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101 things to do when you're stuck at home
Bored at home? Then get stuck into our epic list of streaming culture, movies, podcasts, games, workouts and learning – plus some curveballs
As we tiptoe very apprehensively into 2021, a vast swath of Planet Earth is once again stuck at home. If you're reading this, chances are that includes you. Yes, it's important to stay safe indoors to protect ourselves and others – but that doesn't mean we can't have a good time. We may have temporarily changed our name to Time In last year, but our mission to bring you the best culture, entertainment, food and fun from around the world hasn't changed one bit. So naturally, we wanted to create the ultimate list of things to do indoors – from curated lists of the best movies andgreatest podcasts to indoor fitness,online learning, games to play, amazing live-streams to tune in to, and some offbeat activities dreamed up by creative people around the world.
As time goes by we'll be updating, evolving and extending this list of fun things to do while you're at home, so check back soon for more great indoor activities and streaming culture. You may be stuck at home, but stick with us and we promise you won't be bored for a second.
101 actually fun things to do at home
1. Check out the latest virtual things to do
You've exhausted Netflix and Amazon Prime – and sourdough and Houseparty just aren't cutting it any more. Like you, we're craving totally new, one-off events that are exciting enough to enliven any government-mandated night in. So it's pretty fortunate that every week comes with a whole host of live-streaming plays, music, talks, exhibitions and other online events around the world – here's our pick of the very best virtual things to do this week.
2. Solve your way out of an online escape room
We could all do with a bit of escapism right now. But how can you get away when much of the world is still stuck at home? Answer: with the internet's array of brilliant virtual escape rooms, which offer an incredibly literal way to feel like you're breaking free – all without leaving your sofa. Into your thrills, riddles and supernatural chills? These eight online escape games are bound to get your heart racing and your adrenaline pumping.
3. Feel the thrill of a fresh true-crime podcast
Occasionally gruesome and always edge-of-the-seat enthralling, the best true-crime podcasts trace murder mysteries, cold cases and miscarriages of justice through twist after twist. In fact, the true-crime genre at its best can be so compelling that it's easy to burn through a whole series… leaving you hungry for some fresh intrigue.That's exactly why we've rounded up some of the most captivating murderous and mysterious tales to listen to next. Plug in those headphones and get gripped.
4. Catch up on the awesome new movies you missed because, well, 2020
Yes, 2020 was a movie year like no other. But despite the closure of cinemas, the switch to streaming and wild uncertainty over what comes next, there were plenty of mesmerising films to enjoy. L ast year was a great one for fans of female filmmaking, jolt-filled horror movies, Terrence Malick and Adam Sandler. For proof, just check out our pick of the top 20 films of 2020. Sure, it's no consolation for your local cinema being closed right now, but they should tide you over for a little while at least.
5. Shake up your home cocktail skills
There's something therapeutic about taking the time to make a quality cocktail at home. We're talking about the kind of sipper that requires a handful of ice, a cocktail shaker, a dusty bottle from your drinks cabinet and maybe even a swish of citrus. To help stir some inspiration, we asked Time Out staff around the world to spill their go-to cocktails, the drinks they know how to make from muscle memory, from classic (Negroni, anyone?) to newfangled (you gotta try the Tommy Casual).
6. Blast off into the universe of sci-fi
Science fiction isn't all spaceships and space battles (though there is a lot of that), and when it's good, it's a proper escape from the real world. But what makes it really special is its subject matter. Whether it's gender politics, racism, environmental collapse or capitalism, science fiction is full of fables that tell us about humanity right now, and where it's going. Don't know your Asimov from your elbow? We've rounded up 100 of the best sci-fi movies of all time and ten of thebest science fiction books for beginners.
7. Get into running (and actually stick with it)
Could 2021 be the year you actually get into running? If you are thinking about, y'know, just going for it, you might now be wondering how the hell you actually get started. Well, one Time Out writer has gone from total running sceptic to legit marathon completer – here's how you could, too. And if running doesn't quite sound like your bag, we've also put together beginners' guides to yoga, lifting weights, cycling for fitness and outdoor swimming.
8. Reboot your repertoire in the kitchen
Okay, so by now you're probably sick of cooking yourself the same meals over and over again. That means your repertoire in the kitchen is probably due a refresh. At the end of last year, we asked Time Out staff around the world to tell us about the best cookbooks they relied on to get them through 2020. As a surprise to no one, many leaned heavy on baking, learning how to craft the perfect sourdough loaf and killer banana bread. Others quenched their wanderlust in the kitchen, trying their hand at dumplings, bibimbap and fattoush. See what takes your fancy Рand bon app̩tit!
9. Discover some great new female authors
As many of us have rediscovered this year, there are few pleasures greater than losing yourself in a good ol' yarn. And of all the thousands of dazzling literary universes you could escape to, the grimy mafia-tainted underworld of Elena Ferrante's epic Neapolitan novels ('My Brilliant Friend', 'The Lying Life of Adults') must surely be among the most thrilling. Now, in a rare insight into the pseudonymous Italian author's reading tastes and the literary worlds that have inspired her, Ferrante has released a list of her 40 favourite books written by women, ranging from award-winning classics to lesser-known contemporary translations. Should keep you going for another lockdown or three.
