Things to do when staying home

Now that life has been changed for the foreseeable future to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, it’s time to do your part and make the most of your time at home. Here’s a list of isolation-friendly activities you can do at home to keep both your mind and body active.

Work out          

Gyms may be shut, but there is still a range of exercises you can do at home. Regardless of equipment, there are a range of exercise programs online and apps available which can help on your at-home fitness journey.

• Try: Centr Fit

Developed by Chris Hemsworth, the health, wellbeing and fitness program is offering new customers six weeks of free access when signing up. Centr Fit includes workouts with world-class trainers, meal plans and mindfulness exercises.

Watch TV 

While being inside might be less-than-ideal it gives you the perfect opportunity to catch up on all the TV shows and movies you haven’t gotten around to watching. If you’re missing the cinema and social aspect, there is a browser extension called Netflix Party which allows groups of friends to watch Netflix together and talk throughout.

• Try: Your guide to streaming

Unsure of what to watch? Take the guesswork out of streaming and follow RACQ Living’s guide to the best movies and TV shows to watch across Australia’s streaming services.

Video games 

Keen to do more behind your screen than watch? Give video games a try. There is a wealth of titles to choose from including Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, Animal Crossing, Candy Crush and Mario Party. There's also a range of ways to play including on consoles, computers or mobile gaming devices.

• Try: The best games to play in isolation

The comprehensive list breaks down the best games to play by yourself, with others in your house and online with friends.  

Board games

If you want to get out from behind a screen, try board games. Most will have a range of classics available including Monopoly, Uno, Scrabble or even a deck of cards to play at home. There’s also a range of online services which allow you to play board games remotely with friends.

• Try: Pogo

Pogo is a free online gaming website which offers more than 100 casual games for people to play solo or with friends. Games include Monopoly, Scrabble, Solitaire and more.

Puzzles 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison referred to puzzles as an essential item, so why not see what all the fuss is about. Test your mind and patience by creating an image made up of hundreds or thousands of individual pieces. Puzzles are available at most major retailers and online.

• Try: Create your own jigsaw puzzle 

Want a puzzle that’s a little different from the norm? Create one online and then build it at home.

Read 

Rediscover the world of literature and catch up on the wealth of books you may have missed or go over some old favourites. If you prefer to listen, download audiobooks straight to your devices and experience the literary journey through sound.

• Try: Brisbane City Council online library

Libraries may be closed but Brisbane City Council library members can access the libraries’ digital catalogue from the comfort of home. Enjoy thousands of e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines, digital music and films.

Learn a language

Mandarin and Spanish are two of the most widely spoken languages across the world outside of English, so why not use this extra time to become bilingual. There is a wealth of free language lessons available through Open University and online courses.

• Try: Duolingo

Combine free learning with an online game in Duolingo. The service helps you to read, write, listen and speak your choice of more than 100 languages while scoring points and progressing in your personalised language game.

Get a green thumb 

Whether you have a big backyard, a balcony garden or want to make a small indoor garden, gardening can be a relaxing and rewarding hobby. You may even incorporate some herbs and fruit from your garden in the kitchen.

• Try: Garden kits

If you are unsure where to begin, start with a garden kit available online and at most retailers. You’ll soon be creating the indoor or outdoor garden of your dreams.

Go on a virtual tour 

Museums may be closed, but you can still experience their exhibits digitally through virtual tours. Want to see the animals at the Royal Melbourne Zoo or experience the collection of art and antiquities at the Louvre? It is available with the click of a button.

• Try: The Met Gallery in New York

Get inside access to the Met Gallery with the Met 360° Project. The award-winning series invites views to virtually visit the Met using spherical 360° technology.

Podcasts

Missing in-depth conversations? Delve into a podcast and become part of it. There’s something for everyone to enjoy from podcasts about bad movies to true crimes, educational TED talks and in-depth interviews with celebrities.

• Try: Your Shout

Each fortnight, RACQ’s Deb Eccleston has a chat with fellow Queenslanders whose stories amaze and inspire. Guests include Terri Irwin, Libby Trickett, Steve Baxter and Li Cunxin.