Consider the Introverts…and 10+ unique activities to do during indoor social distancing

Social distancing and quarantine activities are now normal parts of our lexicon for the past 10 months. As  cities and nations go on multiple lock downs, we crave fun activities to keep us sane, no more so than extroverts, who we poor introverts have to live with and keep from going stir-crazy. Lol.

I’d love for you to consider poor introverts who have to “shelter in place’ and quarantine … with extroverts! If you’re an introvert, no need to explain; but for extroverts … hear us out.

 

We love you truly but since you lot are unused to sitting still for a quiet minute or 3 hours, noiseless environments and recharging internally, these socially distant times are torture for you. Poor things!

 

Thus, you disperse that unspent energy in our quiet space, talking constantly to yourselves and us, having all devices on full volume and pacing endlessly. Lord help us if we live in a <500sqft space, as is common in New York City. Oh dear.

 

If you’re not on Twitter, I need you all to be … just to read hilarious tweets of loving partners, family members at their wits’ end because of extrovert others and social distancing indoors.

To keep all personality types sane and murder-free during indoor social distancing and quarantine, here are “fun” socially distant activities you can do at home with all this extra free time.

I say “fun” because they’re not the usual “professionally enriching” activities we are encouraged to do during free time. We’re in a global pandemic, folks! It’s ok to do aimless activities, or binge eat, stream and nap all week. It’s all good.

 

#Social Distancing: Closet Decluttering

The dreaded chore for most, after ironing… or is it just me? In the past months, I’ve decluttered closets, shelves, boxes and drawers and discovered “new” clothes and shoes in the process. What’s that saying? “If you haven’t worn it in 6 months, you most likely never will again.”

Use this time to separate what to donate or re-sell once this is over. Many livelihoods are at rock bottom so any extra cash infusion from re-selling on thredUP or Poshmark is welcome.

This *could* be a fun, unique activity for both introverts and extroverts to do together. Just wait for your introvert to ask first; believe me, we will ask if we require your help.

 

#Quarantine Activities: Deep Cleaning

You’re in decluttering mode so you might as well switch to deep cleaning. You’ve been putting it off so do a two-fer and make it a workout to music. Daily lounging and napping helps not with cardio and toning lol. I know…

If you are one of those hoarding cleaning supplies, I’m judging you *side eye*; but if you’re normal and have enough supplies, whip out the Lysol and rag and get to disinfecting high-touch areas like knobs, handles, fridge doors. Sweep, swiffer, feather and dust blinds, ceiling, crags and crannies while dancing to the pandemic Spotify playlist. Yes. Just search those keywords.

 

#Social Distancing: File Taxes

Update

If you’re reading this in Q1 2021, U.S. tax season is nigh, signalling a year of indoor life, quarantine activities and social distancing!

In the U.S., we file taxes for the previous year due by April 15 of the current year. However, in light of the virus, due date last year was extended to July 15, 2020, and the same might happen in 2021. Use this time to hunt down receipts, Excel sheets, W2, 1099 etc for 2020.

#Quarantine Activities: Streaming Services Watch Party

Now, we’re getting to the important things, innit?

Reward yourself for the work above and what better way to do fun quarantine activities than with Netflix #quarantineandchill ? Netflix makes it possible to be socially distant with friends and family via Netflix watch party available on Chrome. This is something all personality types can agree to without hassle.

Also, both Hulu and HBO have joined the Watch Party craze so make it an even better cinema experience with socially distant kith and kin as you can pause and pop to the loo without missing anything.

It’s great to see major companies stepping up in these times with free social distancing activities. Still waiting for bills and rent companies to step up too …

 

 

#Social Distancing: Sort Out Pantry

We all have a kitchen cupboard, shelf or walk-in pantry, if you’re fancy, full of cans, bottles and food from recent and long ago shopping and travels. Now is the time to check expiry dates, dunk or compost contents as appropriate and put containers for recycling. No need to battle corona and food poisoning too. Remember, we might run out of toilet paper so diarrhoea is outta the question. Lmao.

#Quarantine Activities: Of asanas and downward dogs…

Since gyms are either closed from lock down mandates, we’re left without workout routines, but fret not! You can still get your heart pumping by streaming exercise videos on YouTube, such as Fitness Blender, but for the fancier workouts like Barre and yoga, some NYC studios have partnered to provide free online workout classes to maintain our healthy lifestyle.

This is especially great for extroverts to burn all that pent up energy and for folks working from home to stay active physically and mentally. I personally miss my workouts and prior to the shut down, was into Pilates and trampolining, as well as Barre and yoga.

I sometimes take a Garifuna dance class on Zoom but I realize that I miss the physical class aspect too.

#Social Distancing: Recipe Experimenting

If you’re one of those who survive on dining out for sustenance, I cannot imagine how you’re coping in this era of social distancing with restaurants and eateries closing. Sure, you can order take-out to support small businesses but…that buzz is gone.

Use this time to learn how to cook basic meals and overhaul your nutrition. Seriously, everyone should know how to feed themselves because cooking is not reserved to a particular demographic.

In addition, practice zero-waste cooking by reusing leftovers, growing herbs and bulbs if you can, composting etc because with empty shelves and food supply chains being threatened because of coro, you cannot afford to waste food in these trying times.

I love cooking and get creative with recipes when I’m not too lazy so watch this Reel-y good video of a quick clam and mussel pasta dish.

#Quarantine Activities: Cocktail Tryouts

What’s #quarantineandchill without day drinking?

