Things to Do!
Take some time for yourself and your family!
"We can all go and help our elderly. Something as simple as cutting their grass goes a long way, and helps them out."
"Write encouraging notes. Notes to yourself or notes to others. It's a good way to make own day better or make someones day better."
"Since I'm sure everyone has been spending a lot of time in their room recently, I recommend rearranging/redecorating your room. It's a simple thing, but it's refreshing. "
"Guided Meditation. This can help you relax."
"After trying yoga for gym class, I found it to be very therapeutic and calming during these stressful times!"
"I find that taking time for yourself (watching TV, reading a book, etc.) really helps to relax."
"My idea for a family/friend activity: With Memorial Day coming up, it would be a great time to celebrate with those you care about. Specifically, a sort of party is what I had in mind, as I I myself plan on attending one. Note: social distancing and safety precautions should be upheld."
"I have always found it therapeutic to watch the sunset every night, but especially now in this time because it proves there is still beauty in the world, and you have the freedom to behold it."
"Something that I've enjoyed during this time to keep me happy is painting. Painting can be a great way to express creativity in your own home, and I recommend it to anyone that is having a hard time keeping busy."
"My family and I have been doing a lot of outside yard work. During the school year we don’t usually have a lot of time to work around the house because we are always so busy. Now that we have a lot of time on our hands, a lot of stuff has gotten done. We’ve fixed out sidewalks, painted, and got out back porch ready to enjoy for summer. My sister and I have also started trying to workout together and go on bike rides. "
"I know for me personally this quarantine has been a little rough. Not being able to see my friends and family hasn’t been fun. With that being said my family and I have turn out back porch into our “zen” area. We added lights, some new decor, and plants. This area has help me relax and take the stress away of everything going on right now. I like to try and do some school work in this area, weather providing."
"Do puzzles (especially the ones with like 1000 pieces) with your family to help everyone relax, and to help keep your mind working. Also, have family movie nights! Everyone can just hang out and enjoy a film together."
Get Outside!
Walking/Hiking/Jogging/Biking/Fishing/Gardening
"Go on a walk on a forest trail.
"If you can, take some time to walk through a path in a forest to take in the natural good vibes, but SOCIAL DISTANCE."
"Gardening . My family has gotten a bunch of plant related object such as flowers and even planted seeds. It’s a way to brighten up the yard and it can be an activity for you or for the whole family."
"Growing plants. Growing plants can be fun while also allowing you raise something from the ground up."
""Walking and biking, it's a way to calm down and collect with nature, especially with the weather being nicer."
"My mom and I like to go for daily walks around the town. It's a good way to wake up and get energized for the day."
"I have gone on many walks during this time. The walks help me clear my mind and the fresh air is refreshing."
"Since everything happened I have picked up on walking more, I have normally until 12 o'clock before I go to work. So, I tend to walk in the morning with my dog and it really helps to clear my mind."
Take a walk around your neighborhood with your family and you’ll notice things you have never noticed before.
"This is kind of an idea for family/friends/etc as well, but recently I have been going hiking a lot and enjoying the outdoors just to be there, without a purpose other than to enjoy it. One of the spots was Mount Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania. It was definitely beautiful up there and I do want to go again. I recommend for anyone wanting a cute little trip to somewhere "bigger."
"Go for a walk/run either alone, with family, or, if you have pet, with your pets! Not only will this help you stretch your body, but it'll also give you and the pets exercise! Plus you'll get some fresh air, which is something we are all craving right now!"
"Running in intervals. Running clears your mind and allows you to get outside and breathe fresh air and gets you some exercise."
One of my favorite things to do is go on a bike ride. It helps calm my mind and body and connect with nature.
We have been going fishing. This is calming because we get out in the nice weather and enjoy family time.
Art: Painting /Coloring/Drawing/Knitting/Friendship Bracelets!
"Me and my siblings all got coloring books and just drew together. All of them were not that great but it was more of the experience that was fun. We all bonded and laughed at our not so great coloring skills. It was really a lot of fun."
"Friendship bracelets are fun to make and it’s something personal you can gift someone. Also the supplies necessary are common and cheap."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaX4T0BxtJs&feature=youtu.be
"I really like to just start drawing without an idea of what I want to do. It's a good what to portray what you're feeling."
"Making bracelets has been a fun way of relaxing while still getting creative!"
"Knitting is surprisingly therapeutic. When you finish the product, you get the satisfaction and fulfillment."
"I started painting and it is really fun. Also my friends and I would Facetime and call together."
"I like to color in mandalas when I"m feeling stressed."
Me and my family have a huge collection of river rocks surrounding our house, so one day me and my younger sister got bored and started painting them until someone noticed. Whenever our mom found out- she decided it would be a great idea for everyone to get in on it! So now each day, we slowly add to the pile and fill our outside area with artwork!
Blob art challenge create a blob and draw what comes to mind! This is really fun and super easy too! I think it be fun for people during this time to come up with wacky drawings and doodles!
I think the best why to cope with your emotion is to just get whatever art resources you have and just draw or paint your feelings, then you can destroy the painting to get rid of those bad emotions, you should also paint when you are feeling happy and create a masterpiece. Painting has helped my relax because you can just do whatever with no rules.
Music/Dance/Movies
"I've been coping by starting to write my own original music. I'm not ready to share it with the world, but I find it such an amazing way to put my stress and anxieties into a melody. I highly recommend it to anyone who is creative and likes a challenge."
Maybe this one is just me, but yes listening to music is therapeutic, but what about moving. Dancing to music, outside of class has helped me release some stress as well. Just putting something on, whether you're a good dancer or not, and just moving gets your body moving and feeling good, and not caring who is around.
