Surviving

What To Do When You Are Stuck in The House All Day – Ideas To Help You Survive

You may be stuck in the house all day for any number of reasons. For example, due to illness, having to provide child care or needing to wait for tradespeople. Perhaps you’ve just taken a day off, and the weather is too bad to venture outside.

Finding things to fill the day can be tricky, and it’s easy to give in and binge-watching TV, spend the day checking social media or raid the fridge every hour just to pass the time.

There is nothing wrong with lazing around in moderation, but you can end up feeling like you have wasted the day if you’ve been in the house all day and that is all you have done.

If you take the time to think and plan your day, you’ll find there is plenty you can do to keep yourself busy and entertained while in the house all day.

If you know you are going to have to spend all day at home sometime soon, then you have time to prepare now. Think about the things you would like to get done on that day and make sure you have everything you need when the day comes.

If that day is today and you have not had time to prepare, can’t leave the house and are looking for things to keep you occupied then it’s a little trickier but not impossible.

Take a little time to think and make a list of everything you would like to get done. It doesn’t matter if that list is too large to complete in a day as you’ll have a list of items you can refer to the next time you are at home all day or whenever you something to do in the future.

Choose some items from your list that you want to get done or feel you can get done in a day. You can pick through these items throughout the day when you want something to do. Alternatively, you can plan how and when you are going to get these items done.

Try not to pack too much in and risk not getting everything done and remember to make time to rest and eat. It’s better to get to the end of the day happy that you have achieved everything you wanted to do than feel you have not done what you intended to.

Don’t forget to tick the items off as you complete them. You’ll get a real and happy sense of achievement from knowing you have been productive and got things done.

If you are in the house all day on your own, then you can just do as you please throughout the day and not have to think about the needs of anyone else. But what if you are not alone?

Making Allowances

You may need to make allowances in the items you choose if you are in the house with grown-up children or other adults.

Bear in mind that they may have ideas about what they want to do, and some of their ideas may clash with yours.

Make sure they know what you are planning on doing all day. They can give you the space to get your things done, or you can choose to do different things. Of course, you may decide to do some things together.

You may be in the house all day with younger children who will need some attention or something to keep them occupied. If this is the case, then try to plan some fun activities for them throughout the day. Hopefully, this will keep them occupied, at least long enough for you to get some things done.

Being stuck in your home all day with a baby, or very young children will already take quite a considerable chunk out of your day. If you still want to get something done, then be realistic about what you can do.

You are likely to be restricted to their nap times or just ten minutes here and there, so plan accordingly. Alternatively, speak to family members or close friends and ask if they can care for your children for an hour or two while you get some things done.

If you are looking for a little inspiration, then these suggestions for things to do when you are stuck at home all day may help.

In the house alone?

If you are at home all day on your own, then you have no one to please other than yourself. As well as having time to do things you need to get done, you can also do the things you always want to do but never have because there are other people around.

It’s your time, so make the most of it.

Pamper yourself by taking a long relaxing bath.
Prepare your favourite meal or order your favourite takeout.
Catch up on the TV shows you have missed.
Put some music on and dance around the house.
Organize your wardrobe.
Learn something new online.
Research your next big purchase online.
Try a new exercise routine.
Start a craft project.
Look up travel destinations for your next holiday.

Do anything you want as long as it makes you happy and gets you through the day.

In the house with children?

When you have children and are stuck in the house all day, you either need to find something they enjoy doing to keep them engaged while you get on with what you want to do or join in the fun and spend quality time with them.

Ask them to create lists of things they enjoy doing or would like to do. Use their lists as ideas to help keep them busy and entertained throughout the day.

Here are some ideas that should help you get you started if you are struggling for ideas.

Create a series of challenges with rewards when they complete each challenge.
Give them some space in the kitchen to bake cookies or cakes.
Let them choose what’s for lunch then help them prepare it.
Hide objects around the house and give them clues to help find them.
Give them a list of objects to find, for example, “something shiny”, “Something Soft”, “Something Round”. The more items you add to the list, the longer it will take them to find. Most objects found wins a prize.
Get them to draw a picture or write a story about their perfect day.
Build a secret den somewhere in the house.
Give them some space in the garden so they can start growing their favourite fruit or vegetable.
Give them some dress-up clothes and ask them to put on a fashion show.
Challenge them to write you a song.

Of course, you could just put their favourite film or TV show on and provide popcorn and drinks. To make it a bit more special, pretend they are at the cinema and ask them what they would like to see, give them tickets to the show and take them to their seats.

In the house with a baby?

As already discussed, finding time to get things done when you have a baby or very young child can be tricky. With a little thought, planning and preparation, you can still get things done.

Pick some items from your list but bear in mind your baby’s needs and accept that even despite your best efforts, you may not get as much done as you want. Remember, there is always tomorrow if you can’t get everything done today.

You shouldn’t feel embarrassed or guilty to ask for help so speak to family, friends, neighbours, whoever you feel comfortable going to if you think you need help. They may be able to provide short term care for your child or deliver what you need.

And remember to make time for you. Don’t feel guilty about taking the occasional “lazy day” if that’s what you need. Sit down with your favourite drink or snack and put your favourite TV show or music on when you have the chance.