More and more people are staying home these days. Meetings, conferences, parties, games, classes, and trips are being cancelled right and left. Whether we’re sick, fear getting sick, or simply have plans that have fallen through, the fact remains that thousands, if not millions, of people are at home when we would normally be elsewhere.
COVID-19, commonly called Coronavirus, has halted many things. Even Mount Everest has closed until the end of April. Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood in California are both closing for a couple of weeks due to virus concerns. Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and Sea World are closing this weekend. Sporting events, such as basketball tournaments, have also been called off or postponed. My husband and I have both had trips cancelled.
Staying home isn’t a problem for us because we have plenty of things to keep us busy. I like to stay stocked up on supplies, so we’re good for a little while. I actually spend a great deal of my off-time at home. I quite enjoy snuggling with my dog and cat on the couch. I’m perfectly happy sipping iced tea or piping hot coffee while writing or reading a good story.
We have such an on-the-go society that many people don’t know what to do with themselves when they’re home. Once everything is cleaned, the meals are cooked, and the trash is taken out, what do you do? Sure, you can clean out the closet and scrub the grout, but what then?
I have some suggestions. My favorite home activity is, of course, reading. I have several books on my shelf and more in my Kindle waiting to take me to far away lands and dazzle me with engaging plots.
If you don’t know where to start in finding a good book to read, I have many authors who I’m fortunate to count as friends. I’m posting links for your convenience. (Email subscribers will need to visit my website to see the links.) Most of them have their books on Amazon, and they can be downloaded within seconds.
If you prefer a real book to hold in your hands, as I do, you can have it within two days with Amazon Prime. If you’re healthy enough to visit a bookstore, you can enjoy browsing the aisles and maybe even find your new favorite author. I recommend buying more than one book at a time, so you have choices.
TV is also an option. I don’t have cable or satellite, but I still have lots of options. I have Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and CBS All Access in addition to my local channels. I have one video store left in my area and several Redbox vending machines if I want to rent a movie. I also have plenty of hand sanitizer to kill the unseen nastiness I might pick up from the touch screen.
If you’re home with your family or a group of people, you can play all sorts of games. Monopoly, Clue, Sorry, Jenga, Life, Trouble, UNO, and Operation are always fun. If you’re feeling more athletic, Twister will test your flexibility and probably cause at least one case of the giggles. There are always the old standby card games that can be played with a simple deck of cards such as Gin Rummy, Crazy 8, Slap Jack, Go Fish, and Poker just to name a few.
Don’t be afraid to get out those art sets, paints, colored pencils, clay, charcoals, pastels, or any other art supplies you may have laying around and make something beautiful, silly, scary, or therapeutic. Even coloring a picture with a box crayons is rewarding.
Baking is one of my favorite pastimes. I love baking homemade bread, cookies, cakes, pies, and muffins. Unexpected home time is a great time experiment in the kitchen. Have you ever wanted to make a soufflé or crème brûlée? Now is a good time to try your hand at it.
If you’re into woodworking, this is a great time of year to do that. You can open the garage door, rev up the saws, and get to work. Who wouldn’t enjoy a new end table or wood carving?
There’s also a lost art in which you can engage. It’s called conversation. You can talk to your family and friends. You can even use the telephone to call someone with whom you haven’t spoken in a long time. Even if you regularly call your mom or sister, you probably have other family and friends who would enjoy hearing from you, too.
Being home is a good thing. I hope you are healthy and stay that way. If you’re sick, I hope you feel better soon. No matter why you’re spending extra time at home right now, I sincerely hope you make the most of it. Thank you for reading Ozarks Maven! If you’ve enjoyed my little seeds of wisdom and joy, please subscribe to Ozarks Maven, Like Ozarks Maven on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter @OzarksMaven.
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