10. Get back into video games
11. Listen to an all-star podcast series
Think podcasts – but premium. Like, big, flashy, millions-of-investment premium. Launched in 2019, QCode offers exactly that: its immaculately produced, impeccably scripted podcast series star proper Hollywood royalty – we're talking the likes of Rami Malek (in 'Blackout'), Chloë Grace Moretz ('Gaslight') and Matthew McConaughey ('Hank the Cowdog'). Its latest high-profile release is sci-fi drama 'From Now', directed by Rhys Wakefield and starring Richard Madden (Bodyguard) and Brian Cox (Succession). Get it in your ears.
12. Take a literary tour of the world
Looking for a way to expand your horizons without actually leaving your flat? We hear ya. This literary world map – a bookshelf made up of the most popular books set in (almost) every country on Earth – is a good place to start. It's been compiled using Goodreads user ratings and reviews, and makes for a fascinating tour around the globe. It's definitely enough to keep us and our brains busy until we're ready to pack our suitcases IRL.
13. Get clued up to some really, really great new music
In 2020, many of us turned to old comforts: the albums we grew up with, the music we usually seek solace in during tough times. But there was also a great deal of new stuff that felt either incredibly timely, incredibly nostalgic, incredibly chill – or just really, really, really good. So, need some new listening? We rounded up 15 of the best albums of 2020, packed with tunes which got Time Out staff around the world through some dark times last year.
14. Perfect your home coffee game
When it comes to that morning cup of joe, necessity has been the mother of invention for many of us this past year. Out has gone the habitual visit to our cheery local barista; in its place has come a need to duplicate the taste and buzz from the relatively espresso-machine-free surrounds of our kitchens. But before you do anything desperate, like drink instant, help is available. Here's how to make filter coffee perfectly every time, using three different methods.
15. Meet some cute baby animals
When it comes to getting that hit of instant oxytocin, it doesn't get much more powerful than baby animals. Last year, many of us turned to fluffy paws, squishy faces and tiny pointy ears to distract us through quarantine and raise our spirits. So, as a little gift to you, we've put together this list of some of our most treasured 2020 arrivals at zoos worldwide. Stressed? We suggest hanging out with these adorable creatures for a little while – you won't regret it.
16. Put food in your ears
Cooking alone can feel a little lonely, right? One surefire way to get yourself some artificial (and generally pretty cultured) kitchen company is to whack on a podcast. And since you'll want to be semi-focused on the cooking , it may help if they're talking about food. Luckily, there are many funny and fascinating series well up to the job – and we've sorted through them all to come up with this list of the very best podcasts that are all about food, glorious food. Just don't get so wrapped up in what they're saying that you overlook (and overcook) your dinner.
17. Get yourself in trim with some ballet pros
Building on the hodgepodge of classes English National Ballet put online last year, the London-based company – led by legendary dancer Tamara Rojo – is launching a full-on home workout platform called BalletActive, that should hopefully be with us for a long time after our present woes have ended.For £9.99 a month – or £99.99 a year – with the option of a free seven-day trial, you get access to a frankly gargantuan amount of stuff, from a beginners' ballet series with dancer Sarah Kundi, to masterclasses and advanced lessons from Rojo herself. You'll be pliéing and pirouetting in no time at all.
18. Build a home cinema
The lack of a 45-foot-wide screen in your living room shouldn't rob you of a proper cinematic experience at home. With a little canny investment and some lateral thinking, you can transform any room into a temple of jaw-dropping, high-fidelity viewing. From arthousing-up your sofa to the best TVs and sound systems around, here are five ways to replicate those Dolby Atmos vibes at home.
19. Become hooked on a new mobile game
Truly brilliant mobile games usually fall into one of two categories: violent or relaxing. Very occasionally, they manage to be both. Many of us have frankly ludicrous amounts of spare time at the moment, as well as plenty of frustration we'd preferably like to channel into as mindless an activity as possible. So here are six of best games on iPhone and Android to help you let off steam right now, from aesthetically chilled origami puzzles to single-players where the aim is to purée fruit or bash gummy bears.
20. Get properly buff
Something about lifting weights can feel intimidating. Maybe it's because you don't know how to use the equipment. Or because people in the weights area often do a lot of grunting. Don't let that put you off, though. These five tips from a newly converted weightlifter are a great way to get started. When done right, lifting is about celebrating what your body can do – and that can only be a good thing.
21. Take an Instagram baking class
Being stuck inside has its upsides: namely that you're never far from your kitchen. This definitely is not the time to worry about waistlines, and baking has all sorts of therapeutic effects (seriously – google it). But if your repertoire doesn't go beyond chocolate fridge cake, don't worry: ace London bakery Bread Ahead is streaming baking classes. From doughnuts to brownies, there's no limit to what these pros can help you create. Take their ingredient list on your next shopping run before tuning in.
