10 ways to beat coronavirus boredom in the comfort of your own home in Charlotte

Who’s bored yet? OK, yes, pretty much everyone. But we’re all doing the right thing by staying inside in our pajamas all day. North Carolina officials have said our stay-at-home orders are working, and the outbreak of COVID-19 may peak with fewer deaths than originally feared.

At the same time, national officials have reminded us that now we must really buckle down and stay at home to crack down on spreading the novel coronavirus. It’s a daunting thought after a few solid weeks of sitting on the couch, burning through all your must-watch tv and movie recommendations.

Shannon Evans, co-owner of Nailed It DIY, said, “I think it’s important to recognize that what we are all dealing with is intense. We’re all in the same storm but in different boats. Our minds all need to find the space they need to process this in a way that we find a center and some peace.

“If you need to sit in your pjs all day and watch tv to escape things for a little, do it. Our minds need different things at different times, which is why we are so blessed to be in the business of DIY. One thing we’ve been able to recognize is that there is a benefit for people when they have the opportunity to receive a structured creative experience.”

Nailed It and other local companies can offer ways for you to stretch your creative muscles through kits, bundles, virtual parties and take-and-make items. You can also treat yourself to a coffee delivery or have a FaceTime cocktail hour. Dress up with your roommate, significant other or family members — whoever you’re sheltering with — and celebrate life with a dinner you don’t have to cook. Or spruce up your spring wardrobe, even if it’s just to add a fashionable face mask to wear to the grocery store.

There’s still time to salvage your spring. We’ve compiled a list of several things you can do to stay busy on your own property to get through the weeks ahead.

(1) APPRECIATE THE ARTS

You can browse the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art’s collection, learn about exhibiting artists at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture or dig into Charlotte’s past with the Brooklyn exhibit at the Levine Museum of the New South. The Mint Museum also offers ideas for getting creative at home away from your computer screen, along with a variety of things to read, watch and listen in its “Museum from Home” programming. You can even travel to your favorite museum — virtually, of course.

(2) COOK A MEAL

Learn to cook a meal for yourself. Not only will you reduce your risk of exposing yourself to germs, but you’ll also be able to impress your next date or girls’ night with your culinary skills. Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen is offering virtual classes on making dumplings, biscuits, falafel and more for only $15. If you’re not ready to jump right in, start halfway with a $16 do-it-yourself arepa and empanada kit from Sabor, complete with video tutorial.

If you’re feeling under the weather, let a delivery like Amazon Prime or Instacart pick up your groceries. To keep us safe from the coronavirus, several delivery companies are offering options to drop groceries at your door and walk away, so you don’t even have to see a human. Pro tip: even if you didn’t see a human, one still touched your groceries. Make sure to not only clean your hands after putting groceries away, but leave a bigger tip than usual. They’re navigating the germy public for you.

(3) FIND A NEW FAVORITE PODCAST

Become a walking encyclopedia of fun facts by catching up on podcasts. Local podcasters cover everything from fashion to sports, local music to politics. By just listening to one episode a day, you’ll be ready to ace trivia and wow your friends with all the fun new things you’ve learned.

(4) GET A HEAD START ON GARDENING

Dive into spring by nesting in your backyard or apartment patio. Check out gardening tips via the Charlotte Observer or get inspired by the insta pages of Blackhawk Hardware or Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. You can even order plants online or by phone for delivery or curbside pickup at Pike Nurseries. If you put in a little work, you can harvest tasty vegetables and enjoy beautiful flowers by the time the coronavirus pandemic passes.

(5) LEARN SOMETHING NEW

You swear you “aren’t creative,” but you have always wanted to learn to paint? Are you relying on the intern to help you use Photoshop or Illustrator at work? Use your social distancing time to learn a new skill using in-home video lessons from programs such as Skillshare. These tutorials come at a lower price than in-person classes — and no one else has to witness your growing pains. SkillPop has also added new, 90-minute SkillPop Anywhere classes so you can learn about DIY hacks, blogging basics, watercolor techniques and more for $20 each.

(6) LET YOUR CREATIVITY FLOW

Not everyone is naturally creative, but several Charlotte businesses can help with that by putting together everything you need for a project. Anders Ruff Design, Nailed It DIY and Wine & Design Charlotte all have take-home kits available by pickup or delivery to help stave away the cabin fever, with prices varying by project. You can spend an hour or so creating something special to you and end up with a custom piece perfect for decorating your home or gifting to grandma (by mail, or when this is all over, of course).

(6) PUT TOGETHER A PUZZLE

You’ve seen the pictures flowing through your feed — everyone is doing it right now. Puzzles are back, and you’ve probably got plenty of time to clear off the table and get to work. You can get curbside pickup of 1,000-piece puzzles featuring beautiful floral scenes, works from van Gough, Monet and Manet, or even one of the Charlotte skyline from Paper Skyscraper. Plus, there’s games and Lego Architecture sets there, too. At CLTCH, you can get curbside puzzle pickup or delivery of brightly colored 500-piece and 1,000-piece puzzles of birds, famous women and even the zodiac.

(7) MARIE KONDO YOUR HOUSE (AND SOCIAL MEDIA)

Take this time to reorganize your life and remove anything that does not “spark joy.” Declutter, redecorate and refresh your home while you’re waiting out the coronavirus. Just pile everything in a corner for donation later — Goodwill locations are begging Charlotte-area residents not to pile up trash outside while they are closed. You can also do the same thing to your social media feed. Instead of arguing with the same difficult acquaintance (how do you know them again, anyway?) or following pages that make you feel like you don’t measure up, just unfollow to focus your energy on positive news and accounts.

(8) READ A BOOK

Order online from independent bookstore Park Road Books for curbside pickup of a national bestseller or a novel by a local author. E-books and audiobooks are also available from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library for free with your library card. You can even coordinate with your friends and set up a FaceTime book club if you don’t want to read alone.

(10) TRY A BACKYARD WORKOUT

Don’t worry if a fancy Peloton isn’t in your budget, you can find a workout online. Several local studios allow you to stream classes in the comfort of your own home for free or for a fee much lower than the cost of attending a class. You can even take it outside to the backyard — and bring a towel or mat — for a change of scenery. If you need inspiration, a man in England ran a marathon in his backyard, and a man in France ran one on his balcony. Surely you can manage a HIIT workout or a yoga class — just don’t forget your sunscreen and water bottle.