People find themselves spending a lot of time at home for different reasons, such as because of the coronavirus pandemic, being a stay-at-home parent, or you work remotely, and after a while, being inside can start to wear on your mental health. This article will show you how you can make the most of being indoors a lot of the time by giving you viable activities to make you feel productive or simply feel less bored.
Photo, Toby Osborn.
1. Binge Watch Movies and Shows: Whether you just want to sit down and watch them or you just want to have something playing in the background while you do other tasks around the house, having TV shows and movies can help pass the time. Online streaming services also make doing this very affordable compared to going out for entertainment, and for the cost of going to the movies once, you can have many at your fingertips for at least a month.
2. Play Some Games: Games are an excellent way to relieve stress and boredom if you’re spending plenty of time indoors, and there are different ways they can be enjoyed. For example, you can play games by yourself or your friends, family, and roommates; they can also be traditional (i.e., board and card games), or they can be video games bought from sites like The Old School Game Vault. Either option can be fun for anyone who wants to join in.
3. Find New Reading Material: If TV and games aren’t necessarily your thing, and you prefer to sit back and read, there are a lot of options out there to choose from. Stock up some books or get a tablet or other device that lets you read things digitally because it can greatly make staying inside more bearable. Even browsing the internet and reading articles are options, and there is a wealth of information out there for you to learn about.
4. Learn Art and Music: Some of the greatest hobbies that anyone can pick up are art and music because they can fulfil many different needs that people have. For example, it can be a creative outlet and a way to create goals and, therefore, can be an effective stress reliever and a productive way to beat boredom.
Within each category, there are several choices to pick from in regards to art form or musical instruments, and you are bound to find one that you really like and can commit to. There is no limit, and who knows, you may even try to learn multiple ones at the same time. For instance, you might allocate time to drawing and some to learning the piano; it’s entirely up to you.
Photo, Isaac Ibbott.
5. Try Therapy: Although they can be very helpful, sometimes not every problem can be solved by hobbies and activities such as some of the ones mentioned here. Issues like stress, anxiety, and depression are prevalent, and being stuck indoors, especially due to COVID-19, can make things worse for people. Talking to counsellors or therapists can help give you the skills you need to cope with stress, and online therapy makes it easier to connect to professionals while being inside your home on your preferred device. There are different platforms that offer applications to make getting therapy easy, such as BetterHelp and Breakthrough, which you can learn about here:
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/breakthrough-review-does-it-hold-up/
Conclusion: Even if you’re an indoor person and are generally content with being inside all of the time, it can sometimes get burdensome and you may feel lost and not know what you should do. Hopefully, this article has given you some ways to be happier and more productive while spending a lot of time indoors, and if you need a helping hand, don’t hesitate to reach out for support from others.
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