22. Join a virtual choir
If the videos of cities in lockdown coming together to sing on their balconies left you with a lump in your throat, here's your chance to add your vocal cords to one of several online choirs popping up around the world. The Sofa Singers is a free online singing event that aims to 'bring people together from around the world to spark joy and human connection'. It involves hundreds of singers joining a Zoom call and learning a new song together. Lifefullness Live also runs a sing-a-long every weekday. You can either join a video call near you to sing with your neighbours, or stream the event on Instagram or Facebook.
23. Get a book club going with pals
24. Live-stream the Northern Lights
Just because you're stuck at home, doesn't mean you have to miss out on some of the world's most beautiful natural wonders. Thanks to Explore.com, you can now live-stream the Northern Lights straight into your front room. The live cam is located at the Churchill Northern Studies Center in Manitoba, Canada, directly underneath the aurora oval. With the arctic dark most of the day and the skies clear, now's the perfect time to tune in.
25. Read a beautiful art magazine
Magazines are brilliant: little bundles of paper filled with countless ideas and images and writing. They're places of comfort and safety and distraction, something to turn to when everything feels a little overwhelming and scary. So what better way to distract ourselves from these whackadoodle times than with a selection of amazing art publications that you can get sent right to your door?
26. Host a virtual murder mystery
Just when you thought Cluedo-style mysteries would be limited to figuring out who got into your stash of quarantine snacks, UK company Red Herring Games has come through. Describing itself as offering 'the best in murder mystery entertainment', Red Herring's multilayered games can now be adapted for virtual gatherings with the assistance of Zoom or Google Hangouts. We recommend the 'Great British Bump Off'.
27. Get lost in a new podcast
Completed Netflix? Struggling to concentrate on a book? Podcasts might be the answer. Pop one of these amazing podcasts in your earholes and you'll be immediately transported from your poky apartment to somewhere much more interesting. Tune into anything and everything from uplifting tales of human connection on 'Modern Love' to 25 years' worth of the inspirational 'This American Life'.
28. Watch the skies
29. Up your home bar game
Say goodbye to your sad Quarantini. The home bar has taken centre stage as watering holes shutter the world over. But what do you put in the shaker when all you have at home is some vodka, a sad lemon and a few half empty bottles of liqueur? Bartenders have turned to social media to share their recipes and tips, and some are even taking requests in real time so we can all drink better while social distancing. Here are some thirst-quenching resources, whether you want to set up that virtual happy hour or simply want to pour yourself one.
30. Bring an aquarium into your home
31. Learn Japanese for free
No Nihongo? No problem. Learning Japanese has never been easier thanks to a vast array of online resources including websites, videos, podcasts and even apps to help you speak and understand it. There's something out there for everyone, whether you're a beginner looking to pick up a few useful phrases for your trip to Tokyo, or just looking to brush up on your rusty command of the language. Here's a list of online resources covering a range of proficiencies – all of which are free.
32. Gasp at the gravity-defying feats of Cirque du Soleil
Obviously, Cirque du Soleil can't perform to a live audience right now – so it's taking the show online. The world-famous troupe is streaming the most impressive moments from its larger-than-life shows on CirqueConnect, its new digital hub, every Friday. While the tension and spectacle will never be the same as the live events, at least these are completely free.
33. Live the Harry Potter dream
34. Take an idyllic virtual vacation
All over the USA, there are hotels and resorts with live webcams offering mesmerising views of their surroundings. Think stretches of sandy beaches, majestic mountain vistas and placid lake scenery that (sort of) make it seem like you're really there. Sure, cams can't quite replace the feeling of reclining in the sun or shooting down a slope on skis – but they are free and, let's face it, the next best thing when actual travel is out of the question.
35. Experiment with a new haircut
36. Clear out some stuff – and give it away to charity
What about using all this free time you suddenly have to give your pad a thorough spring-clean? It may not sound like fun, but there's nothing like a freshly Marie Kondo'd apartment to put the spring back into your step – particularly since you're spending a little more time there than usual. And if you turn up plenty of clothes and other objects in good nick that you don't want any more, make sure to start a giveaway pile to donate to a charity shop when this is all over. Here are the best thrift shops in London, New York and Singapore.
37. Recreate recipes from Disneyland or Shake Shack
While restaurants, hotels and amusement parks are closed, they've been sharing their most famous recipes to help you recreate their famous dishes at home. So why not test your culinary skills and your brand loyalty by having a crack at Disneyland's churros, Shake Shack's signature burger or Pizza Express's dough balls? There are even recipes out there for McDonald's McMuffins and Ikea meatballs. At this rate you'll never need to eat out again.
