Puzzles, Board games & other games!
I’m sure we have all got a stash of board games and puzzles somewhere within our home. If not, head over to Amazon and see if anything tickles your fancy.
When we are home and bored, we often look to games to take up our time and make it fun! And I think it’s a great way to lift our spirits during this difficult time. Staying positive is key to getting through this together. I know being around people in your house constantly may drive you a little crazy, but let’s channel that energy into something fun.
Here’s some games I think are great for a household! Some are suitable for children and some are moreso for adults:
* Exploding Kittens
* Card against humanity
* Card games such as Black Jack, solitaire, bullshit, shithead.
* Monopoly
* The game of life
* Jenga
* Cluedo
* Articulate
* Scrabble
* UNO
* Cherades
* Note Head
* Pictionary
You can also go over to Amazon and look for some awesome themed puzzles! I did one with my boyfriend a few months ago. It was a 1000 piece Marvel one and it was ace. It was a time consuming fun task with a huge picture for after that one day we hope to frame and put up in our future home. So I guess puzzles are time consuming, fun and productive!
Bake some goodies!
I absolutely love baking! It’s part of my hobbies, every day life and passions. Me and my boyfriend began baking homemade vegan goodies years ago and have really improved with our baking, perfecting recipes and decorating. It’s time consuming, fun and you get a tasty treat at the end (hopefully!).
Since Isolation is covering Easter maybe you can make some Easter themed treats. You can do anything from carrot cake, cupcakes, brownies, biscuits or even an easier option of shredded wheat chocolate nests or chocolate rice crispy snacks. There is a whole range of things to make whether you like a challenge or a breeze of a baking session! We recently made some of our favourite and loved cookies and a simple pink and white sponge party ring cake!
Learn a desired hobby!
We often don’t pursue a hobby or the things we really want to do because of lack of time. Well no excuse now! Since we are all spending ALOT more time at home due to isolation, we can and should look to do the things that make our life bright and positive. We all deserve happiness, whether that’s from video gaming, painting, crafting, cooking or anything else you love, get the things you need and do it!
I started a bullet journal after a week of isolating and It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I have also dedicated more time to improving makeup techniques and looks for my blog and I’m so glad I made that move and just jumped in without questioning.
I know we still have to possible work from home and then occupy our little ones, cook dinner and so on but maybe even take the time it would’ve taken for you to usually travel to and from work and use that time to pursue a hobby. You got this!
Have a big clear out
For me personally there is nothing better than the feeling after a big clear out. You feel fresh, motivated, calm and clear. Now taking into consideration people having to spend a long time at home including working at home too, what better than a clear surrounding where you can be free of clutter and mess.
You can even sort out a room in the house where you will be working and make it a little more Work friendly. I find it hard to stay motivated when constantly being home, but clearing out the rooms and adding a few little bits and bobs to inspire me around the house really helps kickstart an active mind ready for work and productivity.
One thing I recommend doing during isolation is clearing out your wardrobe, drawers and rails to throw out any clothes that don’t make you happy or comfortable. It is also the perfect time to move your wardrobe around for the new season as the weather gets warmer. Get those thick jumpers and pop them in a place where you won’t need them often whilst moving your spring attire to a more accessible place.
There is something about reviving your spring and summer clothes that just gives off a fresh feel and vibe. I like using my wall rail to showcase my clothes with lovely patterns and colour to give the room a bit of life. It reminds you of the season each time you see them!
It’s also a great time to sort through your cupboards in your kitchen and pantry to make sure you are using all the food you need and aren’t storing any cans from 2 years ago! I promise it’ll feel good to have a good clear out. You can even move to the rest of the kitchen and tackle those huge cutlery, cup and glass collections you’ve been hoarding!
Video games you can all play!
As I mentioned earlier, games are a great way to stay occupied and happy with your household of people instead of driving each other mad! You can get out the board games, card games and puzzles but nowadays we are more so looking up to video games. So how about finding your favourite multiplayer console games, PC games and phone games or just ones you can take in turn playing.
