Indoor Activities to Start Now for Retirement Life

As the COVID-19 spreads, our regular routines of going to work, eating at restaurants, visiting friends and family and more are no longer doable. As states and countries continue to issue stay-at-home orders, we have had to transition our routines from outside to inside. You may feel disheartened and if you’re retired, you may be thinking of new ways to spend your newfound free time indoors. There are several ways to stay happy and healthy indoors. As you’re preparing for your new retirement routine, these are the best indoor activities to do.

Indoor Fitness Classes and Outdoor Activities

Yoga

One physical activity that you can do both indoors and outdoors is yoga. Yoga is a great activity to try and practice during an uncertain time like this. Yoga has been proven to reduce anxiety and stress and boost your mood and self-esteem. As long as you have an empty floor and space inside your home or outside, you can do yoga.

You can follow alongside free yoga classes online such as from Yoga and Adriene or CorePower Yoga On Demand. Spend any extra free time you have during the day practicing yoga and make a difference in yourself and your routine. Namaste.

Zumba

If you’re looking for a way to boogie and have some fun while in quarantine, Zumba is the perfect activity. Zumba is a form of dance fitness and a great activity to do with a partner whether it be your spouse, child, or grandchild. Those that were evacuated from Wuhan, China, and quarantined at an air base in Riverside County, California, passed the time with Zumba. 

There are great Zumba resources on YouTube to help you get started for free, such as from POPSUGAR Fitness and STRONG by Zumba.

Go on a Walk

If you’re starting to feel like you have cabin fever or are itching to change your setting, go on a walk around your house or neighborhood. Walking outside is a great way to clear your mind, boost your mood, relieve pressure, and get some activity in your day. Remember to wear a protective mask and maintain a social distance from anyone you may encounter on your walk. 

After your walk, don’t forget to stretch. Stretching helps with flexibility and is recommended to be done two or three times a week.

Online or Remote Education

Learn a New Language

Now is the perfect time to either learn a new language or freshen up on a language you already know. Spanish? French? Italian? Mandarin? The possibilities are endless. One of the best resources to help you learn a new language is Duolingo. You can use Duolingo on the computer, or download the app from your mobile app store. Get started and impress your friends and family the next time you see them. Ciao, Hola, Salut!

Take or Teach a Class

In addition to learning a new language, you can take this time to learn anything you want. There are several educational courses you can take online from baking bread to learning how to make your own website. Taking an online class and setting goals for yourself is a great way to motivate yourself and remain productive during quarantine. 

Explore the vast selection of classes on Skillshare, Udemy, Teachable, and even Youtube. 

Conversely, if you have a skill that you would like to share with the world, you could spend quarantine teaching others. Due to closures of schools and businesses, many people and companies are looking for remote workers. Sign up to tutor on Outschool or take on a remote job such as answering medical hotline questions, if you’re a medical professional. 

Virtual Museums and Operas

Although you may be spending your time indoors, you can still keep in touch with and explore the world around you. From the comfort of your own home, you can do a virtual tour at the British Museum in London or The Louvre in Paris. There are 30 great virtual tours you can experience at home. If you’re a fan of the opera, The Metropolitan Opera in New York City is hosting nightly opera streams. 

Retirement Bootcamp

If you’re in or close to retirement, consider taking the extra time you have to educate yourself on all-things retirement. During this period of uncertainty and volatility, it’s especially important to strategize your retirement plan for the future. For example, learn about your future healthcare plans like Medicare or calculate your Social Security benefits through retirement apps and online resources.

Entertainment and Streaming Services

Movies and TV

If there’s a TV show your friends have been bugging you to start, or a new movie you’ve been eager to watch, now’s the time to do it. 

With streaming services such as Hulu available, there are thousands of TV shows and movies to choose from. Whether you watch something new like Little Fires Everywhere or rewatch one of your favorites like This is us on Hulu, watching entertainment is a great way to spend your time indoors. You can also go on Fandango to see what the latest movies are and what their reviews are. And if you’re a sports-lover, head to ESPN to rewatch some classic games.

Books

Now is also a great time to start a new book. The New York Times Best Sellers’ list includes e-books that you can purchase directly. There are apps that connect with public libraries for you to do digital check-outs where the books sync directly to your phone or tablet. Or, pick up a book off your bookshelf that you just haven’t gotten around to reading yet. 

Podcasts

Another great form of entertainment that you can indulge yourself in while indoors is a podcast. Whether you’re an avid podcaster listener, or have never listened to one before, start listening to a new podcast. Listening to podcasts also helps you stay up to date on current events, the latest news, and pop culture. There are podcasts about everything – cooking, mysteries, storytelling, sports, movies, and much more. You can also try starting your own podcast, if you’re up for the challenge.

Music

Music, whether it’s listening to music or playing music, has been proven to improve mental health, boost your mood, and decrease stress and anxiety. 

If you’re working from home, try listening to music while you do so if it’s not too distracting. Playing music out loud may not be possible in your office, so take advantage of working from home by playing music. Having background music, which can be streamed from sites such as SiriusXM, can also help relieve any stress and make your day more exciting. 

Picking up an old instrument or singing are also great ways to use music to improve your time indoors. Playing an instrument or singing is also a fun way to improve your mood, stimulate your brain, and connect with others. Choose your favorite song, sing and/or play along. 

Productivity Around the House

Cooking

As restaurants and bars continue to close, try stepping up your home-cooking. Try a new recipe from one of your cookbooks at home, or try adding a spin on a familiar dish with a new spice or ingredient. Additionally, there are several YouTube channels, such as Bon Appétit or Gordon Ramsay’s YouTube channel, that can help you cook simple and healthy meals. Cooking is also a fun activity to do with those you live with and create  great memories. 

If you’re looking for a day off from cooking, support a local business and order one of your favorite meals from UberEats. And if you’re looking to wine and dine throughout quarantine, use Wine.com to order some of your favorite bottles of wine. 

Cleaning

Deep clean your home to disinfect and protect yourself and those who live with you from the coronavirus. It has been proven to make you happier and healthier. Put on your favorite music playlist, get your cleaning supplies, and start cleaning. You can also add a finishing touch on your clean house by ordering a bouquet of flowers from UrbanStems. 

Organizing and Storing

Similarly to cleaning, now is a great time to organize your household and add items to storage. If you come across items that may be cluttering your home, put them in a large box for storage. You can also take this time to stow your winter items as spring and summer are approaching. 

In addition, if you’re looking to declutter, try selling items on eBay for extra money in your pocket. You can also use eBay to purchase home goods at a discount if you’re looking for new items. 

As you are creating and getting used to your new routine indoors, try incorporating these activities to help you improve your mood and relieve any anxiety or stress. Make your quarantine enjoyable and productive while preparing for your future retirement.