38. Forge new bonds with your neighbours
39. Laugh at the best cartoons and street art for our times
When the news gets a bit much, it's comforting to know illustrators will always be there to reflect your anxieties right back at you. The biggest story in a generation has obviously given cartoonists the world over plenty to work with, from France's Jean Jullien to pug-loving Brit Gemma Correll via the New Yorker's star illustrators. And some very creative street artists have got in on the act too. (Yes, that includes Banksy.)
40. Stuff your face (and support local restaurants)
Got cash to spare? Now is a good time to 'invest' in your favourite restaurants – either by ordering food delivery, or stocking up on gift vouchers from them. Both will help them earn some cash in a difficult time, and you'll be able to use the vouchers once this blows over (think of it like an IOU). Here are some restaurants you can support by buying gift cards in London, Melbourne,New York and the rest of the USA.
41. Cook something new
42. Lose yourself in a colouring book by legit artists
To try and make lockdown a little more bearable, British artists Antony Gormley, Grayson Perry, Gillian Wearing and others have come together to create a free, downloadable activity book. It's called 'Art Is Where the Home Is' and the idea is that every project can fit on a single A4 sheet of paper, and you won't need any specialist materials. The activities are a bit more leftfield than dot-to-dots or colouring in: Antony Gormley's task involves making a daisy chain of people, while Harold Offeh wants you to create an album cover. Are the ideas mostly aimed at children? Yes. But don't let that stop you.
43. Watch every single one of Shakespeare's plays
Cut through the gloom with the words of a man who knew a thing or two about plagues: Mr William Shakespeare. 'The Show Must Go Online' is a digital project led by classical actor and director Robert Myles that aims to bring The Bard's words to life by reading them out loud at a time when conventional live performance is verboten. Professional actors and experienced amateurs are invited to sign up to do a weekly reading, and the public can follow along on YouTube. They've been going through all his plays from A to Z.
44. Bake a hilarious quarantine cake
Some people eat in times of crisis, and other people bake. Based on what we've seen on the internet over the past year or so, lots of people fall into the latter camp. These stressed, intrepid, creative pastry wizards have really found a way to make this whole isolation thing more entertaining with their clever cakes. Want some inspiration for your own? These are some of the funniest quarantine cakes we've found online.
45. Daydream about being somewhere totally different
If you're anything like us, you're already thinking about all the places you want to visit once this is all over. And who better to ask for tips than than a set of award-winning travel writers? We spoke to five of the winners of 2020's Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards to get their top travel recommendation: their favourite place on the planet. Just the stuff for a post-isolation bucket list, if you ask us.
46. Get smart with a free, online Ivy League course
Why not use all that time we usually spend socialising to learn something new? And you might as well learn from the best, we say. The eight Ivy League colleges across the US – Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton and Yale – are offering 450 free online courses that are just the right amount of challenging to take our minds off the current state of affairs.
47. Do a drag aerobics class
Dig out the spandex, make some space in your living room and tune into Facebook or Instagram Live every Wednesday for an aerobics lesson from drag queen Dolly Trolley. This is a revival of '80s home workout videos, social media-style. The sessions are free, but organisers have set up a PayPal link for those who want to donate a few pounds. Here's our pick of all the other brilliant fitness sessions you can enjoy from home.
48. Watch Prince play live
Actual concerts and gigs are no-gos for the foreseeable, but you can replicate those live-music vibes in your living room thanks to YouTube. There are a bunch of really amazing full-length concerts available to stream for free, from Abba making London shine in '79 to Radiohead's first Glastonbury headline slot in the late 1990s.
49. Set up a home karaoke session
If you're usually wary of the karaoke crowds, now's the time to choose (and ace) your go-to belter. Yet to decide? No fret – we've assembled a list of the best karaoke songs ever, from raucous party songs you can sing while tipsy to tender love songs for serenading your boo. Karaoke versions of all of them are widely available online.
50. Stream a thought-provoking doc on Netflix
Netflix has revitalised the documentary industry. 'Making a Murderer' became a global talking point overnight, followed by exclusives like '13th', 'Amanda Knox' and now 'Tiger King', while the streaming site's archive of great docs has proven enormously popular. But which of these true tales are worth 90 or more minutes of your precious time? From genre-defining classics to intimate personal studies, these are the best documentaries to stream right now on Netflix in the UK and US.
51. Take a virtual tour of the Musée d'Orsay
Many of our much-loved museums and art galleries may be closed, but don't despair. Tech-savvy curators are getting creative with how the public can access their collections, and many are catering to an online audience with insanely good virtual tours. From ogling Parisian Impressionist works in the Musée d'Orsay to a voyeuristic archive of ex-lovers' relics at the Museum of Broken Relationships, there are truly some fascinating online museum tours out there.
52. Finally watch all of 'Game of Thrones'
We all watched a lot of TV in 2020. Some of us have watched all of it – seriously, you should see the end credits when you complete TV – and at a time when we've been stuck at home this so-called golden age of television has never felt so burnished and shiny. From recent streaming hits like Sex Education and The Crown to established masterpieces like The Wire and Six Feet Under , the choices are almost limitless. But the unique circumstances of 2020 drew us to old favourites like cats to a radiator – as much for their familiar comforts as their guaranteed quality. You swore it would never happen, but perhaps it really could be time to queue upGame of Thrones.
