The Milestone Staff’s top picks for staying busy in quarantine

By Hallie Kim, Olivia Rohling, and Kristen Van Huss

As the Milestone staff continues to complete our homework and find creative ways to stay in contact with friends and family while social distancing, we’ve also been brainstorming ideas to keep us occupied as our time in quarantine continues. Some of the Milestone reporters compiled some of their favorite ways to fend off boredom, and we would love to hear your ideas. Send an idea or a pic of something you’ve already found to keep yourself busy when your assignments are submitted to Schoology.

Media Mania

If you are more of the person who prefers some good media to keep yourself busy, check out the list below.

Click here for Olivia’s list of 5 documentaries worth watching

Netflix and Hulu are offering free trials – sign up and binge watch for free.

Netflix Party allows you to watch Netflix while being with your friends virtually.

And there is always books to read! Some Milestone favorites are:

The Catcher in the Rye
The Great Gatsby
Walk Two Moons
Educated
Try a Pulitzer Prize winner – click here for the full list.

Crafty Creations

If you’re a more artistically inclined person looking for something to keep you busy, there are several activities or hobbies you can try, and even more YouTube tutorials you can use to help you. If you’re looking for a project that you can work on every so often, you might want to try learning to knit or crochet. You can buy yarn, crochet hooks, and knitting needles online, and there are several videos and websites that will show you basic crochet or knitting techniques. Another project you can work on occasionally is putting together a puzzle. If you’re worried about it being in the way, try putting it together on cardboard so that you can move it easily if you need to. This can be a single person project, or you could start a family puzzle that anyone can work on when they feel like it.

If you’re looking for a project that you can do once and move on from, try writing poetry. There’s really no right or wrong way to go about it. You can also try painting. You can follow along with Bob Ross on Netflix, and there are countless tutorials online. A third option is dying your hair. If you’ve ever wanted to try turning your hair a fun color, now is a great time, because if it goes wrong, very few people are likely to see it. If it goes well, even better! Keracolor Clenditioner is a color depositing conditioner. You can also check Youtube for tutorials on how to dye your hair with Koolaid.

Other crafty ideas:

Create and write cards to health heroes! (I sent mine to: Mercy Anderson 7500 State Rd Cincinnati, Ohio 45255. Just be sure to tape the envelope shut and not lick it.)
Keep a journal and decorate the cover (Check Pinterest for inspiration)
Learn a new recipe (Pinterest will keep you busy for days)

For others:

If you find you like filling your time by helping others. Consider these!

Write cards to health heroes! See above in the Crafty section for more instructions

Go through clothes and donate items that don’t fit

Bake goods for people and then deliver to friends at a socially acceptable distance

Check out Kristen’s story “Five ways to help others while social distancing” by clicking here .

Active Actions

Try yoga! Yoga with Adriene on Youtube has a ton of great videos for active participation.

Try some new workouts! Blogilates and Chloe Ting are both on Youtube and have great videos to follow whether you’re a beginner or advanced.

Go on a walk or a run, if even just for 10 minutes. As a cross-country runner I can tell you that a runner’s high is a real thing! Even if you just go on a walk it can be super peaceful and relaxing.