Are you self-isolating at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, it can be challenging to bust the boredom, but it’s a predicament that most people around the world will face in the coming days and weeks.

To stay well and to protect those more vulnerable, we need to stay at home. If you’re wondering how you’ll be able to keep busy in the weeks (or months) that follow, you’re not alone.

The good news is when the novelty of Netflix starts to wane, there are at least five ways to use this time of isolation wisely!

 

1. Stay Social Safely 

We’re told to use social distancing, but that doesn’t mean emotional distancing. You can keep in touch with friends and loved ones without being irresponsible and venturing out of the house by doing it virtually.

I know the extroverts among us will be the first to feel the sting of social isolation. Unlike introverts, who gain vitality from solitude, extroverts gain energy around others. If you’re an extrovert living alone, you’ll be suffering most. The good news is you can still get your social medicine – from afar.

If you’re missing company, organise ‘Friday night drinks’ with your mates over Skype, FaceTime or HouseParty! Schedule a date and time and socialise the night away! You can even catch up with your best friend for a coffee break!

And if you’re struggling to work from home alone, download Zoom to hold daily meetings virtually. Zoom is a lifesaver for us at Australian Online Courses as we’re all working remotely to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Some neighbourhoods have even organised Saturday afternoon drinks on driveways. You might need to shout to converse, but you’ll feel some comfort in that ‘we’re all in this together.’

 

2. Enrol in an Online Course 

Could your career benefit from professional development? If you have any skill-gaps or need a fresher in specific areas, now’s the perfect time to do it. All you need is a reliable internet connection and a computer. You’ll come out of isolation job-ready or skilled-up to advance your current career or start a new one!

If you are thinking about changing your career completely, short online courses are the perfect introduction without fully committing.

If, for example, you’ve been thinking about pursuing a career as a psychologist or counsellor, you could enrol in the Certificate of Counselling or the Certificate of Child Psychology.

These introductory online courses will provide valuable insights into a career in these professions.

Perhaps you’d like to learn a language or indulge a passion, such as baking or gardening.

If so, COVID-19 confinement gives you the perfect excuse to hit the books (or screen)! 

 

3. Read (Or Write a Book) 

Now’s the time to dust off all those books you haven’t had a chance read! If your libraries haven’t yet closed, stock up! Or, rent from your e-library or treat yourself to an e-book and get lost in an adventure (maybe forgo any literature on COVID-19-style pandemics).

You could also use this time to exercise your creative muscle. Perhaps even dreaming up your own story and finally writing that book.

If you need some inspiration, take a course on creative writing or join an online writer’s group for support.

 

4. Clean & Tidy Your Home 

A pandemic like COVID-19 means you’ll be spending a lot of time inside, so it’s the perfect time to summon your inner Marie Kondo.

Clear out the cupboards and discard (or donate) anything you no longer need. In the KonMari method, there are six basic rules of tidying:

1. Commit yourself to tidying up
2. Imagine your ideal lifestyle
3. Finish discarding first
4. Tidy by category, not by location
5. Follow the right order
6. Ask yourself if it sparks joy

 

5. Get Creative in the Kitchen   

Are there any recipes you’ve been meaning to try? Well, as winter approaches, what better way to spend your day than baking! It’ll heat up the house and provide comfort food for those you love.

Bake your favourite treats to sweeten up the people in your household or freeze and share with friends and family when the crisis is over.

It’s also a great time to get creative with dinners – it will save you going out or ordering takeaways! 

There are some fantastic ideas for baking at Taste, Donna Hay, Jamie Oliver, and if you’re cooking with kids, head over to Kidspot. 

Are you a little bit rusty in the kitchen? Enrol in an online course, such as Cakes, Pastries and Breads and learn how to cook like the pros. 

So, whether you’re a baker, a reader or a cleanliness-maker, there are plenty of productive ways to spend your time if you’re in isolation. Try to find the silver linings where you can – and stay safe, stay home.