53. Listen to this motivational WFH playlist
Not quite into the swing of working from home? Perhaps you need a stack of absolutely massive bangers to jump-start your brain. We've compiled a playlist that gets the job done while obeying the golden rule of motivational playlists: a certain amount of cheese is essential, but you don't want to overload it. And yes, it does kick off with 'Work from Home' by Fifth Harmony, because, well, we're only human.
54. Book a holiday for once all this has blown over
Cooped up inside with cabin fever? Had all your holiday plans ruined? We're right there with you. But there's no time like a lockdown to dream about your next extravagant getaway. We've picked out 11 amazing places to travel in 2021 (when you can): fingers crossed we'll all be able to go travel-crazy sometime vaguely soon.
55. Tour Japan's most spectacular cherry blossom displays
Hanami flower-viewing parties and sakura festivals have been cancelled all over Japan – but that doesn't mean you can't still get your fill of beautiful cherry blossom. The country's Weather News channel has released 50 VR videos that explore the best blossom spots throughout Japan, with stunning 360-degree views and some very soothing background music. Bliss.
56. Do a digital yoga class
You might not be able to visit your regular yoga studio, but social distancing guidelines can't keep a good class down. Plenty of yoga studios are now live-streaming classes so you can still practise with your fave teacher – calming music, guided shavasana and all. Starting from scratch?The secret to yoga for beginners is to get up and keep going, according to our recent convert.Here's to going with the flow on your front room floor.
57. Watch world-class actors take to the stage
58. Tour the USA's greatest national parks
One silver lining of living through a pandemic in the age of the internet is that, though you may be self-isolating, you can still (sort of) get that much-needed dose of the great outdoors. Thanks to Google Earth, you can now virtually tour 31 of the USA's greatest national parks, from the Virgin Islands to Mount Rainier in Washington State. Click on your chosen park and you'll be whisked away to your destination.
59. Play Pictionary with a robot
Need a break from reality? Try 'Quick, Draw!', a free-to-play game that doubles up as an AI experiment to see if a 'neural network' can learn to recognise human doodles. It's basically playing Pictionary with a robot, and is stupidly addictive and weirdly mindful. We're hooked.
60. See 800 Frida Kahlo paintings in a virtual exhibition
Since you can't go traipsing around your favourite museums right now, here's an incredible online art exhibition dedicated to everyone's favourite monobrowed modern art master: Frida Kahlo. For 'Faces of Frida', Google Arts and Culture have brought together 33 museums from around the world to share their Kahlo archives. You can browse 800 works by the Mexican artist, but also lots of biographical elements (personal objects, letters, journal extracts).
61. Catch up on all the hyped movies you missed
You know those films you've been meaning to watch for years? The iconic ones you kinda pretend you've seen, the really long Oscar-worthy ones, the difficult watches you were never quite in the mood for? Now's the time. No excuses: check out our picks of the best movies on Netflix US, Netflix UK and Amazon Prime UK right now, and get watching.
62. Party at home with our ultimate playlist
Thanks to Spotify and other streaming services, everyone's a DJ these days. But this doesn't mean it's acceptable to cobble together dodgy party playlists filled with soggy bops and half-arsed nearly-bangers. To help you make sure your (very exclusive, residents-only) house party goes off like a frog in a sock, we've put together this ultimate list of surefire floor-fillers. Just remember to think of your playlist like a spag bol: a little bit of cheese is a fine addition, but too much can be overpowering.
63. Have a night at the opera
Their audiences may have been kept at home, but temples of high culture have fought back hard against the global lockdown. New York's Metropolitan Opera is raiding its archives and streaming free daily productions from the award-winning 'Live in HD' series while its doors are closed. London's Royal Opera House has also been streaming past productions, while Vienna's acclaimed Wiener Staatsoper is sticking as closely as possible to its planned schedule of performances, but with archive productions rather than live ones. And they're all filmed from the best seats in the house – no opera glasses needed.
64. Get some fuzzy vibes going with a feelgood movie
As we know pretty well by now, real life and current affairs can really get you down. For many of us, Netflix is the antidote and escapism we need from daily life. However, with so many titles to choose from, it can be hard to know which films will leave your spirits high. From wild action comedies such as 'Charlie's Angels' to movie musicals like 'La La Land', here's our guide to the 25 best feelgood movies streaming on Netflix in the UK and US.
65. Take up painting with help from the masters
If you've been itching to stretch your creative muscles, now is most certainly the time. You can easily order art materials online. But you'll also need some inspiration – and we recommend the Google Arts & Culture Zoom-in guided tours, which provide super-high resolution images of paintings: you can get close enough to see brushstrokes. What better way to figure out how to use a brush than learning from the best?
