Over a year has passed since the infamous March 13th. At first, many of us were looking forward to getting two weeks off of school to relax and binge-watch TV shows; but as time went on, we realized that this originally exciting two-week break had turned into a year of sorrow, boredom, and stress. It feels as though every day is the same and probably for the first time, we long to finally go back to school. We see hope through the millions of people getting vaccinated, however, there is still uncertainty as to exactly when life will go back to normal. Until then, here are 5 pretty unique things I have done over quarantine that cured my boredom.  

1. Cook a 3-course meal 

Whether you’re an experienced cook or not, this is the perfect activity to get yourself moving and impress your family. Although cooking a full multi-course meal is a lot of work, seeing people’s reaction when you serve it to them is priceless. If you’re stuck and don’t know what to cook, look up the menu of your favorite restaurant and try to find their recipes online! Listening to music in the background and cooking all afternoon is an incredible feeling, and especially when you taste your one-of-a-kind creation, it’ll be worth it. And it’s also okay if you almost burned down your kitchen. It’s the memories that you create while doing this that make it unforgettable. 

2. The Drive and Listen Website 

When I first heard about this website, I was doubtful that looking at my computer any longer would make me feel better, but this website took me by surprise. You can choose a city from anywhere in the world and listen to the local radio station while driving in the streets. This was not only a relaxing experience, but it also opened my eyes to what life was like in cities that I’ve never heard of. 

3. Create designs and sell them 

Creating designs is something I never thought I’d be interested in until I saw a Youtube video explaining how easy it is to start your own online shop. A website that I recommend to start selling your own designs on t-shirts, hoodies, hats, stickers and more, is Redbubble. On this website, you have to upload a design you created(it could be hand-drawn) and then choose which article(s) of clothing or stickers you want to sell your design on. It’s as simple as that! At first, it’s difficult to get customers, but as you create more designs, you’ll watch your sales increase.  

4. Do a 1000 piece puzzle

This might sound extremely tedious, especially when already bored, but trust me. Playing a nostalgic TV show or movie in the background while sitting and doing a puzzle, is one of the most relaxing feelings you’ll experience. If you’ve felt particularly unmotivated over the past year, finishing this puzzle will make you feel accomplished and challenge you to be patient. There are also options to choose a puzzle of an album, movie, or scenery of your choice. 

5. Find expensive art on the internet and recreate it! 

I’m no artist myself, but attempting to recreate expensive art is something I always enjoy doing. You don’t have to be Van Goh or Picasso to replicate a multi-million-dollar art piece. These days, modern art can be as simple as a splatter of color on a canvas. You can also use a color scheme that matches a room in your house and hang it up for display. Painting is a great way to relax and explore your creativity.