Filling Your Buckets With Hope & Happiness

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We suspect many may be looking for things to do during this period of time where we are all asked to slow down, stay close to home, and wait. Here are some encouraging and uplifting ways our creative colleagues at Illing Company Inc are passing the time these days.

 

  • Take a virtual tour of a museum. Museums from around the world are offering free, virtual tours. This is a great way to learn something new and maybe even feel like you got to leave your house for a bit! Some examples include the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Guggenheim, Uffizi, and tons more!
  • Learn the basics of a new language. Apps like Duolingo and Memrise make learning fun and easy!
  • Create your own cooking show. Reach out to your friends and/or children’s friends. Each day of the week, someone “hosts” their own cooking show. Friends can Facetime or connect virtually while the host teaches the others how to make their favorite meal. This can be a good way to practice math and fractions for kids too.
  • Start a virtual book club. While many libraries are closed, take advantage of e-books.
  • If you have children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, etc., record yourself and/or use Google Hangout to read a children’s book to them.
  • Many fitness instructors are offering free or low cost workout videos that you can do at home. Use Youtube to search for a workout that interests you.
  • Be in nature. Take a walk and get some fresh air. Just remember to maintain your distance from others when you pass them. Exercise will keep your immune system strong and your mind clear.
  • Paint and decorate rocks for fun.  Then disperse them around your neighborhood to help spread cheer for others who are out walking and enjoying nature.
  • Try a new recipe. It’s the perfect time to dust off your cookbooks and try something new or make a tried and true favorite.  Some of our favorite recipes come from Pioneer Woman, Bobby Flay, and Barefoot Contessa.
  • Video Chat. Feeling like you’re stuck at home can be isolating and lonely. Luckily, we have technology to help us get through it. Use Facetime, Google Hangout, Marco Polo, Zoom, Facebook, and more to connect with your friends and family with video. It’s the perfect time to catch up with those people who you’ve been meaning to call.
  • Meditate. There are many apps that you can use for free or for a small fee. Some examples are Headspace, Buddhify, and Stop, Breathe, and Think.
  • Do a puzzle or play a board game. You can even go online and do crosswords, Sudoku, word searches, coloring, GSN games, and more.
  • Create your own home spa and treat yourself to a relaxing bubble bath complete with relaxing music and calming scents.  Here are some of our favorite DIY sugar scrubs, lotions, masks, and more!
  • Watch a concert. Some musicians are offering free, live-streamed concerts.
  • Binge watch the HGTV channel and tackle that house project you’ve been too busy to start!
  • Clean! Do some spring cleaning or go through your closet. Like Marie Kondo says, see what “Sparks Joy”.
  • If you’re a sports fan, re-watch some of your favorite games from the past. If you have a subscription to a sport-specific streaming service, check if they have your favorite game. If not, YouTube has clips of a surprisingly large collection of games.
  • If you are religious, dress yourself and your family up as if you are leaving and watch a local live streamed service.
  • If you are in a neighborhood of many kids, initiate fun ways to interact.  You can have fun creating new art projects to hang in the window; such as shamrocks, silly faces, flowers for spring, Easter eggs or bunnies, and more.  Then go on a family walk and enjoy looking at the projects the rest of the children created and hung in their window.
  • Many people across the world are getting their Christmas lights back out!  They are putting them up and turning them on as a sign of hope and to spread cheer.
  • You finally have the time to finish the vacation scrapbooks or baby books you never completed.  Paper and pen not your thing?  Consider creating an online version that’s fast and easy using Mixbook, Snapfish, Shutterfly, or Chatbooks!
  • Many zoos are sharing live videos of your favorite animals on Facebook!  Learn more about the famous Hippo Fiona, Tigers playing with bubbles, and other fun animals without ever leaving your couch!
  • Order take out or delivery from local restaurants and taverns that are hurting during this time and help your community while getting to enjoy new food opportunities.
  • Go on a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood looking for rocks, sticks, trees, different colored cars, birds, etc.
  • Create a obstacle course with odds and ends around the house or outdoors.  You can also play Hot Lava….just don’t step on the floor!
  • Have a movie night.  Set the house up like a movie theater with dimmed lights, homemade tickets, fake money, and buttery popcorn.  Set up a candy station and allow your kids to “buy” their treats.  Then settle in for one of your favorite movies.
  • If the weather allows, set up camp outside.  Make smores or pudgie pies over the fire and set up a tent to hang out in.  And if you are really brave, you can even sleep in it overnight!  Don’t forget to check the weather though!
  • Make or online purchase local gifts for loved ones that you are missing and mail them or curbside drop them off.  Brighten their day and yours by giving to others around you.
  • Family game night!  Bust out your favorite board games and start playing!  You can even break out into teams and have a special treat or prize for the winners.
  • Find a cause that you are passionate about and donate to it.  Helping others can help you feel good.
  • Missing special events?  Try recreating them with your family.  Maybe your daughter’s dance recital is cancelled.  Get her all dressed up in her costume and have her put on a show for you.  You can even video it and send to grandparents, aunts, and uncles.  Set up a Prom night and let your teen be treated to a fun night to remember.  Wishing you could watch your graduate walk the stage?  Recreate a graduation ceremony and give your special student the proper send off.  Who says you can’t celebrate baby.  Have a virtual baby shower and celebrate that bundle of joy!
  • Feeling unfulfilled with the Safer At Home restrictions? Why not challenge your family to a Safer At Home Bingo game? This can be played with your immediate family or shared with extended loved ones that you are missing! Take photos as you go and share with each other to feel connected to your family and friends. And if you really want to spice things up, try adding an incentive for the winner. Not only is this a fun way to stay in touch with those you care about, it’s also a great way to find fun ways to stay motivated and optimistic during these trying times. Complete the Recipe Sharing and you’ll already have a square completed! How many can you check off?

 

Keep checking back and we’ll update as we think of more fun ideas!