66. Listen to a 238-hour Haruki Murakami-inspired playlist
Why the hell not, eh? Japanese author Haruki Murakami is passionate about music and songs play an important role in almost all of his stories. Happily for die-hard Murakami fans (and anyone who just likes good music), Spotify user Masamaro Fujiki has compiled all the songs Murakami has written about in his stories into one playlist. It all adds up to nearly ten solid days of music, which should squash that 'What should we listen to?' question for a while.
67. Unwind with some sublime YouTube ASMR
Having a little trouble unwinding at the moment? YouTube is our go-to source for all kinds of soothing content. ASMR communities have quietly been setting up camp in this corner of the internet for years now. These are the chillest channels and most blissful standalone clips we've found online.
68. Watch penguins, elephants and belugas live from the zoo
69. Host a digital Netflix party
We don't need to tell you that streaming service Netflix is your friend during this crisis – you've probably got half an eye on it right now – but did you know you can have a Netflix party with your mates? The Netflix Party app, available on Chrome, lets you stream Netflix in unison with your pals. Anyone can play and pause the video for everyone else, and there's a chat window so you can all wittily discuss what's happening on screen in real time. It's a pop culture podcast waiting to happen.
70. Take a tour of New York City's secret attractions
Wanderlust getting the better of you? Don't worry. You can still explore some of New York's most fascinating, under-the-radar landmarks – all from the comfort of your home (and for free). The New York Landmarks Conservancy has a catalogue of video tours you can play from the comfort of your couch. In 'Tourist in Your Own Town', presenter Peg Breen guides viewers around historic sights like Governors Island, the New York Botanical Garden, St Paul's Chapel, Wave Hill, the Alice Austen House and many more.
71. Join a doodle session with a top kids' illustrator
Young'uns getting restless? Brooklyn artist Mo Willems, the educational artist-in-residence at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, kept children all over the world busy last year with these free online drawing sessions. The live classes may have ended, but you can still catch all the previous sessions on YouTube. Kids can see the magic behind the mind that came up with 'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!', 'Knuffle Bunny' and many more contemporary classics.
72. Take in the view from Rio's Sugarloaf Mountain
All our travel plans have been scrapped and we're staying home, but that doesn't mean you can't explore the wonders the world has to offer – you'll just have to do it from our sofas while wearing your pyjamas. We've trawled Google Street View for the most incredible 360-degree views of some of the world's greatest cities. Happy 'travels'!
73. Learn to play guitar (like, properly)
Remember when you promised yourself you'd learn to play that guitar that ended up gathering dust in the corner? Think you still might have a secret Eddie Van Halen hidden deep within you? A mini St Vincent lurking somewhere in your gut? Well, you should probably go to a doctor, but after that, you might actually want to start learning how to play. Do it properly with these three easy ways to brush up online.
74. Sign up to a free happiness class
As the world around us changes on a daily, almost hourly, basis, we're all facing some new anxieties. That's where world-famous Ivy League university Yale comes in. They've shared their most popular course, The Science of Well Being, online, for free, wherever you are in the world. Following psychologist Laurie Santos's ten-week seminar series, you'll learn how to increase your happiness, debunk myths about what makes us content and ultimately create better, more productive habits.
75. Discover the Japanese contemporary art scene
Museums and art galleries around the world are no-go zones for the foreseeable. So here's a way to bring a splash of colour into your own home. Japanese art magazine Bijutsutecho has created an 'online viewing art gallery' called Oil by Bijutsutecho. Freely accessible for art lovers worldwide, this platform has a total of 700 artworks on display, sourced from over 50 galleries in Japan, including Tokyo's hpgrp Gallery, Misako & Rosen and Tomio Koyama Gallery. Once you've seen it, check out this Instagram exhibition of young London artists too.
76. Calm the f*** down with a meditation app
Serenity seems pretty hard to come by right now, but you can breathe a sigh of relief: whether you're a fully fledged meditation guru or totally new to it all (and, tbh, a bit confused by the hype), we have a plan. Flick through our choice of the best meditation apps and find your favourite – because an app can put you in the right frame of mind when a stick of nag champa just won't cut it.
77. Raise a new family of Sims
Staying in can get really boring, really fast. You binge-watch a Netflix series or four, eat even though you're not hungry and discuss ridiculous hypotheticals with your housemates. After a while, frankly, you're definitely going to need a brain-stimulating escape. That's where the world of video games totally comes into its own. Our absolute fave is The Sims, mainly because it's a massive power trip. You rule the roost: controlling your virtual characters' personalities, the environment and pretty much everything else. Not your thing? Here are some other fab time-wasters for these self-isolating times.
78. Go on a ghost tour
California's most famous haunted home, the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, is offering free video tours while the mansion is closed. The bizarro tale began when the lady of the house, Sarah Winchester, inherited a vast fortune from her father-in-law, Oliver Winchester, manufacturer of the famous rifle. Winchester came to believe her family were haunted and built this house as a way to elude the ghosts of all those who had fallen victim to the Winchester rifle. Enjoyed that? Next, take a virtual tour through the Paris catacombs.
