Finding Things to Do During the Pandemic

by blackspanielgallery

Keeping both the mind and the body active during the pandemic is worthwhile. Here are some ideas one can do without venturing away from home.

Many of us have had our lives interrupted. We cannot go where we did just a few weeks ago. But we can look at this as an opportunity to explore new horizons. Not everything requires we go out. And, for many of us, there are things we would like to do but have never found time to do them. Well, now is a great time to start.

In some cases, we can start an activity or learn something we always were interested in learning. In other cases, we can go places we have not had the opportunity to visit via virtual tours. The important thing is to keep the mind and the body active. And what is really nice is that we have time to do more than one of these activities.

Watch Travel Videos

Rick Steves has some excellent travel videos out for most of Europe.  These are well done.  There are video segments available on YouTube so you can get an idea of what of the quality.

Rick Steves European Travel

Virtual Tours

Sit Outdoors, Or Take a Stroll

When is the last time you heard the birds?  Well, open a door, step outside, and listen.  You might get interested in learning which kinds of birds you are seeing and hearing, and that is how bird watching can take root. 

 

If birds are not your thing, have an outdoor meal with your family, in your own yard. 

 

Another simple thing you can do is look at the flowers.  Spring is the time they are more beautiful. 

Plant a Garden

You might be hesitant to undertake preparing a garden for fear of not being able to procure plants.  This is not a problem.  You can buy seeds and even roll out prepared gardens from online sources.  The enjoyment will continue as you view the flowers later on.

Gardening

Having a garden can give much pleasure, but not everyone is a skilled gardener, nor does everyone have time to properly plant a garden. Garden roll outs solve those problems.
Whether using pots or a small area for gardening, much of the difficulties have been removed. Now it is easier than ever to plant and maintain a small garden.
An indoor garden, although small in comparison to outdoor gardens, can bring much visual pleasure, as long as the plants are selected carefully.

Become an Artist

Order art supplies and paint.  No, you will not be able to go to the mountains, nor to the seashore.  But you can paint images fixed in your memory from when you were able to visit such places, or from images you have seen of such places.

 

Of course, art is not restricted to painting.  Make a wreath for each season.  Build a bird house.  Work at a craft.

Painting

Catch Up on Reading

Books can still be read, but with a Kindle or Nook you can read even when obtaining physical books is impossible.  Order virtual books, many of which are free, and read. 

 

Write

Now is a good time to write that book you often thought you had inside you.  It might be a novel, or maybe it is a book on how others can do something at which you are an expert.  Perhaps it will be short, such as an article or a poem.  Being creative is rewarding.

Writing

Writing articles for the internet can be easy, but many people make it a real chore. Simplify your work by getting organized.

Failure Is Not to Be Feared

So, what if once you finish your art looks horrible, or your book makes no sense.  So?  Most famous painters did not produce a masterpiece the first time after picking up a brush.  Few novelists have had their first effort published.  Starting is the reward, and if it blossoms later so much the better.

 

Other Ideas?

Some of you have already found a creative way of keeping busy.  If they are fun, please share in the comment section.  I realize cleaning and such activities can be done, but they do not lift the spirits.

This article contains links to affiliate programs and Adsense advertising.  These must use cookies to allow for proper crediting. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

The introduction image is our own Zazzle product.

Updated: 03/29/2020, blackspanielgallery
 
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blackspanielgallery on 05/08/2021

It is better to have a positive attitude and find alternatives to normal activity than to be negative.

WriterArtist on 05/08/2021

Hi blackspanielgallery,
I totally agree to the ideas you have suggested especially going for a virtual tour. This pandemic although has restricted travel has given an opportunity to introspect. And it is never too late.

blackspanielgallery on 11/12/2020

We have much open here, some with restrictions such as not being able to peruse shelves. Instead one might find an employee will get such things as books. So, you might ask for a book and wait until it is retrieved. I am uncertain.

DerdriuMarriner on 11/12/2020

blackspanielgallery, Thank for the practical information.
Gardening and walking are always popular here, and ever more so with the mild spring through summer into fall.
Art, reading -- unless they're scary -- and writing furnish such educational, entertaining and therapeutic outlets. (Have the libraries reopened in Louisiana?)
The option of writing and the possibility of initial failure make me think of a film and of a novel, the former I just re-saw and the latter I revisit often during these pandemic months. The film Darkest Hour offers Prime Minister Winston Churchill's observation that "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." La peste by Albert Camus reveals one of the characters during the mysteriously spread, mysteriously terminated plague never getting off the first sentence about la belle Amazone in the novel he so wants to write.

frankbeswick on 04/15/2020

Your point is well taken.

blackspanielgallery on 04/15/2020

Frank, I am a bit older than you, and before I go too far I need to determine if there are facilities. Here there are no booths for such things, we need to go into an establishment, and that is not possible.

blackspanielgallery on 04/15/2020

You have mastered the often unspoken requirement, keeping the mind active as well as the body.
I still have my students, but am about to start making educational videos.

frankbeswick on 04/14/2020

We took flasks with us and found a bench outside a closed public house [inn.]The police have been moving on people sitting in parks, but outside parks they don't seem concerned, but my point is that as I am elderly and have mobility problems, exercise needs to include rest periods.No one challenged our right to sit.

One idea of mine for spending time is to begin to re-read some academic books that have been sitting long on my bookshelves.I have also been studying my book collection with a view to making it smaller,giving books that I will not read or use again to the charity shop, when it re-opens.

I have also agreed to proof-read someone's doctoral thesis.I am copy editing for the language. I am a qualified copy editor.

blackspanielgallery on 04/14/2020

One must do something to avoid boredom. If you are in the situation we are in you would have to take your tea with you, since dining in no matter how small is not allowed. We can pick up, and many places bring food out to the customer, or pass it out of a drive-thru window. Sitting is not possible, since the chairs are all picked up.

frankbeswick on 04/13/2020

I and Maureen did a five mile walk today. We took a break half way for tea [we are British] and a biscuit [cookie.] With my ailment, I knew that I needed a good walk to take me forward .It was tiring, especially for my back, but I am walking my way back to health. I think that doing this is a good way to spend my time.


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