7 things you can do at home if you are staying in on the weekend

Staying at home doesn't sound like the most fun thing to do over the weekend. However, with Singapore still battling the Covid-19 virus outbreak, it is probably a good idea to avoid crowded areas so that you can minimise contact with people.

If you are stumped for things to do at home and worry that you will feel bored and cooped up, here are seven ideas that you can try out to make the most of your time staying in on the weekend.

PICK UP A NEW SKILL

Always wanted to pick up a new skill but haven't gotten around to doing it? Now is this perfect time to do so. Be it learning how to knit, bullet-journal, dance or picking up new make-up techniques, you can find all sorts of tutorials for free on YouTube.

You can also take online classes on learning community Skillshare. They focus on inspiring people and teaching them how to create and express themselves. You can find lessons on a wide range of topics including design, photography, writing and illustration.

If you are interested in learning a new language, you can use apps like Duolingo that offer bite-sized lessons, or italki, where you can have 1-on-1 lessons over video chat with teachers from around the world.

CATCH UP ON YOUR READING

When was the last time you had time to sit down with a good book? If you are not heading out on the weekend, it is the perfect opportunity to start on the book that you have been eyeing or finish up a current read.

Don't have any good books on hand? Besides downloading these reading apps, you can also make use of the NLB Mobile app and start borrowing ebooks from the comfort of your own home. The National Library Board has a huge selection of ebooks, including the latest and most popular titles.

You won't have to worry about late fines as the ebooks will be automatically returned after its due date. You can also borrow audiobooks to listen to while doing other things if you want to multi-task while finishing a book.

If you are keen on listening to more stories, you can head over to Spotify and listen to fiction podcasts like Welcome To Night Vale or documentary podcasts like Criminal.

BINGE-WATCH YOUR FAVOURITE SHOWS

Staying home gives you the prefect opportunity to catch up on shows on your watch list. Netflix alone has plenty of options including the just-finished highly-popular Kdrama Crash Landing On You and Netflix’s first reality fashion show Next in Fashion.

However, you can also check out other on-demand streaming services for even more titles.

Viu offers Asian content with a strong library of Korean dramas, variety shows, and movies including the Oscar-winning Parasite, meWATCH is for those who prefer local fare (Kin, anyone?), and hayu. is for reality tv fans who enjoy watching tons of drama on The Real Housewives franchise or shows featuring America’s First Reality Family, the Kardashians.

DECLUTTER YOUR ROOM

If your room is messy and full of items that you don't even remember buying, this is a good time to declutter. Open up every closet, cupboard and drawer and get rid of stuff that you no longer want or need.

Then, organise everything that you have chosen to keep in an orderly manner so that you will be able to see what you have easily.

Not only will your room look neat, your mind will also feel more relaxed in a tidy space. You can even consider placing crystals to give your room more good vibes.

If you need organisation ideas or are also keen on revamping your room or changing its aesthetic, you can browse Pinterest or indulge your inner voyeur and watch videos of people giving tours of their rooms on YouTube for inspiration.

PLAY GAMES

Always nagging bae for playing too much games? Why not take the chance to join him? You can team up with him to play co-op games like Mario Kart or Overcooked, get scared together while playing horror games like Until Dawn, or make him play cute games like Disney TSUM TSUM FESTIVAL with you.

If you don't have game consoles at home or prefer playing games alone, try out Apple Arcade, a games subscription service that gives you access to over 100 mobile games for a monthly fee.

You can take advantage of the free trial period to see what's on offer. From casual games to big titles, you are bound to find something that will pique your interest.

WORK OUT

Being at home doesn't mean that you are unable to exercise. You can still have workout sessions by following routines on fitness apps or exercise videos. If you haven't been active in a while and want to start getting fit, working out at home is also a good place to start building up your stamina.

For those who have a Nintendo Switch console at home, you can get the Ring Fit Adventure set if you need extra motivation to exercise. Combining fitness and fun, you can score points and battle monsters while doing work out routines that will get more and more intense as you progress in the game.

LEARN NEW RECIPES

Since you are staying in, why not cook your own meals instead of ordering food delivery? You can take the chance to expand your cooking repertoire by trying out new dishes in the kitchen.

You can look up recipes on websites like Tasty and allrecipes, or if you prefer cooking local dishes and desserts, Noob Cook or eatwhattonight are good places to start. YouTube is also a treasure trove of cooking videos and you can definitely find cooking demonstrations of almost any recipe that you can think of.

This article was first published in CLEO Singapore.