Let's Try The "Unique"!
Music, Netflix/prime, family time, board games, etc. are things that just might click every mind in this lockdown! But for people like me, being out of the box is the thing we crave for in every task. Hence, if you are a part of this list, or even if you just want to do something crazily unique, you have come to the right place! After some research, I have collected some amazing and most importantly "unique" ideas to try out in this pandemic - in the very safety of our homes. Well, even I hadn't imagined half of these!
[Links to aid you out are highlighted and underlined]1. Write a novel
Have you ever thought about it? It’s time for you to create something than to consume what’s already there!
If you’ve always wanted to write a novel but never found the time or inspiration, this is your chance. Apparently, Shakespeare wrote King Lear in isolation during the plague, so maybe this lockdown is when you’ll write your opus!
2. Tour ancient Rome
You may feel cut off from the rest of the world, but you can still time travel!
Our current technology allows you to explore other cities and even other times online, such as this virtual tour of ancient Rome which takes you through the forum, Capitoline hill, and famous monuments.
3. Write a play or short film
Perhaps your work is better realized by actors rather than staying on the page? You’ll be pleased to know that the BBC is on the hunt for original scripts about self-isolation that they can turn into short films.
If you’re daunted by that task, learn the ropes and (hopefully) to catapult you into stardom after your first film is made.
4. Paint with Bob Ross
Have any paint and brushes lying around? You’ll be pleased to know that 403 episodes of the timeless Joy of Painting have been added to YouTube so you can listen to his soothing tones while you paint happy little trees and enjoy the beauty of imperfections.
5. Write a song
If you have a musical persuasion, you could channel your current emotions into a song or even an entire album of them. (C’mon I know you have that talent inside you! Yeah I can see it!).
6. Explore the Uffizi
If you prefer Botticelli to Pollock, you can tour the Uffizi in Florence, arguably one of the best collections of Renaissance art in the world.
You can take your time looking at Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Caravaggio’s Medusa, and Titian’s Venus of Urbino without even getting on a plane.
7. Enjoy the Musée d’Orsay
Experiencing these venues from your home does mean that you can visit multiple galleries from different countries or even different continents on the same afternoon.
Paris’ Musée d’Orsay is home to an incredible collection of Van Gogh and Cezanne’s artistic masterpieces. Take a look around online.
8. Go to 500 other museums or galleries
If you’re still looking for more galleries or museums to visit, Google’s arts and culture collection has virtual tours of 500 top attractions around the world, including national galleries from around the world, individual artist museums, and even the Eiffel Tower.
9. Have a karaoke night
Missing karaoke night with your friends? (I do it too!). You can still do it from home.
Apps like Air Console let you turn your smartphone into a mic, and sing your favorite hits with the usual gang and practice new songs to sing at the bar once lockdown is lifted.
10. Try a fitness challenge
Missing the gym? There are plenty of fitness challenges you can try out from home, so you can emerge from lockdown fitter, leaner, or stronger.
You could try the 100 pushup challenge, squat challenge, or just doing a 30-day bodyweight workout challenge to stay healthy at home for free.
Just make sure that you don’t push too hard early on, and warm up thoroughly before you do any exercise!
11. Arrange a House party
Who doesn’t still want to meet with their friends – do it at a virtual House party.
The app allows for large group video chats so you can get together for a drink, a chat, or just to see some friendly faces for a couple of hours.
12. Get a Pen Pal
You probably fell out of contact with your high school pen pal from French exchange but that doesn’t mean you can’t try again.
Connect with people around the world and see how the lockdown is playing out in other countries (or ignore coronavirus entirely and chat about the weather!).
You can find pen pals on our site and get started straight away to broaden your horizons and make new connections. (Yes, do it! It’s right there on the top!!)
13. Cook something new
One good thing about being home a lot is that you can finally spend time cooking things from scratch.
You can find great recipes online, even if you’re on a limited budget. Jack Monroe’s recipes are specifically created for people on strict budgets or relying on food banks, while Miguel Barclay is best known for his one pound meals.
Not that professional? Don’t worry we have taken care of that as well! Simple- just scroll down to the recipe section in the blogs and we have some really cool – easy to make, yet mouthwatering – dishes waiting to be brewed through your hands!!
14. Go to the aquarium
It’s almost impossible to recreate the strange grace and tranquility of aquariums but not entirely.
Although they’re closed to the public, Monterey Bay Aquarium has added several live cams to let you keep an eye on the jellyfish, kelp forest, coral reef, and even the penguins, completely free.
15. Visit the opera
Escape from the news cycle by immersing yourself in the drama of an opera performance, without even leaving the house!
After the closure of non-essential businesses, multiple opera houses like the Met Opera have started streaming performances. Perfect if you’re a long-time opera lover or even someone who’s never been to the opera but has always been curious about it.
16. Deep clean your house
Between dusty skirting boards, dirty tiling, and stained carpets, your home can offer days of distraction if you feel like doing that deep clean you’ve been putting off.
17. Scare yourself in a creepy library
If you’ve always been fascinated by the inspiration for Lovecraft, horror films, and far too many conspiracy theories, you can now read a library of 1,600 digitized horror and paranormal books online (Man that is surely creepy!).
The Ritman Library has allowed free access to these pre-1900 books focused on alchemy, astrology, and magic, thanks to a generous donation from Dan Brown himself!
18. Visit a mystery house
Even more esoteric attractions are now offering virtual tours – you may not have heard of the Winchester Mystery House, but it’s certainly one of the stranger homes that you can explore online.
Built by Sarah Winchester after receiving instructions from her deceased husband (and a changing cast of other ghosts), the former-7 story mansion is an architectural oddity and has plenty for you to see (I am trying that for sure!).
19. Solve a mystery
True crime fans can immerse themselves in mysteries or even start solving them. There are plenty of online communities like Reddit’s Unresolved Mysteries, where mystery fans get together to swap theories and combine information to try to get to the bottom of old cold cases.
20. Start a blog (see I am doing it too!)
This could be a great time to build your audience, especially if you have relatively cheap, indoor hobbies that you can share.
Interest in pastimes like cooking and board games has shot up over recent weeks – if your hobbies are trending, why not set up a blog and share your knowledge?
21. Learn first aid
It’s good to be prepared for an emergency, especially when urgent care centers are overwhelmed or you may not want to leave self-isolation for a relatively minor injury.
You can learn basic first aid online, for free with FutureLearn.
22. Plan a holiday
If you’re lucky enough to have a job that lets you work from home for this time, you’ve probably saved money on your commute and buying lunch each day.
Why not calculate how much you’ve saved through the lockdown and put it towards a holiday?
You can plan a staycation at home, catching up on all the things you’ve missed, or go further afield to experience something new.
23. Try bird watching
You might have heard that nature is taking back cities on lockdown, from wild boar in Italy to goats in Llandudno. If you want to get a little closer to nature, you can start with your own back garden (or balcony). Resources like eBird can help you get started.
