40 free + fun things to do at home

Another list featuring things to do during stay-at-home time? I don’t blame you if you’re rolling your eyes. But, after doing some research, I’ve found that a lot of these curated lists rely heavily on two things: having someone else in your home with you and having the money to purchase all kinds of stuff to keep you entertained. Having neither a companion nor discretionary funds, I thought I’d come up with my own list of things that (most) people can do if they’re solo and unable to shell out money for online classes, gardening tools, or baking supplies. 

I’ve tried my best to get creative here and come up with ideas that you won’t find elsewhere — no “watch a classic movie on Netflix” or “learn a new language!” on this list — and I’ve also done my best to avoid ideas that fall under the “productive” category. While decluttering closets or going through old photos might work for some people at a time like this, it’s important to keep in mind that we’re going through collective trauma right now and, for a lot of people, seeing recommendations to “tackle that to-do list!” might lead to feelings of frustration and worthlessness. 

Most of these activities can be done alone (or by reaching out to others virtually) and most of them require no special tools or items. I hope they give you a bit of inspiration for how to stay entertained (or at least mildly distracted…) during such a difficult time. 

1. WATCH BARDOT BRUSH CLASSES. Lisa Bardot has been hosting live drawing classes on her YouTube channel three times a week and they are amazing. If you enjoy drawing, she has wonderful prompts you can use to draw along with her, or, if you just like watching someone create, it’s fun to tune in and watch her draw! (Get her brushes here.)
2. FIND AND PRINT FREE COLORING PAGES. Lots of creatives are offering free coloring pages, worksheets, and other activities that you can download and print out. (I even have some coloring pages for you!) This idea might not work for everyone (if you don’t have a printer or paper), but there are also online coloring apps you can download. 
3. TEACH YOUR PET A NEW TRICK. I haven’t tried this one out yet, but if you have a pet (who’s probably also going a bit crazy from this quarantine), now is a good time to teach him or her a new trick. There are tons of videos and tutorials online to help you come up with fun ideas. (And even if it doesn’t work, it’s fun to have a little pet time.)
4. MAKE YOURSELF A SELF-CARE CARD DECK. I created a series on TikTok called “The ABCs of Self-Care,” and I ended up compiling all of the artwork into a digital download. You can access it here and print it out to create a cute little card deck. If you don’t have the ability to print, you can still download it and pick one activity to try each day. 
5. TAKE UP BIRD WATCHING. Alright, I know this one isn’t going to be for everyone, but if you’re stuck inside and there are birds outside your window, why not learn a little bit about them? And if you don’t have any birds to watch, there are some amazing cameras online. Here’s one featuring bald eagles that I love to check in on! 
6. HOST A HOUSEPARTY WITH FRIENDS. I’m sure you’ve heard of people (or maybe you’ve been) using the Houseparty app. It’s a fun way to connect with people virtually in a party atmosphere. Probably not the most fun idea for introverts like myself, but it’s worth checking out (especially if you’re an extrovert missing socializing!).
7. DOWNLOAD TIKTOK. Anyone who knows me knows I love TikTok. I downloaded it late last year and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since. I know a lot of people think they’re too old or it’s just for dancing, but trust me: you’re not and it’s not. Anything you’re interested in, you can find on there, and it’s so much fun! 
8. MAKE A CARD OR GIFT FOR SOMEONE. If you have any sort of art supply lying around the house (markers, paper, a pen), you have all you need to make something for someone you love. Even if you don’t think you’re creative, give it a try. Sending snail mail is a great way to brighten someone else’s day. 
9. PLAN A TRIP FOR THE FUTURE. For those who enjoy traveling, plan your next trip. You don’t have to make reservations or anything, but just take some time to consider where you want to go and research what there is to do there so you have something to look forward to. (Even if you can’t afford it now, it doesn’t hurt to explore ideas!)
10. GIVE YOURSELF A SPA DAY. If you can, give yourself a mani/pedi. If that’s not an option, take a bath, or even just a nice, relaxing shower, massaging your scalp as if you’re in a haircutter’s chair. Research how to make face masks with things you might have at home. There are lots of spa-like things you can do without having any special tools or skills!
11. LIST THINGS YOU WANT TO DO LATER. There’s a lot that we can’t do right now, which makes it the perfect time to reflect on the things you love doing and make a list of what you’ll do when you can. Write down places you want to go, people you want to see, etc. (If you have the funds, you can buy gift cards from local businesses to help them out!)
12. CURATE A SPOTIFY PLAYLIST. Music always helps me in times of trouble (which is why I’m made playlists for almost any emotional situation possible), and maybe it will help you, too! Make a playlist of songs you relate to right now, of songs that lift your spirits, or of songs that you’ve always loved. 
13. ENTERTAIN YOURSELF WITH A GAME. There are tons of game apps online that you can check out, and many of them are free. Consider games you enjoyed playing as a kid and see if there are any digital versions available. Personally, I love word games (no surprise there!), but I know there are games for all kinds of interests! 
14. PLAY SOLITAIRE. Speaking of games, I’ve been playing some solitaire lately, and it’s actually a lot of fun. If you have a deck of cards, you can play old school style, but there is also a version right in Google that everyone can access. I know it might sound kinda lame, but give it a try! You might enjoy it! 
15. WRITE THE SILLIEST POEM POSSIBLE. Not a poet? No problem. This idea is all about creating the silliest poem possible (think: Dr. Seuss). Write about how you’re feeling now. Write about something you miss. Write about what you see outside your window. Just write something silly! 
16. LEARN NEW WORDS. Now, I’ve seen “learn a new language” on a lot of these lists, but that seems like a lot of work and mental effort, which isn’t always easy if you’re struggling. But learning new words is much simpler, and, if you’re a word nerd like me, is a lot of fun. Merriam-Webster has words of the day and lots more word-related content!
    
