Of all the many stay-at-home hobbies, which are the easiest for the impatient beginner? Which are least likely to annoy our family or neighbors? And, maybe most important, which are fascinating enough to last?
To help you choose, check out our guide to the pandemic pastimes with the most staying power.
Why: Checking “War and Peace” and “Moby Dick” off your bucket list will give you smarty pants bragging rights at your next Zoom happy hour.
How hard is it: These classics are rated as “readable” by high school students, so it shouldn’t be that tough.
Why: What can beat the smell of fresh baked bread?
How hard is it: It’s a bit like conducting a chemistry experiment. The results are best when you follow instructions, are precise in your measurements, control the temperature and master your technique.
Why: Exercising outdoors by yourself or in the privacy of your home is a comparatively safe activity during the pandemic. And because we need to work off all that fresh baked bread, there’s been a boom in biking, inline skating and home workouts.
How hard is it: You never forget how to ride a bike, but be prepared for some aches and pains if you overdo it. Oh, and dumbbells are as hard to find as Clorox wipes.
Why: Being stuck at home is probably making a lot of us eager to see foreign lands someday.
How hard is it: Apps like Babbel and Duolingo make it cheap and easy to get started in an abundance of different languages.
Why: We’ve all acquired a bit of a prepper mind-set since the pandemic hit. The idea of starting a vegetable garden and keeping chickens sounds better than masking up and facing shortages at the grocery store.
How hard is it: You can weed, water and fertilize, but you may find it hard to beat supermarket quality and prices. Also, you’ll have to wait a while for your first cucumber or egg to arrive.
Why: You’ll feel like you’re making a difference in a difficult time if you volunteer to churn out a few dozen cloth masks.
How hard is it: You might have to drop a few hundred dollars to get a decent sewing machine. And there’s a bit of a learning curve. Thread tension? Bobbin winders? The Singer Start 1304, a beginner model, has a 73-page manual and a 30-item troubleshooting guide.
Why: Now that you’re home a lot, you may look around and wonder, “Why do I have all this stuff?” Especially as your house fills up with board games, jigsaw puzzles, musical instruments and sewing paraphernalia.
How hard is it: Closings and high demand during the pandemic made it hard to find a place to donate stuff. But the garbage service hasn’t stopped. Or maybe you can try to host a socially distant garage sale.
As virus cases skyrocket in several parts of the country, here's a refresher on the basics for preventing the spread COVID-19.
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