Even while social distancing, it can be fulfilling to work through checklists and try out different hobbies to fill your free time. I’ve recounted some of my highlights and goals from this unique period – hopefully, you can find solace in my stories and maybe some new inspiration to make this time a little more exciting. 

Food Projects: 

At the top my personal list, cooking and baking are easy ways to fill an afternoon with high reward. 

Project-wise, I began quarantine determined to make sourdough bread. To initiate my starter, I selected a recipe that instructed me to combine flour and pineapple juice (unusual, I know), covered my bowl with plastic wrap, and leftit in a protected location. After two days, no bubbles appeared. 

I decided it was time to try again. A new recipe called for flour and distilled water, and for five days I cared for my starter with far more dedication than I would, for example, a plant. It became bubbly and sticky, developing an aroma reminiscent of yogurt. This was incredibly exciting, as it disproved the initial skepticism of my family and friends. Sourdough is an art, more so than normal bread baking, but despite the need for lucky air conditions, it’s still just flour and water. Unfortunately, that’s not where the tragedy of this story arose. 

On the day my starter was ready to use, I had a very long day on Zoom and forgot to put it in the fridge. Starters are finicky creations – you can’t be off your game. A day or so later, the poor starter had already gone moldy, and into the trash it went. 

I’m not giving up on the promise of sourdough. However, the quantity of flour I used was not ideal for the scarcity of quarantine. As we did still need bread, I went with this very easy, no-knead bread recipe that took less than 24 hours and was as good as a loaf from any bakery. In essence, sourdough taught me some lessons in patience, resourcefulness, and follow-through. I’d advise selecting your projects prudently.  

If larger projects aren’t up your alley, cooking doesn’t have to create stress. I’ve enjoyed creating quick, improvisational lunches every day as a nice way to break up the day, but collecting a list of recipes you want to try can be a fun activity itself. Check out these websites if you want some guidance: NYT Cooking, Bon Appetit, Cookie and Kate, Smitten Kitchen, and Serious Eats are some of my go-to’s. 

This has been quite a long discussion about food, but you gotta eat. Especially for those struggling with mental health challenges who may forget to eat or who have largely disrupted eating schedules in quarantine, meal planning can improve your daily wellbeing.

Games: 

Both at school and abroad, game nights became common occurrences with my friends over the past few years. We played Codenames, Anomia and cards on repeat. I was happy to learn that there’s a free online version of Codenames out there, which you can play while Zooming. Per this article’s recommendations for virtual board games, I recently tried One Night Ultimate Werewolf with friends, which presented a personal learning curve but ultimately provided a fun group game similar to mafia. 

If you don’t want to take the time to gather friends, crosswording and Sudoku are always solid options. You can check out the free app “Sudoku,” the NYT mini crosswords, and other interesting puzzles I hadn’t heard of through The New York Times. 

Art: 

I’m a firm believer that you can lack any artistic skill and still have a good time being creative. The extent of your endeavors can range from re-decorating your walls to making cards to send your friends in quarantine. I’ve also witnessed a lot of people embroidering. There are a ton of crafting ideas out there, but the key is just figuring out what you brings you joy rather than frustration. Art can also be a fun Zoom activity. 

If you’re more into viewing than creating, check out these cool virtual museum tours.

Viewing: 

Netflix Party is an awesome way to share viewing experiences from afar, but there’s plenty out there to keep up with on your own. Here’s a quick round-up of some content I’ve enjoyed recently: 

-      The one-woman show version of Phoebe Waller Bridge’s “Fleabag” is available to rent for $5 on Amazon Prime to raise money for health charities responding to COVID-19.

-      Parasite (Hulu) won best picture at the Academy Awards this year, offering both beautiful cinematography and a riveting storyline.  

-      Sex Education (Netflix), Killing Eve (Hulu), Community (Netflix, Hulu), and The Good Place (Netflix) are all feel-good shows that make for enjoyable watching for those who need something light in this time. 

I’ve managed to stay busy during quarantine and have enjoyed brainstorming new ways to spend free time. Hopefully you’ll find something fun to try!

Hang in there, 

Julia 

 Davidson student, avid planner, and baking enthusiast with a love for river-centered cities.