Movie marathons, board games and more: How to conquer your coronavirus boredom
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18.03.2020

Movie marathons, board games and more: How to conquer your coronavirus boredom

Words by Emily-Layne Kapetanovic

What to do when you’ve got nothing to do at all.

At face value, being in isolation seems like a pretty rad idea. You can work from home, you can stay in bed and the Netflix world is your oyster. But boredom can quickly sneak in. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of things to do when the novelty starts to wear off.

Master an instrument

It seems everyone has that one musical instrument lying around the house. Whether it be the guitar you bought in high school when you had Jack Black dreams or that electronic keyboard your mum gave you back in the day. It’s time to dust that instrument off and reignite the flame. If you’re a little clueless, YouTube will be your best friend – there’s thousands of tutorials out there to get you started. Give it a go, you never know where it might take you.

Stream local artists

It’s a fact that the music industry has taken a hit in the past few weeks and it’s easy to feel like there’s nothing you can do. However there is, and it’s all available in the palm of your hand. Whatever your preferred method of streaming is, now’s the time to check out that new album, or that artist that’s peaked your curiosity. Not only will it be helping our local musos but you may also find your next favourite song. Who knows. Bands will also start live streaming gigs from home, so give that a run too.

Add tricks up your sleeve

The internet is an endless rabbit hole of DIY videos and tutorials. If you’ve always wanted to add some magic tricks to your arsenal or learn a stupid skill, now’s the time to get lost in the YouTube wormhole. You can learn practically anything online, from how to do the splits to opening bottles with strange items. So take a look, you might find your new calling.

Conquer a movie marathon

Now is the time to finally take on that Harry Potter movie marathon you’ve been keen to tackle ever since the last movie dropped. Take it as an opportunity to unwind and relax as you unpack all the nuances you missed first time around. Harry Potter will set you back approximately 19 hours and 39 minutes (including the credits). But if you’re up for more of a challenge, a James Bond movie marathon will set you back two days, four hours and 56 minutes.

Check in with family and friends

Being in isolation can be hard for everyone. Luckily the internet makes contacting those across the world easier. Check in with your family and friends and make sure everyone is holding up. Have a chat about what everyone else is doing while in isolation or play a game of battleship over video chat. It’s as simple as that. Boredom will strike quick and communication will keep you sane.

Build your e-book library

If you’re not much of a fan of the moving image, maybe building a library of written word is more up your alley. From Amazon to WHSmith and Booktopia, there are a plethora of places to buy e-books online. Have a book marathon or set goals on how many books you can read in a certain amount of time. The time is now, book worms.

Game time

Whether it’s a board game or a Miniclip adventure online, the possibilities are endless. If you’re isolating with other people, maybe try a game of Monopoly, Cluedo or the cunning Cards Against Humanity. Don’t fret if you’re alone, there are plenty of gaming options especially if you decide to raid the app store on your phone. Alternatively, the internet offers many a game of solitaire to keep you busy for hours. Did we mention video games?

Check out some podcasts

Podcasts have literally redefined how we consume content and aren’t we all thankful. Whether it be a quick ten-minute adventure to whet your whistle or an hour-long documentary that explores every crevice of a particular topic, podcasts have you covered. Some that come to mind of the top of the head include Song Exploder, All Songs Considered, The J Files or Disgraceland. That’s just the start.

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