Fun things to do at home

Create a zen space for yoga or meditation.

If the thought of being locked in your home for 21 days causes you to feel anxious, know that you are not alone. Most (if not all) of us are having trouble wrapping our minds around how we are going to cope with being stuck in isolation for an extended period of time.

Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, Adrian Goslett, encourages South Africans to find purpose in the fact that we all have a major role to play in reducing the spread of the virus by staying at home, practising physical distancing, and being extra hygienic.

“I encourage us all to use this time for personal development. As much as we love binge watching Netflix, there are many other activities we can do to stay happy, healthy and calm. For starters, this is a unique opportunity to spend quality time with your family, to start writing the novel we’ve been dreaming about, or to finally learn how to speak another language.”

Here are a few more at-home activities you can do to keep your spirits up during this time.

Master chefs in the making

Food can be a great comfort during this time, so get creative – you can’t go to restaurants, so you’ll have to bring restaurant quality food to your home. Set the table and lay the scene of your very own at-home restaurant. For variety, host your dinner in a different room of the house each night. If the weather’s good, you can do alfresco dining. To up the ante, create a live cooking show to share on your social media or have a cook-off with your partner.

Declutter your space

You need to find ways to still feel productive even though you’re at home. Tackling household chores and projects can help provide that feeling of accomplishment. If you’ve always wanted your clothing cupboard to be colour coordinated, now is as good a time as ever to make it happen. Everyone has a dedicated cupboard for Tupperware, which rarely stays tidy. Use this time to declutter and reorganise your kitchen. As a bonus, you could sell the things you pack out to earn a little bit of cash once this lockdown is lifted.

Find your zen

Exercise releases much-needed endorphins to help boost your mood over this time. It can be helpful to create a designated workout space. There are many at-home exercises that you can find online and do in the comfort of your lounge. Alternatively, you can use your zen space for yoga or meditation, as you’ll need to keep your spirits high and your mind peaceful.

DIY projects

There are plenty of things that you can DIY at home, so get out your notebook and start jotting down any “Do it Yourself” projects you’ve always wanted to do but could never make time for. You can find many tutorials online on repurposing items you’ll find in your house. Even if the DIY project is as small as moving the furniture to open the space up, any small updates will improve the environment and lift your spirits.

“We all need to stay strong and keep motivated during this time. Although it sounds simple enough, it may become challenging as the days start to pass. Keep an eye out for any new updates regarding the virus but try to stay away from all the fake news floating around social media. Things will return to normal, so don’t allow yourself to get swept up in the panic,” says Mr Goslett.