"I like to make music on my computer, it's very fun and relaxing."
Create a good music playlist on whatever app you use for music with your favorite song that just make you happy or discover some new music whatever makes you have a dance party in your bedroom. Music has really helped me though these hard times because I helps me relax and make me happy.
Watching some movies after is also a great thing to do with loved ones.
Cool Apps/Technology
I usually scroll through tik tok and watch funny videos.Me and my sister always send videos to each other.
I get bored very easily and have to find constant ways to occupy myself. One of the most popular things I've been doing during quarantine is using an app called "Drum Pad Machine - Beat Maker". I know it's on IOS, but have not tested it for Android, but there are plenty of similar apps that work just as well. This app allows you to use different audios to make your own music and record it for your own use.
Well computer building, but prices can be... well high, well you can always use a single board computer like a raspberry pi, and its educational, in the programming field and also you can do basic music production on it!!!
Connect through zoom/other app: I feel like forming a digital group online could help people connect and share how they are feeling.
Picnics/Ice Cream!
"Drive my brothers to DQ and get them some ice cream."
"Now that it's getting nice out, go have a cookout! Get some fresh air, while having some good food and time spent with friends and family."
Picnics! My little sister (she's three) loves picnics and she asks me to make her a pb and j and we'll go sit on a blanket somewhere (in the house to make it a binge watching session, or outside on the porch or in the grass) it sounds silly but it lets you feel productive by setting it up and then you can have fun hanging out in a slightly different environment.
Play Some Games/Scavenger Hunt!
"My friends and I are now allowed to hang out since we are in yellow, so we started doing scavenger hunts but with themes. So far we have done a horror scavenger hunt and plan on doing either a comedy based one or anime based one. Thought I should share this as it might be fun for people stuck at home, and all you really have to do is use your “imagination🌈”.
"My family and I have found that board games are a great way to get our stress and competitiveness out! I recommend the Game of Life and a fun game called Remik!"
"Board games. What’s fun other than good old board games, either basic cards or monopoly board games can help with stress and allows family’s to have fun and to bond."
"My family and I have been playing a lot of different games. Card games have been the favorite. Kings corner is our favorite."
I love to play board games in the living room with friends and family.
"Building a puzzle together as a family is a great time to bond. It also help your brain power."
I have been playing XBOX with my friends. This is how we communicate and interact with each other.
My friend made up this game. You pick something to draw from a hat, and you get 30 seconds to draw it. The next person guesses what you drew and writes it down on the paper. The 3rd person has to draw what the 2nd person wrote. You keep going around to each player until everyone had a turn and see how close to the initial word you got.
Summer is approaching and the temperature is rising, so we're all going to have to opportunity to go outside and have fun with the people in our home. You don't need a huge backyard for the outside experience. Amazon and Ebay have hundreds of cheap yard games that you can buy that don't take up much space and can keep you occupied for hours. You can even play indoor board games outdoors to still get the taste of nature we all need.
Have movie nights with your family, and play some games like family feud, monopoly or even charades. Spending time with my family has brought me closer because my time was all taken up from school, its nice having good laughs in a time like this.
A card game my family and I love to play is Shanghai. It's intense, but its a good time.
Play a board game together! In times when all we have is our immediate family, doing something so mundane such as playing a game together can bring us closer than we thought we could be.
Letter Writing
"I'm currently writing a series of letters to past teachers and classmates, recounting memories from the last thirteen years. It's a great idea if you want a good laugh about something embarrassing that's happened or if you need a good cry over all the nostalgia."
"Writing letters to your friends is something that I've enjoyed to stay connected. Sharing music playlists is another great way to share your interests with your friends to stay happy and connected from far away."
Check out a Writing Prompt
This a pin from pinterest (https://pin.it/3zuvgL2) someone posted and I thought it would be fun to encourage people to write. Even though I'm more of an artist I plan on doing this prompt soon! I thought it would be fun for people to come up with their own oceanic landscape while we're cooped up at home.
This a pin from pinterest (https://pin.it/3zuvgL2) someone posted and I thought it would be fun to encourage people to write. Even though I'm more of an artist I plan on doing this prompt soon! I thought it would be fun for people to come up with their own oceanic landscape while we're cooped up at home.
Movies & Books!
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Book: Tangerine by Edward Bloor The book is called "Tangerine" and it soooooo good. It has a great plot twist at the end and it is also a great examples to use to get bonus points on AP english exams. |
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Movie: Your Name (Kimi No Na Wa)
A movie called Your Name (Kimi No Na Wa) by Makoto Shinkai.
It is a very touching Anime movie.
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Book: Flashes
by Tim O'Rourke I haven't read this in a while but Flashes by Tim O'Rourke is SO GOOD. It's basically a murder mystery book and it is great. If any book worms need something else to lose track of time in, this is a good one for it! |
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Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too
by Johnny Sun This is my favorite book of all time! It's the story of a lonely alien sent to observe Earth, where he meets all sorts of creatures with all sorts of perspectives on life, love, and happiness, while learning to feel a little better. |
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Reality Boy by A. S. King A very good book that follows a boy and his journey in life while also shinning a life on his mental illness. |
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The Last Lecture
by Randy Pausch
"The Last Lecture"; this book is the story of a Pittsburgh man who was a professor at Carnegie Mellon, who was diagnosed with cancer. This man, Randy Pausch, had a wife and two kids, and was very passionate about the importance of being kind and waiting. This book is a transcript-esque style of book, which talks about many of his childhood dreams, the life lessons he's learned over the course of his life, and provides some hope and peace.
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Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor Its' a really interesting read |
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The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins The hunger game series. It gives you something to read while your stuck inside it's a great and interesting book series. |