With Singapore currently on quarantine due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, citizens and long-term visit pass holders are ordered to stay indoors except for essential purposes only. With over 18,000 active cases as of writing, it is in our best interests to follow the rules and practice safe distancing.
For many of us, it means more time at home. If you don’t want to feel like you’re doing nothing at home, fear not: there are plenty of things to do during the quarantine to make you feel like you’re being productive with your time.
Catch Up on Your Reading List
Now may be a good time to catch up on your reading list or finally read a few books you’ve always wanted to read. Since a lot of non-essential stores are closed, you may find that your local bookstores are closed. However, you can buy some fiction books online and have them delivered to your doorstep.
That way, you can enjoy your days sitting down with your favourite book in hand. E-books may be an option, but there’s something about the scent of paper books and the thrill of turning every page that keeps many of us from going digital.
Enrol in Free Courses
If you want to make the most out of your free time, why not spend it learning a new skill? It doesn’t necessarily have to be skills related to your job (though it could give you the knowledge to do your job more efficiently). You can also learn skills related to your passion, hobbies, or if you want to start a side-job to earn more money. A few websites offering free courses include:
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- Udacity (business management, marketing, programming)
- Khan Academy (economics, math, science & technology, arts & humanities)
- Skillshare (visual art, digital art, blogging/vlogging)
- The Culinary Cook
- edX (courses from universities like Harvard University, MIT, and The National University of Singapore)
Deep Clean Your Home
Prior to the quarantine, you might have had a lot of excuses as to why you never got to give your home a good spring cleaning. But with more time at home, now might be a good time to clean your home and get rid of the things you no longer need.
Start a Garden
You’d be surprised how easy it is to grow plants with the vegetables you most likely already have in your pantry. The next time you’re prepping vegetables for your next meal, be sure to save your scraps as these can either be used as the seeds for a new plant or as organic fertilizer.
Start a DIY Project
Whether it’s replacing a lightbulb, creating something useful for the house, or just painting your own portrait, there’s always a DIY project you can do to free up some time. You might find that there’s a lot of projects you can start with the items you have at home.
There’s a lot you can do over the quarantine to stay productive. Aside from finding ways to stay productive for the next few weeks, make sure you are getting enough sleep and still taking good care of your physical and mental health.
