15 things to keep you entertained at home if you're quarantined
Beat the boredom with these must-haves.
Credit:
Roku/We Are Knitters
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Being quarantined at home due to the Coronavirus outbreak isn't a staycation or a fun few days off of work. In fact, after a day or two of being trapped inside, you realize it's actually pretty boring, not to mention very restrictive as to what you can actually do.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to entertain yourself when you're stuck at home—and none of them require you ever leaving your house. Below are 15 of our favorite things for curing your quarantine-induced cabin fever, from the number one e-reader to the best streaming device.
1. Our favorite Kindle
The Paperwhite is perfect for reading—and listening to—your favorite books.
A Kindle is a god-send when you're bored and looking for something to do. But which Kindle should you choose? Of all the ones we've tested, we like the Paperwhite the best. It has 24 different levels of illumination so you can read anytime, anywhere (i.e. in even the darkest room in your house) and it's waterproof so you can even take it in the tub with you. Bonus: It has the most storage by far of any Kindle so there's room for all of your books, audiobooks, and podcasts.
Get the Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon for $149.99
2. This expert-approved device for watching your favorite shows
The Roku remote even uses voice control so you can speak your requests.
Perhaps the best part about being forced to stay home is that you don't feel guilty watching five straight hours of 'The Office' reruns. To take your Netflix binge session to the next level, though, you'll need the Roku Ultra, which our experts dubbed the number one media streaming device. Not only does it have 4K- and HDR-compatibility along with an easy-to-use remote but it also offers all of the major streaming services, including Hulu, HBO, and even Apple TV.
Get the Roku Ultra from Amazon for $77.33
3. The best meal kit service
Meal kits like Home Chef can help you eat healthier this year.
What better time to try out all those recipes you've been eyeing up now that you have all the time in the world to be in your kitchen? And since you can't go to the grocery store, have a meal kit service deliver everything you need right to your home. Our favorite is Home Chef, because the ingredients are super fresh and high-quality and the recipes (which are delicious!) come with easy-to-follow instructions.
Try Home Chef starting at $6.99/meal
4. This wildly popular video game console
Game on.
Fact: Video games are not just for kids. Whether you're an adult looking for a little action-packed entertainment or a family of four who wants a little group gaming action, the Nintendo Switch is the answer to your "I'm so bored" prayers. With plenty of games right at your fingertips, the console itself can also be split into two wireless controllers (for multi-player games) and the battery can last up to nine straight hours before needing to be recharged.
Get the Nintendo Switch from Amazon for $299
5. This hilarious coloring book
For adults only.
Adult coloring books are all the rage right now—and for good reason. They're entertaining and surprisingly calming. While there are plenty to choose from, this one comes highly-rated on Amazon, with over 3,800 positive reviews. People love the hilariously snarky pages with pictures that are moderate to difficult (they'll keep your brain busy!) and captions like "Home is where the vodka is" and "Suck it up buttercup."
Get 'Calm the F*ck Down: An Irreverent Adult Coloring Book' from Amazon for $4.99
6. This top-rated yoga mat
You can't go wrong with Lululemon.
Tempting as it may be to just lay on the couch all day, a little movement can do your body (and your brain) good. I.e. get your butt up and roll out your yoga mat. We recommend this one from Lululemon because it's non-slip (you won't worry about painfully sliding out of your downward dog) and provides just the right amount of cushioning while you work out.
Get the Lululemon Reversible Mat from Lululemon for $68
7. This streaming service everyone's obsessed with
You can't go wrong with a Disney+ binge-watching session.
Netflix is great but Disney+ is currently all the rage. The new streaming service is perfect for Disney fans, as it offers a vast library of entirely family-friendly entertainment, including animated Walt Disney classics, Pixar films, Star Wars, and Marvel movies. Bonus: All of the content is entirely ad-free.
8. This challenging but gorgeous puzzle
Keep your hands (and your brain) busy.
No matter what picture, piece count, or difficulty level you prefer, there's a jigsaw puzzle out there for everyone. But one of the most popular ones on Amazon is this 1,000-piece one (it has nearly 2,000 reviews), which features a colorful European panorama. People who've bought it rave that the puzzle itself is high-quality (i.e. the pieces are cut to fit together flawlessly) and that the finished product is breathtaking.
Get the Buffalo Games 1,000-Piece Cinque Terre Jigsaw Puzzle from Amazon for $13.99
9. This kit for anyone who loves arts and crafts
Inside a We Are Knitters kit, you get yarn, needles, sewing needs, and pattern instruction.
You know how you've always wanted to learn how to knit but never had the time? Now you do. And this box can help you do it. One of our staff members tested out We Are Knitters and not only had a blast doing it but successfully knitted her very own scarf in just a week. She says she especially liked that the everything was included in the box and that the patterns were both stylish and easy to understand.
10. This bubble bath must-have
Who doesn't love a colorful, glittery bubble bath?
A nice long soak in the bath tub is one of those luxuries you can rarely afford during your busy day-to-day life. But when you're stuck at home, you suddenly have the time to #treatyourself. And for that, you'll need one of these fragrant and fizzy bath bombs. Their name says it all—according to reviewers, they really are "da bomb." People like that they come in a variety of delicious scents and that they don't leave any residue on your tub.
Get Da Bomb Bath Bomb from Amazon for $4.99
11. This service that delivers books right to your doorstep
Book of the Month will help you achieve your goal of reading more.
Meet Book of the Month, the service that makes it possible for you to get all of your favorite reads without stepping foot outside of your house. Not only can you can choose up to three books per month (from new best-sellers to classics), but all of the books are vetted and reviewed by other readers to help you curate your selection.
Try Book of the Month starting at $15/month
12. The number one tablet
We love the 2019 Apple iPad the most.
Between all your favorite apps (hello, hours of YouTube cat videos) and access to endless Internet browsing, there's really no way you can be bored if you have an iPad. We chose it as the best tablet you can buy because it has great battery life and top-quality software along with the largest library of apps, media, and more. Plus, it has a great camera (perfect for stuck-at-home selfies) and a bright screen that makes watching Netflix in bed even better.
Get the Apple iPad (2019) from Amazon for $359.99
13. This lamp for doing your nails
A gel manicure at home? Yes, please.
You might not be able to go to the salon for a mani/pedi but you can bring the salon to you with this genius lamp, which claims to give you a spa-worthy manicure at home. One of our own editors tried it out for herself and says it works like a charm. It works with every type of gel nail polish, has a wide opening to reduce the risk of smudging, and can set polish in as little as 30 seconds.
Get the Sun2C LED Nail Dryer Lamp from Amazon for $29.98
14. This 'magic' cleaning tool
Tiny but mighty.
You literally have no excuse not to clean your house when you're stuck there—and honestly, it's one of the most productive ways you can pass the time. One of our favorite cleaning products is the Magic Eraser. Our smart home editor swears by it, calling it her number one weapon against grime. She says the tiny eraser can handle everything from scuff marks to week-old spills and is oddly satisfying to use all over your house.
Get the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (9-Pack) from Amazon for $6.97
15. This highly entertaining board game
Challenge everyone to a little friendly competition.
If you're stuck at home with your family or roommates (i.e. any other humans), board games could be exactly what you need to prevent death by boredom (or death by annoyed, cabin-fever-struck housemate). One of the most popular games out there right now is Codenames, which has nearly 7,000 reviews on Amazon. My family plays it whenever we get together and it's incredibly fun for people of all ages. It's the perfect balance of competitive and enjoyable and never fails to keep us entertained for hours.