The ongoing pandemic and government restrictions have meant that we’ve had to spend a lot of time in our rooms/indoors recently. While it has been an opportunity to slow down and relax, having nowhere else to be, you might be getting a bit antsy wanting something to do!

We’ve brainstormed a few ideas on how to keep yourself busy whilst self-isolating over the next few weeks. Have you got any other suggestions that we’ve missed out on? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram!

Learn a New Skill

Is there an instrument, hobby or skill you’ve never had the time to take up but always wanted to? There are so many online resources for learning new skills these days, and now is the perfect time to give it a go! Whether you’ve always wanted to learn the ukulele or you want to get started on that side-hustle idea of yours, these 3 websites are a great way to learn a new skill.

Skillshare - this service offers online lessons in many creative outlets such as photography, graphic design, music or writing. 

Coursera - if you’re looking for a more formal learning, Coursera offers online courses provided by acclaimed universities and major companies. You can receive certificates and even degrees after completing some of the classes offered! ‘’The Science of Well-Being’’, offered by Yale, is one of the most popular courses on the site and is highly recommended during these uncertain times.

Masterclass - this service is by far the most expensive, but that’s what it costs to learn from the professionals. Masterclass has partnered with some of the most successful actors, chefs, filmmakers and designers in the world to teach you their secrets. The likes of Martin Scorcese, Serena Williams and Anna Wintour are just some of the names you will recognise on the platform. 

Start a New Healthy Habit

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” 

With nowhere to go and nowhere to be, why not try to implement a new healthy habit into your daily routine at home? Most days are looking the same to us lately but this at least gives us a great chance to stick to a new productive habit or two. Here are a few ideas we suggest trying:

• Read a chapter of a book in the morning or night every day
• Make your bed the minute you get out of bed
• Drink a tall glass of water first thing in the morning
• Text one person and check up on them every day
• Try 10 minutes of meditation a day
• Stretch for 20 minutes every day

Matt D’Avella is a YouTuber we’ve talked about before in blogs, and has made videos about his attempt to introduce new habits to his life. Check out his channel here for more ideas! 

Have Some Interactive Fun Online

One thing that has been great about the quarantine is the amount of creativity and ingenuity we’ve seen online! With so many stuck inside, there have been some great interactive initiatives popping up. Here are a few of our favourites.

Netflix Party - are you missing your weekly Netflix binges with your friends, family or other half? Netflix Party is the answer to your troubles during quarantine! This new Netflix feature lets you synchronize video playback with your friends and has a chat feature so you can judge the shows and chit-chat in real time like you normally would.

Bingo Loco - The Bingo Loco Rave has been all over the world...including Point Campus! They broadcast their first live event in March with over 40,000 people taking part virtually! It was such a success that they’ve promised to hold another one soon so keep an eye on their socials so you can take part from the comfort of your own home.

Instagram Live Concerts - no, we’re not talking about the cringy ‘Imagine’ cover. Many musicians have taken to Instagram Live over the last few weeks to entertain us with some lovely and intimate ‘concerts’. Some of our favourites so far include John Legend, James Blake, Chris Martin, and Ireland’s very own Niall Horan. Many have been responding to fan requests and comments and has been a great way to interact with your favourite artists!

Quizzes - whether it’s Joe.ie daily quizzes, a Zoom quiz organised between your friends or a good old fashioned (virtual) pub quiz, lots of people are organising these online get-togethers to keep busy in the evenings.

Keep in Touch with Loved Ones

One of the hardest aspects of self-isolation and staying indoors is not being able to see your friends and family in person. Luckily, technology can really help you stay connected with your loved ones. Having a quick video chat when you’re feeling low can do wonders for your mental health and we’d highly recommend keeping in touch with your friends and family as much as possible. Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, Facetime are all great options for talking over the phone or through video call. 

Get on Top of Life Admin

We all have those annoying little tasks we’re always putting off. Have you sent that email or filled in the really important form for college yet? Of course you haven’t, you’ve been enjoying the college lifestyle up to now! Now that we all have some extra time indoors, there’s no excuse not to get them out of the way. Trust us, once you take care of all that life admin, a weight will be lifted off your shoulders and you won’t have to worry about it again!

Keep Fit/Get Fit!

We find it really helpful to stick to your regular routine as much as possible during quarantine. If you exercise regularly, there’s no reason why you can’t keep it up. For those who have STILL not got around to their ‘get fit’ New Year’s Resolutions, now is your chance! Check out our blog on how you can keep fit during quarantine at Point Campus here.