5 Things To Do At Home
Learn To Play An Instrument
Many people have aspired to learn an instrument. For many of these people, this is an on-going fantasy; something they want to pick up sometime in the future when they finally have the time.
What Better Time Than Now?
During the COVID-19 lockdown, online ordering has ramped up in popularity. If you want to learn to play the guitar or a similar string instrument, there are many places online to order these items, including Amazon.
If you’re just starting out, it’s a good idea to order an acoustic guitar. You can hone some basic skills before deciding to go all-in on an electric guitar and amplifier.
Want to learn the piano? Best to order an electric keyboard first. It’s much easier to order and get into your house than a bulky traditional piano. Not to mention, it’s also far less expensive and there’s virtually no maintenance. Again, hone your skills first before going all-in.
Want to learn drums? This can be done, but it poses some complications.
If you live in an apartment complex or close to neighbors, they’re going to be able to hear every beat and symbol crash, and end up pretty annoyed. Not only is this wrong, it’s probably against the rules of your apartment complex and even potentially illegal. You don’t want a noise complaint on your hands.
Also, do you really want your neighbors hearing your first attempt at an instrument, with all of the painful mistakes it entails?
If you want to pick up drums, the best option is to order an electronic drum set. Many of these sets don’t even require amps - simply plug your headphones in so only you can hear the beats.
How To Learn
There are tons of videos on YouTube that can help you learn the basic skills of virtually any instrument. The key is to get the foundation required to begin experimenting with your own sound.
Do some YouTube searching and find a channel you prefer. There are plenty of YouTube channels offering free lessons on guitar, drums, piano, etc.
It will be difficult at first. Everything worth doing is. So keep at it and eventually, that surge of dopamine you’ll get from building your skills on an instrument will start making quarantine life a lot more fun.
Learn To Paint With Bob Ross
Not only is this a fun hobby, it’s also very relaxing. Most of us know who Bob Ross is, but have you ever actually sat down and watched one of his videos? You can find virtually all of them on YouTube. In fact, there is a channel dedicated to him.
All of his videos are made to allow the viewer to follow along. He teaches all of the basic steps needed to create beautiful landscape paintings.
What You Need
- Canvases
- Easel
- A Pallet
- Brushes: two inch brush, fan brush, palette knife, script liner brush
- Odorless Paint Thinner (make sure it’s odorless - regular paint thinner will have you evacuating your paint room and possibly your home)
Liquid White and Liquid Black - Oil Paints: Alizarin Crimson, Bright Red, Cadmium Yellow, Dark Sienna, Indian Yellow, Midnight Black, Mountain Mixture, Phthalo Blue, Phthalo Green, Prussian Blue, Sap Green, Titanium White, Van Dyke Brown, and Yellow Ochre.
Everything you need to paint along with Bob Ross can be found on Amazon. Simply order your supplies, get one of Bob’s videos going, and give it a shot!
Learn To Cook Something New & Unusual
Now is a great time to bring your cooking skills to a whole new level. If you’re used to cooking the basics like hamburgers, pasta, and fruit salad, why not expand your culinary skills and see if you can make some delicious curry?
Sushi is another interesting choice. This isn’t something many people know how to make at home, but if you do it right, it will taste just as good as the sushi at your favorite Japanese restaurant.
Sound like a major challenge? It doesn’t have to be.
Other interesting dishes are:
- Spanakopita. Pronounced span-ah-koh-pee-tah, this meal is a savory Greek pie that’s traditionally made with crispy phyllo dough which is then stuffed with feta and spinach. This is a meal that takes quick work, as the paper-thin sheets of the phyllo pastry can dry out pretty easily.
- Hanger Steak. This meal gives you a combination of rich rib-eye steak and beef tenderloin. Hanger steak is a section of the cow that hangs from the diaphragm; it’s a muscle that does very little work, making it incredibly tender.
- Scotch Eggs. In the US, this is generally regarded as “pub food”, but it’s a picnic staple in the UK. The Scotch Egg is a deep-fried, sausage-wrapped, hard-boiled egg. It can make a delicious snack all on its own, or paired with a green, leafy salad. Of course, it washes down well with beer and whisky.
Spring Cleaning (Go the Extra Mile & Get Creative)
In some ways, it’s kind of a nice coincidence that the coronavirus lockdown has occurred right at spring. This means there’s no excuse not to get your spring cleaning done.
Not only is this a great time to clear out all of the excess junk and unneeded items that have accumulated in your home during the winter, it’s also important for keeping your home a place you actually want to be in. After all, you’re going to be there for a while.
Beyond all of the basic necessities like collecting and taking out the trash, cleaning the sideboards and windows, and dusting off the bookshelves, you have time to get more in-depth and thorough with your spring cleaning routine.
Gather up anything you don’t need. That includes:
- Furniture
- Clothing
- Shoes
- Blankets
- Dishes
- Waste baskets
Now, there are a few things you can do: throw away, donate/sell, or recycle.
That last option can be pretty fun. Here are some creative ways to recycle old household items.
Get Some Exercise
Yes, we all need to keep our distance from others to prevent the spread of coronavirus. However, you can still leave your house in most cases as long as you do so wisely.
It’s important for both your physical and mental health to routinely exercise. If you own a dog, it’s even more important to go out - not just for you, but for your dog as well! They need the exercise every bit as much as you do.
Go on a brisk walk or even a run. Get outside and enjoy the fresh spring air and sunlight.
There are also at-home exercises you can do, including pushups, pullups, and situps.