In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, many people are either going on a self-quarantine or self-isolation, or have been required to. Whether you’re ‘quarantining’ alone or with a group of people, there’s more you can do than just binge-watching movies, and browsing the internet and social media timelines.
Indoor scavenger hunt
Are you in quarantine with a group of people? Have an indoor scavenger hunt. Type up a list of things that need to be found and give everyone a list. The things can be inside your home or even outdoors around the yard. Put a time limit on how long they have to locate the hidden treasures. You can put some things in the form of clues, so everyone has to figure out what the object is. You can even have a small prize for the winner/s.
Paint or draw
Art is very therapeutic even for those who are not considered ‘artistic’. Regardless, grab a piece of paper and paint or draw, and start unleashing your artistic talents. Don’t have the necessary art materials? Get some from a nearby bookstore or an art store before you self-isolate.
Looking for something simpler with patterns? Pick up one of those new therapeutic colouring books from Virgin Megastore, Jarir, WHSmith, Borders or any other bookstore, or you can easily download from the internet.
Indoor picnic
You probably have food and supplies stored for the self-quarantine so there’s no need to shop for more items for your home picnic. Set out a picnic blanket and basket of food, and eat your lunch or dinner as though you were having a picnic but indoors. Make it a home outdoor picnic if you have a yard or garden. To add to the fun, you can even make it a game night.
Word games and crossword puzzles
Whether on your phone, computer, newspaper or even a book, word games and crossword puzzles can be found anywhere. Play crosswords, word search, scrabble or trivia quizzes and games.
Look online for word games and crossword puzzles. You can also find them at local bookstores such as Virgin Megastore, Jarir, WHSmith or Borders.
Card games
Card games are still alive and a great way to stay entertained whether you’re alone or with a group of people. If you’re on your own, play Patience, Solo whist, Solitare, Canfield – Solitare, Spider – Solitare and more. With a group? Play Uno, Hearts, Spades and more. Some card games can be played on your phone.
Game night
If you’re in quarantine with a group of people, board games are an excellent way to have fun. There are so many options to choose from such as Pictionary, Charades, Monoploy, Connect, Twister and much more. Go to a local game store and see what appeals to the taste of your family. The great thing about board games is that you are able to interact with everyone while playing.
READ!
With TV and internet, people rarely read books or novels anymore. Take the time to read a book you never got to start reading, finish one you’ve left unfinished or start a new one, a bestseller? Not interested in a book? Read a journal, magazine or just an article. There’s unlimited online content you can be enriched with.
Exercise!
Gyms are closed so why not make a gym within your home using your own body?! Working out is often a great way to de-stress and keep your immune system in tip-top shape. Contrary to popular belief, workouts do not need to be at the gym. According to healthline, build a workout at home where you do four rounds of five exercises for 45 seconds of work, followed by 15 seconds of rest. Choose exercises that target different areas of your body and you’ll have a full-body workout in less than 20 minutes. Online yoga platform EkhartYoga is offering free gentle yoga and meditation classes online to people during the outbreak to help counteract the escalation of stress and anxiety that comes with it.
Travel abroad – virtually!
Get a little education within your home, as Google Arts & Culture has teamed up with over 500 museums and galleries around the world to bring everyone virtual tours and online exhibits of some of the most famous museums around the world, including British Museum, London; Guggenheim Museum, New York; National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; Musée d’Orsay, Paris; National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul; Pergamon Museum, Berlin; Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam; The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Uffizi Gallery, Florence; MASP, São Paulo; and National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City. Click the link!
One of the earliest museums to join Google Cultural Institute was the Museum of Islamic Art. So why not take a virtual visit to the Museum of Islamic (MIA), Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art and/or the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ). A collection of nearly 300 objects from MIA, Mathaf and NMoQ can be viewed through Google Arts & Culture in stunning detail, which distance and physical limitation render it impossible to achieve even through actual museum visit.
Volunteer! Foster! Maybe adopt?
According to WHO, at present, there is no evidence that pets, such as dogs and cats, have infected humans with COVID-19 or can spread the disease. However, it is always good to wash your hands after contact with pets to protect both you and your pet.
There’s no harm in fostering a cat or dog during your homestay! Contact any of the local shelters or rescues such as QAWS, PAWS, BarkinQ or 2nd Chance Rescue – Qatar for more information.
Listen to Podcasts
Listen to podcasts, especially Doha Heat podcasts by your local network GingerCamelNetwork. Doha Heat is a communal podcast created for every type of individual who currently calls Qatar home, has in the past, or may one day. The interviews are very relaxed and seek to be honest conversations, like the type you might have with a friend over coffee/tea/karak.
Listen here.
Other fun ideas to keep you entertained at home:
- Cook
- Do a puzzle
- Get artsy and crafty, and create your own body or home accessories
- Have a karaoke night
- Have a spa night
- Have a water balloon fight
- Plan a movie night
- Plant a seedling
How can staying at home be boring?
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