17 Ways to Enjoy Your Time at Home

17 Ways to Enjoy Your Time at Home While Social Distancing

While practicing social distancing as suggested by experts, how can we combat the boredom that creeps in as we stay at home? It’s time to try new things and stretch our imaginations a bit. We’ve created a list of fun ideas to help pass the time while staying in:

1. Download the Nextdoor app on your phone.
   Nextdoor is your local hub to connect and share with your neighborhood. It’s where communities come together to keep a local shopkeeper in business. Neighbors can exchange recommendations for babysitters, plans for local events and tips about what to order at that new cafe down the street. Local agencies can connect with neighbors in need. It’s your opportunity to feel safe and connected with others in your neighborhood. Take a look at Nextdoor here.

2. Download coloring sheets for seniors.
   It’s always fun to color; a pastime that has no age limit. Click here to browse the 100s of coloring sheets you can download, print and color!   

3. Do some puzzles.
   You’ll never run out of crosswords to download, check out the large print ones found here, and the daily LA Times crossword available here.  Download, print and solve! Find more puzzles here:
   Chicago Tribune Daily Sudoku
   Chicago Tribune Daily Jumble

4. Take some free online courses.
   What have you always had a curiosity about? Is it time to take a class to learn more? With all the free online college courses available, you can take classes on everything from gardening to astrophysics. Take a look at the free online courses you can enroll in today.

5. Read free ebooks.
   Check out this site for a list of the 10 best free ebook download sites, and download a huge selection of free books to your digital reader. 

6. Listen to classic audiobooks.
   How about listening to an audiobook? Sit back, relax, listen and enjoy a classic! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have someone read to you? Check here. Love the classic kids’ tales? Choose your favorites here.
7. Listen to a mystery, thriller or true crime podcast.
   Podcasts are all the rage today. You simply find a podcast you’re interested in and listen! Use your smart phone with a podcast app to listen. There are podcasts for every possible interest. You may like thrillers or detective stories—there are podcasts for these genres. Most podcasts air new material with a weekly or monthly cadence. Find what interests you and start listening! Check out the great who-dunnits! Search thrillers here.

8. Take a break with a virtual visit to the New England Aquarium.
   The New England Aquarium plans to post daily online programming for seniors to take virtual tours or watch animal feedings and presentations.
   At 11 a.m. (ET) each day, the aquarium will post videos ranging from live feedings with Myrtle the sea turtle and other animals at the aquarium to videos of educators sharing fun facts about sharks and other marine life. 

9. Watch the Giant Panda Cam from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
   Welcome to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Panda Cams, where you can watch giant pandas Tian Tian and Mei Xiang.
   While you are watching pandas chomp on bamboo, play in trees and tumble in the grass, specially trained volunteers with Friends of the National Zoo are hard at work using these cameras to collect behavioral data on the giant pandas. Please note that while the cameras stream live 24 hours a day, FONZ volunteer operators will only be following the pandas during regular business hours.
10. Clean out your closet and donate clothes you no longer wear.
    Okay, so this one is not as fun, but you will feel great when it’s done!

11. Download games to your phone.
    Here’s a list of top game apps for seniors and how to download them.

12. Write cards or letters.
    When is the last time you wrote a letter to a friend or loved one? 

13. Dust off that jigsaw puzzle hidden in the back of your closet.
    Put your brain to work by doing a jigsaw puzzle.  If you don’t have one hidden in a closet, order one on Amazon.

14. Bake something yummy.
    When is the last time you baked cookies or that delicious angel food cake?

15. Read a book.
    All those books you’ve been meaning to read can finally get the attention they deserve.  

16. Start your spring cleaning.
    Well, now you have the time! You can do a little each day and before you know it, you’ll have a tidy, clean abode.

17. Become the family historian.
    Keep a journal about this historic time. Make note of breaking news and trends, and describe what it feels like. Document any major developments and how they affect you and your loved ones.