17. TAKE PHOTOS OF YOUR DAILY LIFE. This might sound lame, but it could actually be really fun if you give it a try. You don’t have to find something spectacular to photograph; just try to find mundane things around you and see if you can make them feel a little bit more spectacular. (Play around with free editing apps, too!)
18. CREATE A JOY JAR. Years ago, I made a happiness jar, and I recently decided to recreate it as a “joy jar.” I fill it with notes of little joyful things I experience throughout the day. It’s a nice way to remind yourself that, even when things are bad, there are little bits of goodness still around us. 
19. EXPLORE PLACES, MUSEUMS, AND ART GALLERIES. Travel & Leisure has rounded up a ton of places you can check out virtually, which is amazing! There are so many places to check out. I was going to pull a few of my favorites, but there are just too many to even choose. Check it out and explore from the comfort of your couch. 
20. FIND NEW YOUTUBERS TO FOLLOW. If you’re a YouTube fan like myself, you might find yourself sticking with the same creators you know and love, but there are always tons of new, up-and-coming creators, and now might be a good time to check them out. (One I’m loving right now is Jonna Jinton!)
21. READ OLD POSITIVELY PRESENT BLOG POSTS. I’ve been doing this for well over a decade, so there’s bound to be a lot you haven’t read. If you go to “Categories,” you can see all of the different topics — everything from self-love to creativity to relationships and more! Pick something you want to work on, and do a little reading. 
22. TAKE A FREE ONLINE COURSE (AT HARVARD!). Business Insider created a list of universities and organizations offering free online courses right now. Look through the list and find something that’s always interested you (not something for work or “productivity” purposes!), and check it out. And if it doesn’t hold your interest, no problem — try another one! 
23. SET UP A PICNIC IN YOUR LIVING ROOM. Again, this one might be a bit more enjoyable if you have someone to picnic with, but there’s no rule that says you need more than one person to have fun at a picnic! (Plus, you can always FaceTime or Zoom with friends and have a virtual picnic.) Or, if you have a yard, take it outside and get some sun!
24. PRACTICE YOGA WITH ADRIENE. I know “try yoga!” seems like one of those things you’d find a on “productive quarantine” list, but, really, it can be a lot of fun. And it can help you relax a lot, which is something a lot of us probably need right now. She has videos for almost every situation, so search her channel and find what you need! 
25. HAVE A DANCE PARTY. I feel like this comes up a lot when I’m thinking of things to do, and it’s probably because it’s something I do almost daily. When I’m winding down my work day, I like to put on some dance-inducing jams (usually whatever’s currently trending on TikTok) and get wild. (Bonus points: record your animal watching you dance and entertain yourself after!)
26. DESIGN A BOARD OR CARD GAME. When I was a kid, we were given an assignment to design a board game (the only reason I remember what a biome is, tbh!) and it was pretty fun. There are inventive games coming out all the time (especially card games!), and why shouldn’t you get in on the fun? If you need a head start, take a game you love and try to make it more “you.”
27. FIND 5 GREEN THINGS. Whenever I want to be more mindful, I give myself a “looking challenge.” (Example: last summer I was sitting outside and started noticing just how many shades of green where around me. I counted at least 30! In one small spot!) It doesn’t have to be green things (or 5!), but restrict yourself to focusing on a single color/shape/etc. and see what you see! 
    
