It can be hard to stay busy at home when you are in a funk. Life throws you curve balls and it can be stressful to find activities that are enjoyable. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Getting up and being active is one of the best ways to get out of a rut. Here are a couple of activities you can do at home that will get you moving and accomplishing goals.

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Have a group video chat with friends

During a shelter in place or self-quarantine, it can be easy to feel isolated and alone because you can’t see your friends. Don’t let that be the case with you. Use any of the popular video calling apps to get ahold of your friends. Even if you are not doing much you can still stay busy at home. Schedule evenings or weekends for hangout sessions with some of your friends and family. It’s important to stay connected even when we can’t see each other. Technology allows us to stay close even though we may be far apart. You’ll be surprised by how much you will have to talk about even though you’ve been stuck at home all day.

Deep clean your home

This should be a staple for anyone who wants to stay busy at home. Cleaning your house regularly can help you stay physically fit and has positive effects on your mental health. Whether you need to deep clean or only slightly polish your home, it is up to you. You can do extra cleaning like donating old clothes, scrubbing baseboards, wiping down cabinets, and cleaning all the glass in your home. Doing cleaning like that will make you sweat and is a great workout at home. Put on your favorite music or audiobook and get moving! Remember, you are having a positive impact on your home and your family.

Movie night with Netflix

Did you know that Netflix will allow you to watch movies with your friends? It’s true! Netflix Party is a browser extension and is easy to use. You can set up and use it in minutes. Stay busy at home by planning movie nights with your friends or families. It even gives you access to a chat feature so you can talk with your friends while watching the movie. We definitely recommend watching a scary movie with this feature. You will get some hilarious results!

Play video games

If you are stuck at home, this is the perfect time to master that one level you keep getting stuck on. Whether you are a newbie to video games or have been playing all your life, video games help you stay busy at home. You can try new titles such as Doom Eternal or Animal Crossing to catch up with the latest hits. If you are looking for a challenge to complete, try Bloodborne, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, or Dark Souls 1-3. If you are looking for a 3rd person adventure game that is a bit more forgiving, try God of War, the Uncharted Series, or the Tomb Raider Series. Whatever you have in mind, there is a game for you. Don’t limit yourself, stay busy at home by trying new mechanics and games you would have never thought of.

Build a backyard fort

Camping is good for you, even if it’s in your own backyard. Even though you may not be able to go out to a camping ground during a shelter in place, you can still bring the outdoors to your backyard. Consider building a small fort with your kids in the backyard and planning activities such as smores, cornhole, horseshoes, and other fun activities. Stay up late and see the stars come out before crawling in your backyard fort and falling asleep. You stay busy at home by giving your kids and yourself an afternoon you won’t soon forget.

Play board games and card games

One of the best ways to pass time and stay busy at home is to play board games. Board games like Catan can be long and require tactile thinking. You can also choose board games such as Life or Monopoly that are a little easier to play. A deck of cards is relatively cheap and you can play a whole number of games like speed, go fish, poker, texas hold ‘em, and others. The important thing is to have fun! If you aren’t having fun anymore switch up the game!

Have a scavenger hunt

This will probably be best only for toddlers. Scavenger hunts are fun and easy to do for little kids. It gets them active and their brains engaged as they try to solve your riddles. Everyone can stay busy at home when they are scouring your house looking for a special snack or toy. Get creative with it! Hide things under cups, drawers or pictures. You get to decide the reward and you can repeat this activity however many times you like!

Meditate

Although not a task that is usually associated with helping you stay busy while at home, meditation can help clear your mind. It is easy, fun, and free to learn. Download free apps like Headspace to be guided into meditation and make it work for you. It’s a great way to deal with anxiety and depression when staying long periods at home. Use meditation before bed to calm yourself for a good night’s rest.

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