Cool Brainstorm Challenge: things to do while homebound!

[Peony]

Hi!

I have a cool challenge for us

What kinds of things can we do when we have to stay home often... *I need some ideas!

   
• Games on computer
• Knitting
• Baking
• Audiobook (when need eyes closed)
• Play with my pet
• More?

Thanks!Peony

[Joe S.]

"The same thing that we do every night, try to take over the world". From the cartoon "Pinky and the Brain"

I watched Cartoons with my kids when they were small. I have watched Anime also. So much TV so little time in the day. Then you add all of the radio shows until now I do not know that I will get through it all.

Food, make jewlery, Build UFO for two, make wine or beer, write a novel, scrap book.

There are lists on the internet that have several hundred ideas.

[irish]

Clean dentures, put drops in eyes, put Restasis in eyes, irrigate nose, do nebulizer and vest, take pills, use inhalers---after all this is done I need to sit down and have a cup of decaf.

Also, crochet, read, crossword puzzles, drink more fluids, fix meals, wash clothes, occasionally attempt to do some housework. Rest a lot. Shop for groceries and then rest a lot the next day.

Watch House Hunters, Everybody Loves Raymond, shows on Alaska and Diners, Divas and Dives. Otherwise I manage to forgo the reality shows.

Oh, read the newspaper. I love my daily paper.

You just do whatever you want ot feel like you can do at the time. Things change from time to time. Good luck to all. Irish

[Winnie]

What if you could visit a local nursing home and ask the staff if you could "adopt" a resident.  Some elderly are very lonely and have no one visiting them.  This would be a great and rewarding thing to do.  Sit, talk and enjoy each others company.......

Winnie 

[Peony]

Thanks for the kind suggestions!

I thought this could be a One-stop-shop list of ideas for those of us who cannot get out and about!

A reminder list of things that create joy when folks are a little down and home bound   I figure if we got a list of little things like 100 then folks could go "oh yes! I can do that!"

Any more ideas and inspirations? Keep em coming! 

[4Kids]

You can make playdough easily for the little ones in your life.  I can post the recipe if anybody wants.

I make a lot of bread with my KitchenAid. It saves us a lot of money, isn't hard, takes up most of the day, and is delicious. I bake A LOT.

You can start bedding plants--that is a very rewarding activity that is easy, light, and you can gift the little plants or grow them and have something to take care of. I also save seeds.

In my life, with my kids, and the animals, and yard (farm), and the constant mess, I am never at a loss as to what to do.  I bake, I wash laundry, I go through and wrestle with bunk beds and washing those sheets (work up a sweat doing that!), I am still unpacking from our move  and I hate organizing, and I always like to research what I am doing.  I crochet and try to quilt, although rarely really have time. Sometimes I sew little projects like owl shaped bean bags for the microwave for sore legs at night. I read with the kids and watch TV sometimes with them.

I go places like the grocery store and the bulk barn (bulk dry goods). I make soap and laundry detergent and read.

And plan...  I plan a lot.

Burn candles if you like scented things.

Clean your car!  lol.  I HATE CLEANING THE CAR.

Really, the kids keep me so busy that I rarely have many minutes and when I do, I am on the computer.  Lol!

[irish]

I have to stay away from hospitals and nursing homes at this point and time because as my doctor says "there are sick people there". I worked in hospitals and nursing homes much of my life and with my low t-cells I am supposed to stay away from infections.

There are other things we can do for others though. We can make quilts, lap robes for nursing home patients, make up little clothing packages for babies or toddlers to give out at the holidays from churches, thrift centers., etc.

Not everything always involves close contact with others. It would be fun, but many of us have hearing problems and other health issues that prevent this. Right now I am hitting sales and buying up sleepers, socks, other little baby items and will wrap them for give away for Christmas. I only paid 75 cents for some of the items.

We can also make up food packets for people also. I am hoping to give some through a church so that they will be able to see that people who really need things get them. Sometimes the elderly don't always get what they can use. Good luck to all. Irish

[Meld256]

Peony,
Good idea for the brainstorm  

You're right. Being at home often can get a little boring at times, at least for me. Then I realize I have all kinds of things I actually have time for now.

I learned to make some danish pastry recently-something I miss and can't find in my area (not that I need it!) But they are sooo good.

I sew quilts or small things for the house like pillows for the couch or chairs. I try to find new things to cook that are as healthy as possible, and something different than the standard fare.

Irish,
That's a great idea to pick up small items for babies and others for gifts. I've meant to make lap quilts for a local nursing home and have not gotten around to it, so something else to put on my to-do list.

Our local grocery does a nice thing about once a month. They have a mesh bag already filled with staples such as pasta, tuna, canned fruit, peanut butter to buy and they suggest your local food bank, church or give to an elderly neighbor.  They have a sign and all the bags ready to go near the check-out; cool idea.

[Nancy60]

I found a cool website that has brain games to keep your brain flexible and active.  I went to it frequently when I was home on medical disability.  It is luminosity.org  I enjoyed doing it for short sessions (10-15 minutes at a time), 

[LittleBlue]

*Learn a new language, by audio (or even online)
*Get yourself an aquarium, and build it up with lovely fish and plants. They are theraputic. Lovely to look at at night, with the lights in it. You dont necessarily have to have a tropical fish tank, you can get some lovely cold water varieties.
*Do you family tree online, and make a family scrapbook.
*Start listening to classical music, especially those compilations for children, they are lovely. I love music such as the dance of the sugar plum fairy, or the Hedgewigs theme from Harry Potter.
*Listen to the audio recordings of things such as 'the snow goose' and read the book, or if you like a touch of sci-fi theres' the war of the worlds'.
*Jigsaws, and 3d model jigsaws. The 3 D models seem to be the latest rage. My daughter has a globe one and loved it.
*Write poetry, try haiku! Join a writers or poetry forum online and make friends.
*Enter every competition you can. You may win!
*Floristy displays for your home or family. Or try growing and drying your own herbs.
*Start a collection of something. Display it and catalogue it.
*Digital photograhy/video. Learn to put togeather your own movies on the computer. I did one including the whole family (kids, babies and pets as well), complete with audio recordings, photos, songs and art work for my Mum's 70th birthday, and put it all on disc for her in one compilation. It was like a theme of her whole life.
*Encourage wildlife to your garden, make a habitat for them, and document it with a journal of photos etc...
*My sister started doing Bonsai trees.
*Polymer clay projects are good. It sets in the oven, and great to use. You can make jewellery even.
*Origami. Not my thing, but I swear my young daughter is brilliant at making swan shaped serviettes! lol

[slccom]

You can place phone calls to other shut-ins. Sharon

[Piebird]

  I have a great way to spend my time 

craft craft craft

I make crafts and donate them to the local animal shelter. The shelter sells them at craft sales and the money goes to the animals.

Also, I make blankets and donate them too. These can be knitted or crocheted. I make them from small squares so it is not overwhelming. And it is a great way to try new stitches.

Making things to donate makes me feel like I still have some use in the world.

Also, it is something I can pick up and put down whenever I have a spare few minutes.

And best of all, it is a project that can be finished. Laundry, cooking and dishes are never finished. It takes me so long to do chores that they are always ongoing.

[Peony]

OH my how delightful what GREAT suggestions!   
Will print these out
I just love how different minds can come together and just bounce ideas off one another!
Thank you,
Peony

[Gayle]

This is a great place isn't it?! All of you sharing such great ideas. I feel better now than I have in weeks! Just reading this made my body and mind and heart happy! I love you all!

Gayle

[Uvgotgail]

Love the ideas, especially when nothing is clicking in the brain that day I see options for good and not so good days, thanks!