Self-quarantining and social distancing have become key in the fight against the new COVID-19 pandemic. For countless teens, isolation from the outside world can seem extremely boring and exhausting: if one can not go to school, hang with friends, shop at the mall or eat out, what can one do to keep themselves entertained and happy? The next few weeks may seem tough, but now you can find the time to complete new activities and goals you did not have time to complete before. 

Learn a new language

One of the most popular activities during this period of social-distancing has become learning a new language. A significant amount of people have always told themselves that they want to learn a different language, but often fail to find the time to do so. Learning languages helps keep one’s brain moving and functioning efficiently during a period of self-isolation, and increases understanding of different cultures and customs around the world. Hop on YouTube and look up introductory lessons on languages such as French, Japanese, Korean and Spanish. 

Re-design your old clothes

People may start cleaning out their closets more than ever now, finding clothes they forgot they even purchased. Grab those old t-shirts and sweaters and upcycle them! Upcycling has become a new pathway to clothing sustainability: instead of throwing the clothes away, one can instead cut and sew them into something fun and fashionable. Crop oversized tees and paint pretty pictures on the pockets of old jeans and shorts. 

Cook and bake 

Since social-distancing will keep you from eating out at restaurants and reliable fast-food joints, try advancing your cooking and baking skills. With the items left in empty-shelved grocery stores, try out new recipes for dinner and dessert. The popular cooking channel Tasty offers simple recipes for beginners, such as their One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta and the Double Chocolate Mousse Tart. Watch cooking shows and tutorials; post a picture of the results and world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay may acknowledge your dish on social media. Becoming your family’s own personal chef may give you something fun to achieve for the rest of the quarantining period. 

Binge-watch on streaming services

While students have dedicated so much time to school, clubs, and even a part-time job, they may have lacked time to just sit down and catch up on TV shows. Social distancing opens up a bunch of time for one to sit, relax, snack, and watch TV with little to no distractions. Hop on Netflix and Hulu and catch up on popular shows such as On My Block, You, and Black Mirror. 

Although social-distancing for a few weeks may seem scary, countless activities await you in the comfort of your own home. For your own safety and others’ safety, staying home can ease the risk of the pandemic growing worse. Take time for yourself and learn new things at home.