Feeling cooped up at home - what should I do?

During these uncertain times where the days seem to drag on forever it is normal to feel like you are locked in your home with nothing to do. In these cases it would be more beneficial for you to do something productive for yourself and no I am not one of those productivity and motivation ted talkers I am talking out of experience. One thing which I attempted to do is read books of different genres that I might not necessarily like and this allowed me to explore new authors and their style of writing. This will allow you to open up your vocabulary and mind to new perspectives.

Due to the corona virus, many are finding it hard and boring. However, you can finally take a chance to read the book you have been meaning to read for sometime. Or you can help others by chatting online on 7cups and volunteer as a listener and feel like you have a role and that you belong. You can also start applying for courses online especially that there are many discounted ones now. Also the hectic planning of having to go to the gym to go to a yoga class or a hiphop class has been made easier, just grab a mat or a cushioned towel and join a yoga or a simple meditation class and start making friends online. Finally you can start connecting with family or friends on many of the online apps.

Get out and go for a walk, hike or even a drive! Join a local meet-up group in your area. Ask a friend to start meeting for regular walks. Alternatively, it may also help to socialize online. You can participate in a chat, join a meet-up group or take an online baking class via Zoom. This way you can socialize with others without worrying about social distancing. It may also help to discuss with friends and family that you are feeling this way. Others might be feeling the same and be willing to work with you on scheduling regular outings together.

I totally get how you feel, I've been feeling cooped up at home too, especially during this COVID season. I try to brighten the mood in my house by opening up the windows and curtains in my room throughout the day to bring in some sunlight, which helps a lot. Aside from watching your favorite shows or reading your favorite books, it helps a lot to explore new hobbies and interests you've never done before. I've also taken a lot of time to meditate and reflect on myself during this season. And finally, I've made use of the technology I have to reach out to my friends and family I haven't talked to in a while.

Read a book, particularly a fantasy genre. There was a quote I once read, it said " A reader lives a 100 lives". And as a reader I found that to be true. So live as a character for a day. Travel to a new world and forget about reality for a while. Be invested in something that would help you detach from reality for a while so when you come back you will feel like you actually left your house for a while. It will help you de stress and also you might grow an appreciation for this genre.

It's hard staying at home all this time with the feeling that there is nothing to do. But there's SO MUCH you could do. Maybe pick up a new hobby (singing, dancing, reading, volunteering, playing an instrument, running, playing a sport, yoga/meditation, becoming a Listener at 7Cups, etc!!). Use this time to finish stuff that you have always wanted to do. Be productive with your activities, but also remind yourself that it's ok to be taking a day off to have a movie marathon or rewatching your favorite show! Maybe invest in some self-care products or practices that you weren't able to do before. Hope this helps :)

Find something you can do in or around the house that makes you feel productive! Inside, you could reorganize a room. Outside, you could go for a short walk or run! You could also try things such as doing a puzzle, reading a book, or cooking a meal. There are a lot of things to try out even when you might think there aren't. All of these things are beneficial to me when I'm feeling cooped up. It is important to do things that bring us joy but also make us feel like we are doing more than just sitting around!

Being cooped up at home is a feeling a lot of us have probably felt at one time or another in our lives. Whether it is because of a global pandemic or just not getting out enough, there are countless ways to not be cooped up at home. The most obvious thing to say would be: go outside. Once you are outside you can exercise (e.g. go on a walk or hike), socialize (safely meet up with your friends), and do other various activities that you might find fun (e.g. painting, visiting places of interest, going swimming, and so forth). Another option, if you don't want to go outside, is to be productive at home. Being productive might help you feel less cooped up at home because you are filling your time. Examples of activities you could do at home are working out, starting a project, picking up a new hobby, video-calling your friends, playing board games with the people you live with, and so forth.

Especially during these trying times, it is very hard to actually get out and do things. What I tend to do is just sit outside on my porch, and just take in the sun. Just getting some fresh air can feel very relieving to some. I take a walk around my house also, especially if I feel a bit claustrophobic from being inside a closed house for so long. Do activities normally done inside, outside! I’ll take my laptop outside, I’ll eat my lunch on my patio, and paint and draw outside! Even if your mindlessly scrolling on your phone, you can sit in your front yard and do it!

It is important to try and keep busy doing things that you enjoy. It is common for people to experience depressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors during this time. I was one of them. Keeping up with your hobbies will definitely keep your mind busy. Also, call someone who you haven't spoken to in awhile. You may rekindle a friendship that you may have lost. Exercise, write, make videos, watch television, and practice your spirituality (if you are a spiritual person). If you have a car, sometimes it might be good for you to take a mini road trip around town or the neighborhood, just so that you can get out of the house and still maintain safety and social distancing. The best thing to do is to keep busy.