Has the news of a second wave of COVID-19 infections got you down? In the United States, states like Florida, Arizona and Texas have seen significant spikes in COVID-19 cases which has prompted a reinstatement of public health restrictions. And just as things started opening up in California, the state is seeing a resurgence in cases. It is likely that with this resurgence in the number of new daily cases in the US, we will have to shelter at home longer than was initially expected. But summer weather is here and we want to stay engaged and excited. If you’re looking for ideas to keep the boredom away, here is a list of seven activities for your COVID-19 summer as we shelter in place. You can choose to do just one of these activities, or go full throttle and incorporate as many of them as you want.
Learn a new skill
It’s never too late or early to learn a new skill. With new technologies coming up every day, staying in your job relies on being up to date with relevant skills related to your job. This period is an excellent time to pick up a skill you’ve been meaning to learn or get up to speed on.
Platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera and Udemy have in-depth video tutorials that allow you to learn everything from learning a new coding language to becoming proficient at common software like Microsoft Excel.
Listen to audiobooks
Staying with the theme of learning a new skill, listening to audiobooks is a wonderful way to up-level your knowledge during this season.
This might also be a great time to find new fiction titles in genres you may have never considered. You will be pleasantly surprised and entertained.
Read a new book
And if audiobooks are too fast-paced for you or don’t feel natural, you can always lose yourself in a good paperback or hardback book.
Network virtually
One of the advantages of this season is that we can network without leaving the comfort of our homes. Zoom networking meetings are the new norm and we think this is fantastic. If you’re an extrovert who craves the company of others, networking virtually might be a way for you to grow your network professionally and socially. Even if you’re an introvert, this is still a great way to build your network so you can open yourself up to new opportunities.
Attend a virtual conference
Once the pandemic hit, several in-person conferences moved their experiences online. Virtual conferences are virtual networking and virtual learning rolled up into one experience. And yes, they can be fun. And even if the conference is not centered around “learning”, attending a virtual conference still lends itself to be a useful way to spend your time as you shelter in place.
Start a DIY project or learn a new hobby
Remember that project you started working on years ago? Or how about that time when you wanted to pick up a new hobby? Now you have the time to complete it. Here are some ideas for DIY and hobby undertakings:
- Write a book
- Scrapbooking
- Home repairs
- Furniture makeovers
- Jewelry making
- Sewing
- Crocheting and Knitting
- Photography
- Film-making
- Learn a new instrument
And this is really just a short-list of ideas of all the things you could get into.
Board Games
The great thing about board games is the fact that it is low-technology and the whole family can get involved. Classic board games like Scrabble, Monopoly and Taboo!, are available at your local department store or you might find an old one lying somewhere around your home. Dust it off and have a good time playing.
While we all wait patiently (or maybe, just a little bit impatiently) for this pandemic to pass, these activities you can do during your COVID-19 summer will bust boredom and keep you mentally and socially engaged, as we shelter in place.