All societal rules have been suspended till further notice so unearth your stash and get mixing. Practice those cool cocktails saved in your Instagram folder and modify with whatever you have on hand. Day drinking, here we come! lol.

I make nice cream bowls often and add some vodka to ingredients for the pep. Lol. It’s allowed.

#Social Distancing: Put those subs to use and binge watch

Besides the Watch Party above, put other subscriptions to good use, like HBO and Hulu. If you have either or both of these and rarely watch them, now is the time to dig through catalogues of shows. The latest rage is Bridgerton on Netflix, WW84 on HBO, and all those series you’re so far behind, it’s shameful. *Talking to me here*

 

#Quarantine Activities: Combat Conspiracy Theories

It’s almost a year and we still have to dispel conspiracy theories!

We read and see them everywhere and unfortunately, older parents, grandparents and relatives swallow these hook, line and sinker! Take a gander at some of the silly conspiracies:

– Does not affect Black/African people. FALSE. There are current cases in African countries, though not as much as the West, but is spreading rapidly.

– Spring slows virus. Even the U.S, Prez stated this in February 2020 but there is no conclusive evidence.

– Always eat and drink hot foods. I don’t even know how this works. Sigh …

Do your civic and filial duty to dispel these rumours that our elders are bombarded with via Facebook, Whatsapp group chats, and forwarded messages because they tend to believe them.

There are the messages that tell them that corona is an over-reaction and to go about their lives. Cue Millennials and Gen X wrangling elderly relatives and having stern discussions with them about unsubstantiated info and carrying on business as usual. Sigh.

 

#Social Distancing: Clean make-up apparatus

Ladies (and some gents), now is the time to disinfect makeup brushes, sponges, pencils etc. Go through your stash and put aside clumpy mascara tubes, caked foundation/concealer bottles and 5 year old lipsticks for trash.

Even better, if most of these containers are empty, collect them in a bag for recycling. Cosmetic containers are hard to recycle because of their components so do your part to divert them from landfill by signing up for beauty recycling programs from cosmetic brands.

I have a large bag of empties currently awaiting drop-off once the pandemic is over but where we can, let’s endeavour to NOT be product junkies and purchase recycleable or reusable products.

#Quarantine Activities: Skincare Day Everyday

With that said, this is not the time to neglect skincare routine.

Grab your extrovert and get them to channel that unspent energy into steaming, cleansing, and moisturizing for the next 14 days. Set a challenge for them to see how their skin improves during this period.

Of course, the binge eating and couch potato lifestyle during this social distancing period will not make you look like a rose in bloom, so ease up on those, do some workouts and maintain skincare.

#Social Distancing: Review all subscriptions x direct debits

We all have them. Those online subscriptions for things we don’t even realize we subbed to. That’s precious money wasting, folks, and in these uncertain times, we gotta be like Microsoft Word and SAVE.

Go through credit and debit card statements to see what subs you gotta cut immediately and make this a social distancing game with your extroverts. See if you can share certain subs with each other, like, each person have one of the major streaming platforms and all share.

#Quarantine Activities: Peruse Personal Budget

It’s no news that thousands, if not millions, of people have already lost jobs and wages during the global pandemic. The travel and hospitality sector has been decimated and it will take a while to recover, even with a proposed bailout by the U.S. government.

Even if you’re not part of this group, we’re all affected because I promise you, ALL business sectors have been affected by corona. To stem losses, businesses have already begun layoffs and this will no doubt continue till the end of 2020.

Use this social distancing time to truly examine savings and investments. If your job is still “safe” and you receive wages fortnightly, reduce expenses, pay off credit card debt and SAVE. We are literally at war with nature.

 

#Social Distancing: Learn a craft, language, finish a book…

Duolingo has given up on me.

That little owl has stopped politely nagging me and I know it’s disappointed in me not keeping up with my Spanish lessons. Ergo, this is the time for me to re-start it.

If you’re like me and have half-finished projects to complete, this is the time, folks! Take advantage of a flexible work from home schedule, late nights, social distancing etc and get busy. Even better for antsy extroverts as both introverts and extroverts can flex their apologetic language skills on each other.

My quarantine activity is to continue learning Spanish, French, and take up Dutch. Mon Dieu!

 

#Quarantine Activities: Take a hike!

Social distancing does not mean being a hermit and indoor recluse.

Sure, we have to stay within 6ft of each other, have no physical contact, wear masks (if you’re lucky to have a stash) and latex gloves outside, but … this is the new normal and we gotta adjust.

We can still be socially distant by walking or jogging in the park away from humanity, taking a walk on less crowded streets, or if you have a courtyard, breathe some fresh air … all the while avoiding fellow humans like the plague.

Even though we cannot travel as before, a bit of safe local travel within your city or state is still possible and can be a quarantine activity for mental health and self care, like my local adventures within New York State to scenic and historical locations.

Remember folks. We’re trying to #flattenthecurve here so social distancing does not mean crowding bars and public spaces, which are mostly shut down in NYC anyway.

We know that people can be asymptomatic but still infect vulnerable others … so stop the spread and employ these social distancing quarantine activities for all personality types. Fingers crossed, we should be over this soon.

Once again, spare a thought for us introverts social distancing indoors with extroverts. I hope my brethren own noise-cancelling headphones. Lol

Comment on how you’re social distancing at home and what quarantine activities are keeping you sane and occupied. Don’t forget to comment and share! xoxo

 

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