Quarantined in your Apartment? 13 Unique Ways to Pass Time

As the stay at home and social distancing orders continue to lengthen, my husband and I have to get creative in how we spend our quarantined time stuck in a 500 square ft. apartment! We laugh because it is only fitting that we would be quarantined in a small apartment during coronavirus after selling our home less than a year ago. Being in New York of all places during this time has been even more intense when it comes to the importance of staying at home. Here are 13 unique ways to pass the time of being stuck inside:

1. Virtual Game Night

There are so many virtual game night options, some of the ones we have played:

• Houseparty App – download for multiple game options we like Pictionary and their Version of Apples to Apples – Chips and Guac
• Telestrations – Telephone and Pictionary combined (this is a real game but we made a virtual version. Person one comes up with a word and shows person two, who then draws the word and then shows person 3 who writes out what they think that person drew, you keep alternating until you get back to the person who started. Let me just say, with my family we started with the word coronavirus and somehow ended up with Shakira performing at the super bowl.)
• Heads up App over Facetime or Zoom
• Picolo – a drinking game that’s an app
• Virtual Cards Against Humanity

2. Visit A Zoo

So many of the zoo’s all over the country are sharing virtual tours or live cams of certain exhibits for everyone quarantined. Here are some of my favorites:

• San Diego Zoo
• Georgia Aquarium
• Cinnicianit Zoo – Daily Home Zoo Safaris

 3. Join a Book Club

Whether you are already in a book club or want to start one, now is a perfect time. Pick a book and find a few friends to join or start a group and set up a zoom call to discuss a book you have already read. Many of the book’s authors also create a list of questions you can use for book clubs specifically.

During this time, I have been able to connect with my former book club in Birmingham since they have now gone virtual and I have also been able to join an online bible study with girls around the world.

4. Plan a future trip

Has there been somewhere you want to travel to in the next year, or you were already planning to travel to? Do the research now and start creating your itinerary so once you get the all-clear to travel, you can book the more final parts of your trip but you have already done the hard work and planning. Now is also a great time to book flights since they are so cheap and most airlines are allowing free rebookings for the next year or two.

Do you want to head to Florida? California? Or maybe the Virgin Islands? Check out some of my travel itineraries or get to planning a trip on your own by picking a location and then start scouting out some of the things you want to do and see.

5. Shop local

Find local shops that are delivering or selling their products online. Even if its something essential like coffee or hand soap, why not support a small business that is being really impacted during this time and bonus if it is something you already plan to buy.

6. Have a Movie Night with Friends

Have a movie night with friends or family by hosting a Netflix party, which lets people in different places watch movies together and share their reactions through a chat room.  

8. Visit a Museum

There are so many places to explore and such little time. Have you been to a city or country and wanted to visit a museum but ran out of time (or money)? Many are hosting a virtual tour of their museums for free! Some of my favorites include:

• Georgia O’Keefe Museum
• The Vatican
• The MET
• Smithsonian

Being quarantined doesn’t mean you can’t be cultured!

8. Host a Dinner Party

Have a themed dinner party with friends virtually. Pick a country and/or food ethnicity and all have to cook within that theme. Prepare a list of fun questions to ask as everyone eats dinner together via zoom or other online platforms.

9. Learn and Make a TikTok dance

Yes, just the word TikTok might make you feel old but this app is the perfect time waster if you want to laugh, learn to dance, or make a video of your own.

10. Make a New Cocktail

Order yourself a cocktail making kit if you don’t have any of the basics and learn how to make a new cocktail. To make it a little more interesting, make a cocktail from your favorite restaurant, or one from your favorite era, or location around the world. You can even make a cocktail based of a show, series, or movie you are watching. For other cocktail ideas order a book like this one or this one.

11. Create a photo book

This is something that is always on my to-do list but always falls to the bottom of the list. There is no better time to get rid of photos off your phone or computer and put them into a photo book for your apartment. I tend to do mine by the year, but also do some by the trip or event. My favorite options for photo books are either Mixbook or Artifact Uprising.

12. Pilgrimage Dinner or Date Night

Write down some of your favorite places to eat and put them in a bowl and then pick out of the bowl one place for each: appetizer, meal, and dessert. Then you must order the course you picked out of the bowl take out or delivery for each restaurant. If this is to much, have a date night by picking out one place out of the bowl to eat in from! Quarantined or not, this is a fun one to carry on into post-covid life.

13. Learn a new skill

There is always something new you can learn how to do, whether it’s small like French braiding your hair or a food tutorial to something larger like how to invest in the stock market. Find out more about your creative side and redo a piece of furniture in your apartment, learn how to paint with watercolor, or sew masks. This is the time to learn a new skill you can bring into the world post-covid.

14. Plan your next trip

Now that you have a little bit more free time and most likely not a lot of projects to do to your apartment especially if you are renting…time to plan your first trip post-covid. Being quarantined may have meant some trips were canceled or rescheduled but don’t let that deter you from booking a new one.

Staying at home whether that’s an apartment, condo, house etc. and being quarantined can be hard for so many people, just remember that this time of rest and being inside can still be productive and fun. I hope my list of ideas helps make the next few weeks more enjoyable.

I would also like to give a special shout out to all the frontline staff whether that is our healthcare workers, pharmacists, grocery store workers, delivery guys etc. for all of their sacrifice during this uncertain time.