside some of the year’s most addictive shows like Cheer and Love Is Blind. The new true crime docoseries Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness looks absolutely wild and comes out this Friday, March 20.
Stan has your feel-good binge covered with classics like Parks and Recreation and Friends, plus new weekly episodes of The Bold Type and Better Call Saul direct from the US.
Disney+ did families a solid and dropped Frozen 2 months early. It’s also got your next movie marathon covered with all of the Marvel and Star Wars flicks.
when you find out your daily lifestyle is actually called “quarantine” pic.twitter.com/oPEFak09Ob
— Charlie 🐱 (@charlieamber94) March 16, 2020
#2. Make Art
Thank god we have TikTok. The teens are turning coronavirus into art with some of the finest comedy ever seen.
After schools in America closed down and switched to online classes, students began sharing the chaos of it all.
Other people are so bored at home all day that they’ve started playing tic-tac-toe with their pets. Which honestly isn’t a bad idea because, predictably, they’re winning every game and that’s gotta be a good mood booster.
While others have just been sharing the absurdity of daily life.
The point is, if coronavirus is making you feel frustrated, bored, creatively stifled or a general sense of existential dread, take it to TikTok. At this point, I will watch a video about literally any household object and absolutely any pet.
#3. Masturbate
Besides the fact that science says we should, is this not just a really good use of our time stuck inside?
What else are we supposed to do when we’re home alone all day? Read a book??
Do not go to a man’s home for a hookup right now. You could get quarantined there and they don’t even have sheets. They definitely won’t have toilet paper. Maybe one bag of hot pockets. A can of Cheeto puffs. That’s all you’ll have. Is that what you want
— gov michaela (@MichaelaOkla) March 13, 2020
#4. Make A Quarantine Playlist
If ever there was a time to blast ‘Toxic’ by Britney Spears it is now, my dudes.
Make your own or choose from one of the countless that are already on Spotify. The most popular is one called “COVID-19 Quarantine Party” and look, it’s a banger.
With tunes like ‘Fever’ by Carly Rae Jepsen, ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’ by Solange, ‘Hand In My Pocket’ by Alanis Morissette and even some Harry Styles, it’s a playlist that’s practically made for your Friday night in and wine in hand.
#5. Do A Home Workout
Maybe your gym is restricting classes, or maybe you just don’t want to risk it, or maybe you’re just looking for an excuse to skip that 6am class.
We get it.
Luckily, there are tonnes of free workouts online that you can do from the comfort of your own home. Into high intensity workouts? Celebrity trainer Faisal Abdalla offers a great selection of HIIT and strength sets on the PMA Fitness YouTube channel.
The Body Coach has over 250 workouts to choose from online, including a bunch of 7-day challenges, and Yoga With Adriene runs a ’30 Days of Yoga’ challenge that’s perfect for beginners and long-time yogis.
Corona came just when I was becoming a gym babe
— Joy (@__abena) March 14, 2020
#6. Take A Virtual Gallery Tour
It’s hard to believe, but there comes a point when even the YouTube rabbit holes dry up. When that moment hits, why not try a virtual tour?
Some of the best galleries in the world have incredibly detailed online tours. No one can actually visit The Louvre in Paris right now, but you can explore its world-famous halls on your laptop.
The same goes for the Great Wall of China, The British Museum and The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Go on, get some culture.
THINGS YOU CAN DO IN QUARANTINE:
-chores
-sweep till the floor’s all clean
-polish
-wax
-do laundry
-mop & shine up
-sweep again and by then it’s like 7:15
-read a book or maybe 2 or 3
-add a few new paintings to my gallery
-play guitar
-knit
-cook
-wonder when will my life begin— Cassie | Jaime grief account (@CassK9) March 15, 2020
#7. Download ‘Netflix Party’ And Alert The Group Chat
Sometimes technology comes through at just the right time. Netflix Party is a nifty innovation that lets you binge watch with friends at a safe distance.
Your crew can sync viewing sessions and use the group chat function for that rolling Love Is Blind analysis.
To be clear, Netflix didn’t create Netflix Party. It’s an unofficial Google Chrome-only extension that’s also looking for Patreon support. Run it by the group chat.
social distancing……. you know what that means pic.twitter.com/FgEvLH1diT
— big romantic & emotional idiot (@lilpochaco) March 15, 2020
#8. Become The Star Chef Of Your Dreams
There are few things in life more satisfying than a deep dive on Bon Appétit’s YouTube channel.
From mac-and-cheese carbonara to spicy-sweet sambal pork noodles to an omelet soufflé, the inspiration is abundant. Now all your favourite food celebs are live-streaming cooking tutorials from their kitchens – including Michelin starred chef Massimo Bottura.
Well, maybe our coronavirus self-isolation is the time to actually start cooking. There’s no better way to make peace with your housemates than freshly baked cheesecake.
And if anyone can save us from the apocalypse, it’s truly Claire Saffitz from Gourmet Makes.
[media_embed]https://youtu.be/m-gYY5cR8M8[/media_embed]#9. Get Lit In Your Living Room
Coronavirus can take away our freedom, but it cannot take our wine.
Get a Saturday night FaceTime going with your usual crew, turn the lights down low, pop the cork on an acceptable bottle and pretend it’s a house party. It’s going to be weird, but at least you’ll be tipsy.
If you need wine pointers, this official list of Australia’s best young winemakers should do it, or pick up some expert tips from a sommelier.
You can also support local businesses with a booze order — Melbourne’s The Emerson Rooftop and Bar is just one establishment offering a cocktail delivery service.
It’s only Quarantine if it’s in the Quarante province of France. Otherwise it’s just Sparkling Isolation.
— Vikram Paralkar (@VikramParalkar) March 13, 2020
#10. Order In To Support A Local Restaurant
You can’t spend every night becoming a master baker. Sometimes you just want a pizza in a greasy takeaway box.
Thankfully, all your regular delivery apps have introduced new contactless plans so you can continue ordering in.
At a brutal time for the hospitality industry, look out for local restaurants offering delivery in your area.
I picked a hell of a time to have not learned how to cook for the past 29 years
— Alyssa Limperis (@alyssalimp) March 16, 2020
(Lead image: Iqra Nabi / TikTok, Bon Appétit / YouTube, Malvestida Magazine / Unsplash)
Alana is the staff writer on AWOL who thinks the best way to travel is by taking spontaneous detours and stopping at every local bakery to try the cakes. She writes a lot about Australian TV, Big Things, cursed food, and theme parks. You can follow her on Instagram @alana.dotcom. It’s mostly dogs she meets along the way.