With the widespread concern of Covid-19 in the United States, residents in Rhode Island as well as the rest of the country are expected to stay home to slow the spread. With many recreational facilities and businesses being closed, there are not many things to do outside of your home. What you should be doing, however, is staying home and not going outside and risking the health of others, yourself, and the people around you. Here are some ways you can stay safe and keep yourself occupied without putting yourself in harms way.

1. School Work – Since we have recently transitioned to distance learning, we are able to complete a days worth of school work right from the comfort of our house, and for some of us, our bed. This should be your first priority when you wake up in the morning. It is very important that you do your part because no one wants to make up these few weeks at the end of the school year. Grades are very important. so make sure you are giving it your time and effort during this difficult time.

2. Exercise – I know there are plenty of videos online that you can follow and get some exercise. Most of these videos require no equipment, just an open space. Since the weather is nice too, you could always go for a walk with your siblings, parents, or guardians. If you have a dog, take your dog for a walk too because I’m sure they would enjoy getting out of the house just as much as you. You could look in your garage and dig out those bikes you haven’t used in years and take a ride around the neighborhood. Since the weather has been so nice lately, you should take advantage of it and go outside. But remember, keep your distance from those around you who are also trying to enjoy the weather.

3. Get Crafty – Personally, I love to do arts and crafts. You probably have a lot of recyclable items in your house that you could up-cycle. I know if you go on Pinterest, you should be able to find many arts and crafts that don’t require too much materials. Everyone loves a fun coloring book or paint by numbers. I know we are not little kids anymore, but if you’re into art and coloring, it may be a fun way to kill some time.

4. Read a Book – I know this may not be an ideal thing to do when you are bored for some people, but it is a great way to lose track of time. Dedicate some time during the day to read the book you’ve always wanted to, and maybe at the end, if there is one, you can watch the movie for it. This would be a great time to read a book because there are minimal distractions and you can really dive deep into it.

5. Help your Parents – Ask your parents what you can do to help them out. I’m sure they would be delighted if you asked them. They have a lot going on during this pandemic and would probably appreciate your help if you weren’t already providing them some. Maybe make a meal for your family so that one of your parents wouldn’t have to. Offer to watch your siblings while they have to go to work or the grocery store. Doing simple chores like dishes, taking the trash out, feeding the pets, or sweeping the floor can go a long way.

6. Clean your Room – Since you have a lot of free time, I would suspect that your room may not be as clean as it could be. Since it is transitioning between seasons at the moment, maybe it is time to go through all your winter clothes and start to replace them with somewhat warmer clothes for the springtime. Also, you could re-organize your room and go through your clothes to see what fits you anymore. You could donate unwanted or clothes don’t fit you anymore to an organization that collects donated items, like Big Sisters.

7. Game Night – For all I care, game night can be every night. I’m sure many of you have random board and card games laying around the house. Take advantage of this and spend some time with your family having some fun. It can add a little excitement to your isolation, but may get a little overwhelming and competitive. Game night is always a fun event to put together with your family. Maybe do this a few nights a week after dinner to keep yourselves occupied and have a fun time.

8. Movies and TV Shows – I know that I have watched more movies in the last two weeks than I have in the past 6 months. There are a lot of free movie options and television series’ right at your disposal. Maybe you can start a show you’ve always wanted to but never had the time. You can have a movie marathon of your favorite series all in one day. There are also many streaming services, if you are fortunate enough to have one, you are exposed to even more movies and tv shows. This can become an addiction, but you’ve got a lot of time to kill so why not spend it binge watching a show? Sounds fun to me.