So, as of publication time for this article, Georgians have been informed that we’re under a “shelter-in-place” quarantine order until April 30th. (Governor Kemp placed the order earlier this month.) Everyone has been adjusting to the new reality of being at home and not leaving the house except for what is deemed essential.
If, like many Atlanta residents, you’re feeling like you’re in a bit of an unproductive slump, you might be seeking ways to pass the time – and not just fill the hours, but fill the hours in a productive way to give yourself a feeling of accomplishment. Sure, TV shows and social media are great time-killers, but they don’t exactly give you that satisfaction of a task completed. Here are a few suggestions for what to do during the quarantine.
10 things to do at home during quarantine in Atlanta
1. Cooking/Baking.
Atlanta is home to many wonderful restaurants, and you might be missing going out for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Quarantine doesn’t mean that you can’t eat delicious food, though. Why not take the opportunity to learn a few new dishes? Find out some recipes that look interesting and give it a go. The nice thing about cooking is that it can be a solo activity or a group one. You can enlist the help of your family and just have fun with it. To keep things interesting, you can choose to make a big breakfast feast one day, a lunchtime snack another day, and an entrée for dinner the next. (Just remember – wash your hands!)
2. Being creative.
Having a creative outlet can be really important. Doing some sort of craft, art project, or even just simple coloring pages can be a great way to relieve some stress. Sure, the kids might like to do their own thing and color on blank printer paper, but make sure you’re having some creative time for yourself, too. Have some arts-and-crafts time, some music time, some dance-party time, or some doodling time. Get your brain to think in a different way to help you get through the Georgia stay-at-home quarantine.
3. Getting some exercise.
Exercise can also be a great stress-reliever. Maybe you don’t envision yourself running any marathons any time soon, but making a point to get some exercise can help you feel like you’ve accomplished something worthwhile. Even though you might not be able to go to your favorite Atlanta gym at the moment, don’t lose hope. You might have to be a little creative, but try to get some activity into your routine. (Why not blast some great music and dance your heart out?)
4. Keeping in touch with family and friends.
No, you might not be able to see them in person, but that doesn’t mean you can’t interact with the friends and family members that you’re missing during this quarantine. There are a lot of options for doing video calls or group chats, so you can keep in touch with your friends and family whether they live in Atlanta or not. Since everyone’s staying home, everyone should (in theory) be able to talk on the phone or do a video chat. It’s easy to feel isolated and cut off from the world, so reach out to loved ones. You can cheer each other up and put smiles on your faces.
5. Exploring podcasts.
There are many great podcasts out there, so if you’re in the mood for something thought-provoking and educational, look into some different shows and pick one that looks interesting. You can choose from many different genres – history, science, true crime, comedy, the list goes on. Even better, reach out to some friends and see what podcasts they listen to or would like to listen to. You can have nice conversations about them, share thoughts, and take your minds off the current COVID-19 pandemic situation.
6. Choosing a good book.
Don’t we all have a list of books that we’ve been meaning to read forever, but somehow haven’t gotten around to? Well, this is the time! You can buy an e-book that looks interesting and give it a go. (You might even be able to get a sample of the e-book before you buy it if you want to see if you’ll like it.) And once again, to bring a social aspect to reading, you can reach out to friends and see what recommendations they have. Then you can read the book in question and discuss it together in a video call.
7. Playing games.
Break out a deck of cards or some board games and have a game night with the family. Maybe learn a new card game or two. Get everyone involved and have fun. If you’re feeling in the mood for something a little silly, give charades a go. Feeling a bit more industrious? Get a puzzle going.
8. Doing crossword puzzles.
You can also get your mind to work in a different way by doing crosswords. (And yes, it’s acceptable to Google if needed.) Crosswords are great because you don’t have to do it all at once – you can spend fifteen minutes here, twenty minutes there working on them. Give your brain a bit of a workout!
9. Trying some meditation.
If you’re feeling a bit tense from the stress of the current situation, you can try some meditation and breathing exercises. This is a very unsettling time we’re going through, so take the time to check in with yourself and see how you’re doing mentally and emotionally.
10. Get Atlanta home insurance quotes and Atlanta car insurance quotes.
You can also take this time to see if you can save money on your Atlanta home insurance, Atlanta car insurance, or Atlanta renters insurance. Why not get some quotes to see what options are out there? You can also think about bundling your home and auto insurance to see if you can save money. Our team of insurance agents is here to help you with your insurance. Getting started with your quotes is easy – just fill out our online form, give us a call, or message us on LiveChat.