Here are some games you may like to give a go and play as a household:
* Buzz
* Nintendo Wii sports
* JackBox
* Street Fighter/ Tekken
* Super Smash Bros
* UNO online
* Cards against humanity online
* VR games
* Guitar Hero and Rock band
* Any fun games you can each take a go at!
During isolation we have been using and loving our new steering wheel, gear stick and pedals on various car games on PC! We even got my 61 year old mum to have a go and she loved it. It was a great way to stay amused by taking turns.
Household book club and reading challenges
Although reading isn’t for all, it is such a great way to pass time productively and positively!
For those who enjoy reading, maybe during isolation you can create a read list of the books you aim to read whilst spending extended periods of time at home. You can read in bed, in the lounge, in your kitchen or even in your garden if you are lucky enough to have one.
Taking the next step into your reading journey throughout isolation, you could make it into a household thing where you create reading challenges or a book club. You could all take in turns reading one book and then come together and talk about it or even just each read separate books. There are endless books to read especially with the growing community of amazing writers in all categories, styles and book types. Even if you are isolating with children you could create a little reading challenge that encourages them to pick up a book. It’ll be great for your homeschooling routine as reading is very good for the mind and can increase literacy skills and motivation.
The great thing about books is the amount and range that there is. You have hard copy books, E-books, Audible books, picture books, fictional books, biographies, autobiographies, books for schools and learning, encyclopaedia’s and in all kinds of amazing genres. There really is something for everyone!
Film and TV bucket list
I’m guessing that most of us are spending an excess amount of time in front of our television which can be so draining so maybe we can limit our TV time by doing some various things throughout the day and then rewarding ourselves of an evening with our family and watching some fun films or TV shows!
One idea I had which I love is to get together and create a Film and TV bucket list! It’s a great way to get thinking of what you want to watch and each person in the house having a say. You’ll end up with a long list of films and shows that you can use to have some film marathons. Maybe you are into Harry Potter, Star Wars or Lord of the rings. If so, we know how long those film series are so maybe you can make a week long marathon by watching one film per night! This way it spaces it out and gives you something to look forward to throughout the week.
If you have Disney+, Prime video or Netflix there are endless amounts of shows and films on there! We are currently watching some horror films on Netflix as we are massive horror fans and are using Prime video to watch the series of Hells Kitchen. We have been watching two or three episodes each evening! It’s nice to know we have Hells kitchen to look forward to each night as after a long day of working from home it’s nice to sit in the living room together and bring the day to a nice calm close.
Encourage exercise each day!
Although it can be a ball ache, it’s really important to get some exercise. Whether it be a walk around the block each day or just a little jog up and down the garden. You could also do some online classes, follow your favourite blogger or exercise fanatics routines and find yoga teachers online youtube videos to guide you through your yoga practise for exercise, stretching and mindfulness.
We like to do some exercise routines in our living room following either Carly Rowena or Yoga with Adriene. We take walks to our local forest whilst taking extra precaution to distance ourself too. Our favourite exercise is actually playing badminton, catch ball and tennis in the backyard! There are lots of ways to exercise whilst having fun if that’s your thing. It’s also a great way to get children active!
Find fun challenges to do each day
One fun way to spruce up your quarantine is to try new things each day! You can come together to write a list of things or even find one online. You can find challenges to try individually or as a household and make life a little more fun in your garden or inside your home.
I find learning and doing Tiktok challenges is funny and awesome and will keep you and your household entertained for hours or even days! That is of course if those kind of things are your taste!
Katie Snooks has been doing try one new thing each day and it looks super fun!
Isolating in an unstable household
Trigger warning
Something I need to add in is if you are from a household where there is bullying, abuse or struggle in any way. There are so many ways of finding help online or over the phone to lend advice through your time isolating. Please don’t suffer in silence. Isolating within a household whee you struggle is extremely hard so please take care and do what’s best for you. Please stay safe and remember how much you are worth! I’m always here to talk and there are so many helplines, companies and people willing to talk and offer some guidance. Please reach out if you’re in need. If you can’t reach out for any reason, please stay safe and hold tight if you can until you feel comfortable in seeking help.