28. GIVE LUCID DREAMING A TRY. When I think of lucid dreaming, I immediately think Vanilla Sky, a film in which I first came in contact with the term. I’ve (unsuccessfully and half-assedly) tried it a few times with no luck, but it’s always intrigued me. If it sounds a bit much for you, consider keeping a dream journal and looking up dream meanings!
29. DRIVE TO A REMOTE (SAFE!) PLACE AND WALK. I’m all about staying inside (both now and in general), but I know there’s a lot to be said for sunlight and nature. If you’re able to safely drive somewhere new (away from people!), now might be a good time to do a little exploring. Just be careful. Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Don’t talk to strangers. 
30. MAKE TOP 10 LISTS. You know how people will ask you what your favorite book, film, or song is, and suddenly you can’t remember anything you’ve read, seen, or heard? Now’s the time to put an end to that nonsense! Make top ten lists of all your favorite things. Some ideas: animals, food, words, scent, Will Ferrell films, names for cats, etc. 
31. GOOGLE SOMETHING YOU’VE WONDERED. As someone who looks at (and draws) the sky a lot, I always find myself having questions about it. My most recent Google search was, “Is the sky more green in summer?” (Answer: yes, it is!) If there’s something you’ve always wondered, look it up! Let yourself dive into the Google abyss. 
32. SKETCH WHAT YOU SEE OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW. It was tough not to fill this list with creative things, but since I know that’s not for everyone, I tried to control myself. But, seriously, drawing is therapeutic. There’s a reason art therapy exists. You don’t have to be good. You don’t have to be perfect. Just give it a try! 
33. MAKE A PILLOW FORT. This is, admittedly, probably more fun if you have someone to do it with, but it could still be fun and nostalgic to do on your own. A fort of pillows and blankets has a cozy-yet-exciting feel to it, which seems like something we could all use right now. (If you’ve got fairy lights lying around, add those for extra cozy vibes!)
34. START A BLOG. Sure, it’s not 2009 anymore, but who cares? Let’s bring back blogs! You can create a blog on a topic that interests you, something you want to become better at doing (that’s how I started Positively Present), or even just an old-school diary style account of what you’re going through right now. 
35. ASK A FRIEND FOR A BOREDOM BUSTER. DO IT. Obviously everyone copes with boredom differently, so if you’re struggling to find an activity that engages or distracts you, ask other people what they do. Text a friend, put a poll up on you IG story, or email the fifth person in your Contacts. Who knows what ideas they might have!? 
36. CREATE A COLLAGE. OR VISION BOARD. Credit to my mom for coming up with this idea! I love making collages (they were my specialty, along with mix tapes, back in high school), and there’s a good chance you have some old magazines or catalogs you can cut up. If you’re feeling ambitious, create a vision board of post-covid19 goals!
37. GO ON A FACETIME WALK WITH A FRIEND. As I mentioned, I’m being pretty strict about staying inside, but if you have a space where you can safely walk without encountering people, invite a friend to go on a walk with you on FaceTime. Or, if you have a friend that lives in a cool locale, ask them to take you on a walk! (As long as it’s safe for them!)
38. BE WEIRD. This is very vague, but just do something you never do in your house. Lay on the floor with your feet up on the wall. Sit on the kitchen counter. Do jump jacks in the bathroom. Skip down the hallway. I don’t know what’s out of the ordinary for you, but just try something you’ve never tried before. See how it feels! 
39. GET INTO PINTEREST. This is pretty specific, but I’ve recently rediscovered the joy of Pinterest. It’s a great way to look at beautiful things (places, homes, food, quotes, art), and it can be a nice escape if you want to do some scrolling but need a break from news-heavy social media sites. Curate some boards or just scroll through mine! 
40. SEEK OUT NEW, UPLIFTING ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW. Now, more than ever, we need to make sure that what we’re consuming is helping (or at least not hurting) our mental health. Check out your social media feeds and see if you might need to incorporate some new, uplifting accounts. (Need some ideas? Find your favorite accounts and see who those creators are following!)

I know a lot of these ideas are silly, and it’s not always easy to be lighthearted in times like these, but I hope some of them inspire you to do something new or escape into something fun for a little bit. If you have any additional ideas, feel free to leave them in the comments below!