Hey friends! Are you going crazy being inside? Because I am. I am not a homebody to begin with and this whole last month just solidified my dislike of being home all the time. But I have found a few ways to entertain myself, so I’m sharing them with you today in case you need some new ideas!

1. Marco Polo App

I download this app a week or so into quarantine and have loved playing around with it. It’s basically a video version of leaving voicemails for people – you can record and watch them when you want! It’s better than texting because it’s similar to face-to-face communication, and more convenient than a video call because you can respond whenever works best for you. Marco Polo has been a really fun tool to keep in touch with my friends and family – even my grandparents are using it! It’s definitely a fun app for these crazy times.

2. Kindle Paperwhite

I got a Kindle Paperwhite with some Christmas money and it was a GREAT investment. It’s inspired me to read more – I’ve already read 12 books this year! If you’re a big reader, the Paperwhite is great because it holds so many books, it’s water-resistant so you can read by the pool or in the bath, and the battery life is amazing. It’s so easy to get books on Kindle and they don’t take up space in your house! They currently have a deal where you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited when you purchase, which is gives you a whole library of free books.

3. Little Fires Everywhere

In lieu of hanging out in person, my friends and I decided to do a virtual book club, which has been a blast. Our first book was Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, which is #1 on Amazon charts. I haven’t seen the Hulu show yet, but I enjoyed the book. It started off a little slow, but then picked up and it was hard to limit myself to five chapters a week to stay with the rest of the book club. It’s only $10 on Kindle and will be sure to entertain you while at home. Here’s a little snippet from Amazon so you can get an idea of what it’s about:

“Set in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Little Fires Everywhere tells the story of Elena Richardson, a woman who thrives on structure and rules, and her family. When Mia Warren, an artist who has been living a nomadic lifestyle as a single mother with her daughter, Pearl, arrives in town, it threatens everything that Mrs. Richardson has known. Slowly, Mia becomes the enemy of Mrs. Richardson. Meanwhile, in another part of town, close friends of the Richardsons have adopted a Chinese-American baby, which results in a custody battle. When a fire breaks out in the Richardson home, the town is buzzing with their ideas on who the suspect is.”

4. The Chosen

This TV show is seriously AMAZING. It depicts Jesus’ ministry and gives you a glimpse into what he, the disciples, and other Bible characters could have been like. While I’m normally skeptical of shows like this because they tend to be super cheesy, this one was produced so well. In fact, it’s the most crowdfunded TV show ever, having raised $8 million! You can stream the first episode for free – I would highly recommend!

5. Room Escape App

This app is one I’ve been playing for several weeks. It mimics an escape room, but unlike most escape apps, it is actually challenging and the clues are a mix between overt and sneaky. The app is free and it really makes you think, so you don’t feel like you’re just playing another dumb phone game. And the best thing is that they have a TON of rooms, so you won’t go through it too quickly!

I hope some of these things will help keep you entertained as you’re home. Hope you all stay safe and healthy!