It’s Sunny But I’m Stuck Inside: 7 Ideas for Your Quarantine Spring Weekends

Finally the sun comes out, the flowers are blooming, and things are warming up a bit… but we’re all stuck at home! Don’t let quarantine get you down, though — there’s plenty of alternative and safe activities you and your family can try to enjoy the season and endure the shelter in place!

1. Have a Picnic. Whether it’s grilling on a weekend afternoon or just taking your normal weekday lunch out on the patio, treat yourself to a sunny outside meal if you can! Hang out in your front yard, or simply sit near an open window and let the sun and fresh air in.
2. Decorate. You might not be able to travel or visit your favorite parks, but you can make your home remind you of the places you’ll go when quarantine ends! Print out beautiful springtime images and let a bit of spring into your home. Pro-tip: Entertain the kids and get in a springtime spirit by having them paint or draw a sunny spring scene.
3. Spring cleaning. Now’s the perfect time to start that deep cleaning if you haven’t gotten around to it yet. Set aside a few hours on a weekend morning and have everyone help clean, then reward yourselves by having a treat delivered from your favorite local business. Pro-tip: some food delivery services are waiving delivery fees temporarily! Check out UberEats and DoorDash.
4. Flowers! The blooming has begun! Purchase or pick (in an unpopulated area) a bouquet of flowers to brighten up your home, and consider dropping one off on a friend’s doorstep too. Think about it: you’re home more now than ever, so there’s no reason not to make home as cheerful as possible.
5. Happy Hour. Host a Zoom Happy Hour with your friends and family to implement some fun and stay connected in your own home. Since bars and rooftops are closed until further notice, you will need to get creative. Just make sure your guests know that a drink or mocktail is required.
6. Travel (virtually, of course). Google Maps and many museums across the country are offering virtual tours. Good Housekeeping has this awesome list to help you navigate your next trip.
7. Spice Up Your Home Cooking. Perhaps you’re itching to discover a nearby hidden vacation spot, or having to miss a family spring break trip. Try bringing the food of your dream travel destination into your home! Once you pick your ideal destination, find a recipe that you can create at home. If you’ve always wanted to visit Thailand, try out a pad thai recipe, or grill some carne asada to help transport you to Cancún. If you’re not big on cooking, support a local restaurant that does.

Traveler’s Tip: Here are a few of my favorite meals from my extensive travels.

Fiji

• Boiled or fried cassava, with bele (greens) cooked in coconut milk with seasonings

India

• Roti
• Curry fish or chicken (in my meat eating days)
• Lassi (yogurt, water, spices and fruit).

Ghana

• Egusi — fat- and protein-rich seeds of squash or melon which after being dried and ground are cooked along with greens and protein

Papua New Guinea

• Sweet potato cooked in the ash in the BBQ pit. Peel and eat, though some pat the ash off and still eat it with the skin

Though this is not what we had hoped for our Spring Break, we can still try to make the best of it. You can view more of my tips for coping with stress, working from home, and how to persevere through this pandemic.