Humans weren’t built to sit inside for long periods of a time. If my dog is any indicator, solitude and immobility can cause negative physical and emotional repercussions. To combat a sedentary lifestyle, I compiled the following list of crafts, activities and chores. Hopefully they will keep your mind active as well.

• Spring Cleaning: Now more than ever, it’s time to clean out closets, drawers and every other untouched pile in your room. It is challenging to feel productive doing work solely on a computer. Physically pile clothes. Purge desks. Recycle loose leaf assignments from last year that have been collecting dust. You will instantly feel a sense of accomplishment. It’s a time-consuming but incredibly rewarding task.
• Open a window: Over the next few weeks, the weather is supposedly looking brighter. Cracking open a window will allow fresh air to cycle through your room, making it feel more clean.
• Take a walk: Not everything is different. Just because all Illinois residents are directed to stay home does not mean that you cannot go outside at all. Walk your dog, bike around the block, and enjoy the fresh air. However, please be mindful to keep six feet between yourself and others while outside in order to practice social distancing.
• DIY spa day: As Donna from “Parks and Recreation” would say, treat yo self! Spend a night pampering yourself even if no one else is going to see you. Wash your face. Paint your toenails. Style your hair. Throw on a facemask. A simple beauty task can completely alter your mood.
• Dress up for school: Yes, you are sitting at a computer for a few hours every day. That doesn’t mean you have to sit in your pajamas. Wear real clothes to activate your mind and self-confidence.
• Learn a new skill: You know that thing you’ve always wanted to get good at? Now you can! Here are some ideas for things you can learn: a card trick, the piano (limited to instrument availability), morse code, calculus, drawing, etc.
• Meditate for five minutes: Take the time to breath and focus your energy during the next couple of weeks. Meditation has numerous proven benefits according to the Mayo Clinic that improve health, and it doesn’t have to be for very long every day. Some recommended meditation apps include Calm and Headspace, but plenty of other sources exist if you decide to try meditating.
• Write letters to your friends: Texting is easy, which is why pencil and paper means so much more. On blank sheets of paper, write thank you cards, silly messages or cute drawings for your friends to enjoy. Postage costs money, but if you can drive around, dropping off letters is just as safe and enjoyable as mailing them through the United States Postal Service.
• Reuse old plastic water bottles: Plastic can only be recycled three times before its quality becomes too low. Rather than add to the increased garbage deposits, transform plastic bottles into craft projects. Some ideas for reusing plastic bottles: mini planters, school supply cups, piggy banks or other household decorations.
• Science experiments: Tired of your stereotypical volcano experiment? Other cool experiments that can keep you occupied during the break without too many household appliances include a soap-powered model boat or a balloon rocket.