Bubble baths, catching up on reading, reorganizing the house — these are just an example of some of the fun, productive things you can do at home. Whether you’re working from home or looking for something to do while inside on a rainy day, there are tons of ways to stay busy without leaving the house. We’ve put together a list of things you and your family can do to have fun at home.
Creative Things to Do at Home
Use your time at home to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Learn a new skill right or find a new hobby that you can do anywhere — whether it’s following a new recipe in your kitchen or trying a new workout in your living room.
Learn a New Language
If you’ve ever wanted to learn to speak a new language, now’s your chance. Maybe you’ve always wanted to speak Japanese, or you have a dream of traveling to France and want to learn the language before you go. Thanks to apps like Duolingo and YouTube guides, learning a new language is more accessible than ever.
Make a Photo Book
Get your pictures off your camera roll and store your favorite memories in a custom photo book. Personalize your photo book with unique layouts, embellishments, and cover designs. Pick a theme for your book, like Baby’s First Year or a book filled with photos of your best family vacation. A photo book is a great way to treasure your favorite pictures and are the perfect gift or keepsake for you or a loved one to treasure for years to come.
Try a New Recipe
Stop ordering takeout and use your time at home to try out a new recipe you’ve been curious about. Order a cookbook online and flip through the pages to find a new dish to attempt, or browse the Internet for endless recipes. If you want to get your family involved with the cooking, try one of these healthy recipes to make with the kids.
Take an Online Class
There are tons of new hobbies and activities to try right from the comfort of your home. If you’re trying to get in shape, take on online fitness videos to get you started. If DIY activities are more your thing, try following an origami tutorial or online painting class. Explore what activities you enjoy and use online courses to master them.
Make a Playlist
Use Spotify or Apple Music to make a playlist with music you love. Personalize a playlist for a friend or loved one to make their day.
Give Your Home a Makeover
Take the time you have at home to reorganize and redecorate. Your home will feel bigger and better once you spruce it up a bit. Give your home a deep clean to give it a fresh feel, and then design custom wall art to make your home fit your style.
Redecorate Your Space
Revamp your house with unique, custom home decor. Design wall art to hang your favorite family photos. Designate an area for an office and gather office supplies to use when working from home. You can even freshen up your space just by rearranging the furniture or decluttering to get rid of what you don’t need.
Clean the House
Finally cross that deep home cleaning off your list. Clean out your closet and donate the clothes you no longer need. Don’t forget to clean out your car, your desk, and even your purse.
Learn to Garden
If you have space, test out your green thumb and start a garden. Rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty won’t just add a nice touch to your home, but it also is a great way to de-stress when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Stay Connected to Friends and Family
If you’re looking for things to do at home, make the time to reach out to friends and family. Staying connected to your loved ones is important. Use technology like FaceTime and video conferencing apps to keep up with friends, family, and coworkers when you can’t be with them.
Have Virtual Dinners With Friends
Schedule time with your friends for a happy hour or dinner to catch up and socialize using video conferencing apps like Zoom or Skype. To make your virtual meal even more fun, dress up as if you’re going to a fancy restaurant together, and show off your outfits before you eat.
FaceTime Family Members
Stay connected with your family by video chatting with FaceTime. Call your mom, grandma, or cousins to check in on them and let them know how you are. Schedule one-on-one time or a group hangout so more people can join in on the fun.
Play Online Games With Friends
Virtually connect with friends with online games. You can find digital versions of games like Clue, Cards Against Humanity, Trivia, Monopoly, and more.
Fun Activities for Kids
When the kids are home from school, you’ll need a few tricks up your sleeve to keep them entertained. Use these activities the family can do together to keep the kids busy and happy.
Play Board Games
Turn off the TV and iPads and challenge the family to game night. Bring out the classics like Monopoly or Candy Land, or try a newer game that you can all learn together.
Bake Fun Desserts
Let the kids bake cookies or cupcakes that they can go crazy with decorating themselves. Pick out blue sprinkles and frosting if they want to make Frozen-themed desserts, or red, black, yellow, and white if Minnie and Mickey are their favorites. Put on some music while decorating your treats and turn the baking party into a fun dance party.
Build an Indoor Obstacle Course
An indoor obstacle course is a perfect way to entertain the kids. Use things you already have around the house to make an exciting course, like chairs, hula hoops, or laundry baskets.
Read Stories Together
Encourage your child’s interest in books by reading together. Shutterfly offers personalized story books that you can create to feature your child into the story. Or, listen to podcasts made for kids together that include bedtime stories, science exploration, cool news, and more.
Make a Time Capsule
A time capsule is a collection of treasures and memories your kids can hide away for their future selves. Fill a container with present-day things, like newspapers, photos, tickets, toys, or letters. Decorate the box and hide it away indoors, or make a weather-resistant box that can be buried in the backyard. Decide how long you want to hide it and who should open it — and don’t peek ’til then!
Stress-Relieving Things to Do at Home
When you need to relax and recharge, look no further than these stress-relieving activities you can do right from home.
Take Care of Your Skin
Start better skincare habits and do some quick research to discover your skin type and the products you need. Apply a nourishing face mask before bed to relax. You can choose a face mask that targets a number of issues, including acne, dry skin, or to brighten a dull complexion. Whatever your skin needs, there’s a mask for that.
Watch a New Show
Discover new TV shows or movies on streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, or Apple TV+. Learn about a new topic with a documentary or keep yourself laughing with a witty comedy. To watch with your friends remotely, use Google Chrome’s Netflix Party. This extension synchronizes video playback and adds a group chat so you can enjoy streaming sessions together.
Keep Your Brain Busy
Keep yourself busy with activities like crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. Get creative and customize your own puzzle with a fun family photo. You can make a puzzle easy enough for young kids to complete or challenge yourself with 1000-piece puzzles. It’ll take your mind off boredom, and completing the puzzle will feel great.
Create a Vision Board
Get inspired and create a vision board that brings your dreams and goals to life. Vision boards, or dream boards, are designed to be a source of inspiration and motivation. Use a poster, magnetic board, or cork board to paste collage images you’ve cut from magazines or printed from online. Looking at your vision board every day will inspire you to make the changes you need to achieve your goals.
Related Resources
For even more inspiration on things to do at home, make sure to visit our related resources below:
