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Ways to seize the day at home

Living and Lifestyle | By Chantelle | 25.03.2020

If you’re at home and you’ve watched endless films, read all of your books and made the house sparkly clean, you may be wondering what to do next. 

Here is just a handful of ideas to keep you entertained at home - whether you're on your own or with your family. 

Upcycle furniture 

It’s amazing what you can achieve with a little sandpaper and a lick of paint. It’s quite easy to transform old bits of junk into smart, desirable pieces of furniture. 

Social media site Pinterest is a great source of inspiration for upcycling projects, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned upcycler.  

And if you have kids at home, you could quite easily turn upcycling into a family activity – what kid doesn’t love a bit of painting?  

Catch up with friends and family 

If you’re looking to catch up with old friends, the Internet offers many ways for you to get in touch – and even see them – without leaving your home.  

You can always start by sending them an email or reaching out on Facebook. But if you’re up for a face-to-face chat, you could try using online tools and smartphone apps like Whatsapp, Zoom, FaceTime, Whatsapp or Messenger to talk to them via video call. These all free to use and fairly straightforward to set up, so why not give them a try? Your friends and family would surely love to see you and catch up. 

Have a clear out 

Just think of all of those drawers full of clutter and unloved clothes hanging in wardrobes. There never seems to be a good time to make a start on that long-needed clear out. 

Why not give it a go if you have a lot of time on your hands? You might feel quite a sense of accomplishment after some therapeutic decluttering. And, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you could even tackle the loft or shed too. 

As Marie Kondo would say, ask yourself if a possession sparks joy and, if it doesn’t, thank it for its service and get rid of it.  

Before chucking things out, it’s worth considering whether they could be used inventively by your kids or grandchildren for some arts and crafts. It’s amazing what you can achieve with an old shoe box or a stack of ageing photos. 

Try origami 

Feeling creative, but don’t know how to get started? 

How about trying your hand at the Japanese art of origami[1]? If you don’t know where to start, there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube for both children and adults. 

You could even set an origami challenge between friends and then compare your creations on a video call. 

Bird watch 

Even if you don’t consider yourself a twitcher, watching birds can be an enjoyable activity. In the words of the British Trust for Ornithology[2], “birds are a source of hope and inspiration for many”. 

If you don’t know your chaffinch from your goldcrest, there’s plenty of help and guidance available online. You can use this app from the BTO to record and share your findings, and keep up to date with what others are seeing. 

If your garden doesn’t attract many birds, you could always make some easy bird cakes to entice them. If you have young children around, they’re likely to enjoy this too. 

Get creative 

There’s much more you can do from the comfort of your own home. Why not: 

  • Bake something delicious.
  • Turn a teacup into a flower planter.
  • Make greeting cards from magazines.
  • Start a journal or blog, or write poetry or short stories; you could even make a start on that long postponed novel.
  • Knit or crochet.
  • Rearrange your furniture, so your home feels fresh and different.
  • Order a giant colouring-in poster and colour it by yourself or with your family – it can be a very relaxing activity.
  • Try one of the most complex Lego sets. 

Go online for inspiration 

There are many ways of keeping yourself entertained online. It's worth having a browse to get a few more ideas on how to seize the day from  the comfort of your own home.