79. Watch the best of Broadway
With Broadway and the West End shut down for the time being, fans of musical theatre are hungry for shows they can watch at home. That's where BroadwayHD comes in. This new streaming service offers 300 high-quality full-length performances from Broadway, the West End and beyond. Subscriptions cost just $8.99 a month – and for new subscribers, the first week is free. But how can you choose among the many shows on offer? These are the ones we think you won't want to miss.
80. Learn to make pasta with an Italian nonna
One 84-year-old Italian grandmother had the perfect reaction to her country going into lockdown. Nonna Nerina usually runs pasta-making workshops in the countryside near Rome, but she had to cancel all her classes. Now, with her granddaughter Chiara, Nerina has taken them online. You can book on to a live two-hour, virtual pasta masterclass where you'll be taken through their storied family recipes. Or if you don't fancy the class fee, there's an entire YouTube channel containing nothing but Italian grandmas making pasta.Buon appetito!
81. Take a moment to appreciate the animals taking back human spaces
The first lockdown wasn't all bad. Sure it got a little scary and a lot claustrophic, but there were some positives to come out of this current world situation, like zoom quizzes, Instagram bake-a-longs and communal claps for our healthcare workers. Oh, and all the tales about animals taking advantage of the drop in human activity to have a jolly time. Here are a few of the animals thoroughly enjoying lockdown, from Llandudno's goats to Yosemite's bear population.
82. Move your body with one of the world's greatest dance venues
London's most famous dance theatre, the legendary Sadler's Wells, had to cancel the majority of its 2020 programme. Fortunately, it's opened up its substantial digital vaults during the current crisis through new streaming platform Digital Stage. The venue is now screening archive performances, special one-offs and dance workshops aimed at a variety of ages, from a family workout for ages two-to-six to classes for the over-sixties.
83. Ride a roller coaster
84. Play a nostalgic board game
There are certain classics (Scrabble! Connect 4! Monopoly!) that we think every household should own. These are the games that never fail to tug at our heartstrings: they are culture-defining, nostalgic go-tos that always deliver come game night. Looking to take a trip back in time? Bored of charades? Here's our guide to the best board games of all time.
85. Do that DIY project you've been putting off
It's time to face the cold, harsh light of day: you are an adult now, and you need to know how to do things. Things involving hammers. Just got an exhibition poster framed and want to put it on your bedroom wall? Want to feel more capable next time your sink backs up? Do some googling. After all, there's nothing to make you feel more productive than a bit of DIY – especially when you're confined to a tiny apartment with eff all to do.
86. Get physical with superstar PT Joe Wicks
Suddenly found yourself trying to work from home AND home-school your kids? Here's a thing that might help. From Monday (January 11), personal trainer Joe Wicks, aka The Body Coach, is once again live-streaming daily PE (Phys Ed) lessons to keep little ones active (and let's be honest here, tire them out for the rest of the day). The 30-minute lessons are being live-streamed on YouTube every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 9am GMT, and are suitable for 'kids of all ages' according to Wicks.
87. Bring the outside in with some to-order houseplants
If you can't go outside, bring the outside in. Sure, you could throw on another six layers and open the window for an hour a day – but a less hypothermia-inducing idea is to order in some houseplants from a plant subscription service or garden centre offering delivery. Not only will they make you feel better for having some greenery around you, plants will also look great in the background of all those isolation selfies we have no doubt you'll be taking. Here are the two houseplants experts promise even you can't kill.
88. Learn Korean with K-pop megastars BTS
Bored of Duolingo? Into K-pop? Then we've a suggestion. BTS, aka 'Bangtan Sonyeondan', aka one of the biggest boybands in the world, have launched a new language-learning platform that aims to help their fans better understand Korean-language tunes like 'Boy with Luv', 'I Need U' and 'Fake Love'. And frankly, even if you're BTS-ambivalent – merely a keen linguist looking to add a new vernacular string to your bow – what better way to learn Korean colloquialisms than through the medium of TOTALLY MASSIVE bangers?
89. Project AR animals into your living room
Chit-chat with the flatmates wearing thin? We reckon it's time to play Big Brother and bring a troublesome new contestant into the house. How about a life-size lion, tiger or giant panda? Yep: thanks to Google's augmented-reality animals tool, you can choose from a range of furry new residents and view them in 3D within the confines of your own home.
90. Get into pottery
Ceramics were having a bit of a moment until self-isolation and social distancing happened. Missing your clay fix or simply want to try out a new hobby during lockdown? You don't need a wheel at home to get creative. In London, acclaimed workshop Kana London is launching an online pottery course, while in Sydney, the Clay Sydney studio will be offering all the materials, tools and tutorial support to take one of its popular classes from the comfort of your own home. See if there's a similar course in your city, or just order some clay and get sculpting with the help of YouTube.
91. Spend some quality (digital) time with your loved ones
Who knew that video-conferencing apps would become such a big part of everybody's lives so quickly? People around the world have swiftly pivoted from IRL socialising to Zoom, Houseparty, FaceTime, Skype and all the other video-chat apps out there. But which is the best, which one should you be using to keep in touch with your friends, family and Tinder dates? Here's our ranking of the best free video-call apps around.
92. Torment your friends in a game of Cards Against Humanity
Sick-humoured saints be praised: you can now play the popular fill-in-the-blank 'party game for horrible people' online – and for free. (To do so, you simply nab a link at playingcards.io, send said link to each of your pals, then play together remotely from your respective PCs.) That's just one of the many party games you can play remotely with your friends. Your move!
93. Nail your banana bread recipe
Found yourself making a lot of banana bread recently? Haven't we all? But trust us: you could seriously dial it up with just a few tweaks. We asked some of London's top bakers to share their tips for making the sweet, stodgy comfort food – from master patissier Dominique Ansel to Lewis Freeman from the 200-year-old Dunn's bakery.
94. Take on the world's biggest jigsaw puzzle
If you're looking for fun things to do at home, you're up for a mega challenge and you have amassive home, then boy, do we have a suggestion for you. The brand-new 'Travel Around Art' puzzle comes in at an astonishing 54,000 pieces: we're talking 190 sq ft of pure fun. When completed, it makes an art gallery, complete with artworks like Gustav Klimt's 'The Kiss' and 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' by Johannes Vermeer. And once you've finished that, there's always this 51,000-piece Kodak puzzle. Should keep you busy.
95. Give yourself a DIY facial
Beauty treatments are off the table right now, but there's never been a better time for self-care. While you can't visit your favourite massage, facial or nail studios at the moment, that doesn't mean you need to neglect yourself – especially when great studios like Re:lax in London are sharing their secrets online. Watch them at work on their Insta stories or sign up to one of their virtual courses to learn how to give yourself a five-star facial at home.
96. Host a Houseparty on this viral social app
Think living life in lockdown means you can't host a banging house party? Think again, people. You might not be able to be in the same room as your pals right now, but thanks to the Houseparty app you can still hang with all your mates, and even play games like Heads Up.
97. Catch up on your sleep
Remember when you thought you were sleep-deprived because of your busy social schedule? Well, now there's no excuse not to at least try and catch some Zs. But if you can't sleep, don't fret: a whole bunch of us are struggling to get our eight hours in during these strange and stressful times. We spoke to snoozing expert James Wilson, aka The Sleep Geek, to get some tips on getting great sleep every night while you're in lockdown – and they go way beyond counting sheep.
98. Live-stream some weird, avant-garde art from Tasmania
Introducing Tim – a former tattoo parlour manager from Zurich who's inexplicably sitting out this weird time on a live-stream at Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art. Since 2011, Tim has spent more than 3,500 hours sitting on a plinth at the museum, with his tattooed back being streamed in real time online. It's an ongoing artwork, you see. And the work is only finished when Tim dies and the tattoo is handed over to its owner (a German dealer who's already paid a sweet $250,000 AUD). Art, huh?
99. Learn how to make people laugh
Apart from paracetamol, laughter is still the best medicine. If you've always dreamed of performing at your local stand-up night, now's a pretty good time to hone those gags. Chicago's legendary Second City Training Center may be closed, but it's offering an expanded series of classes online covering everything from performing voiceovers to writing for TV. Most affordable, though, are its $25 drop-in improv and stand-up classes. Sign up and give those one-liners a test run.
100. Plan your new life somewhere sunnier
You don't need us to tell you that the past year has been pretty terrible. But if it's left you with a strong and persistent desire to make a massive life change, we can help you out with some ideas. Like, which of the world's vibrant and exciting cities you should move to next, for example. Or which countries offer the best visa options for remote workers. Or which beautiful villages in Italy are selling homes for just €1 (one friggin' euro!). Anyway, see ya later... we're hopping on the next safe flight outta here.
101. Do nothing
Here's the thing. At Time Out, we're normally all about helping you squeeze the absolute best out of city life. We want every second you spend to be spent well: eating the best food, soaking up the best culture, dancing at the best parties. But right now, things have been turned on their head a bit. Everyone is having to stay in and do less. We even renamed ourselves Time In for a little while. And actually, we're kind of relieved at having a bit more time on our hands. Time to dream, doze and do absolutely nothing. So by all means try and pack as much into your lockdown time as you can. But don't forget to take some time, every so often, to switch off and drift – at least until we're all out in the world again.
Still bored? Here's how to stay sane
How to stay sane during lockdown
Home for the foreseeable? So are our editors in New York, Barcelona, London, Sydney and elsewhere. We asked them to share the things keeping them going.
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Source: https://www.timeout.com/things-to-do/best-things-to-do-at-home-stuck-inside-bored
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