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Indulge in these activities during quarantine

Already bored of staying in all day? Try these.
Indulge in these activities during quarantine

Have you already binge watched your favorite show and reorganized your room countless times? For those looking to add some excitement to quarantine, look no further.

1. Bullet journaling 

For students still in school via Canvas or online, bullet journaling is a fun, helpful way to stay organized under stress and in isolation.

What you’ll need: Micron pens, colored highlighters or metallic pens are good starting points for supplies. You can start with a notebook you already have, or you can try this Moleskin, or this Leuchtterm one. 

Where to start: Bullet journaling is also a helpful way to log sleep, water intake, workout times and keep track of mood swings. Some hobbyists also use it to track a budget or recipes and grocery lists for upcoming weeks. Get creative with it!

2. Make a mug cake

What you’ll need: Anyone who has a mug and a microwave has what it takes to make a mug cake. 

Where to start: Food Network has a great chocolate cake recipe, and “Tastes Better from Scratch” has a tasty vanilla cake recipe. Swirl in Nutella, sprinkles or chocolate chunks for some added flair. Or, simply top with some maple syrup or powdered sugar. Mug cakes are a fantastic addition to an evening binge-watching session or game night. 

3. Do an online yoga class  

What you’ll need: If you did not have the time or money to sink into a gym membership before, grab a mat and a laptop and challenge yourself to some online yoga classes. 

Where to start: Though they lack the benefits of a physical teacher, good online instructors will often give pointers on form while they are leading watchers through a flow. Yoga with Tim instructs classes for all skill levels, and Popsugar has a fantastic 30-minute course for beginners that stretches and works every muscle for a good endorphin boost. 

4. Find a new book to read

Every college student has heard the age-old excuse that with all the work and extracurriculars they are involved in, there is simply no time to read for pleasure. Now, there are no more excuses. Books can satisfy your longing for adventure while you are trapped inside the house, immersing you in a vast, imaginative world. Whether you crave excitement, knowledge or wisdom, the options are endless. 

What you’ll need: Access to an online bookstore like Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Where to start: If you are having trouble deciding what to read, check out a site like What Should I Read Next, which allows users to enter in stories they love and offers suggestions based on their entries.

5. Watercolor painting

Put your right brain to good use and tap into those creative abilities with something simple like watercolor painting. Watercolor painting is an easy, relaxing activity that does not require you to be a professional artist. In addition, most people likely have the materials they need laying around the house somewhere. Having a creative outlet can be beneficial in times of stress. 

What you’ll need: Watercolor paints, paintbrushes and material to paint on—either paper or a canvas

Where to start: Have fun with colors and patterns, create something for yourself or personalize a gift for a friend. The possibilities are endless when it comes to art.

6. Write to a penpal

If you had a penpal to write to when you were little and have since lost touch, maybe it is time to reach out again. Even if you did not have a penpal when you were younger, this could be the perfect opportunity to reconnect with an old friend or a unique way to stay in touch with college friends. Another option is to get involved in a platform such as InterPals, which connects users with penpals from across the globe looking to learn new languages, get knowledge of other cultures or just have fun.

What you’ll need: Paper, pen, envelopes, laptop or computer. 

Where to start: If you have a penpal you used to write to, connect with them through social media and ask them if they have the same address. You could either write letters to them, FaceTime or both. 

7. Start a blog

During the semester, most students end up dedicating so much of their time strictly to work and school—buffing up resumés for internship application season or working on assignments from morning to evening—that they forget to enjoy hobbies. Starting a blog is a fun way to make sure you actively pursue your interests. For book lovers, consider reviewing your most recent reads and ranking them for readers. For photographers, consider making an online scrapbook of your favorite photos. Whether you are an artist or an athlete, blogging allows you to explore a creative outlet while enjoying a favorite pastime.

What you’ll need: A laptop or computer.

Where to start: Wix and Squarespace are easy-to-use resources to kickstart your blogging career.

8. Learn a new language

When exercising at the gym is not an option, exercise your brain instead. Learning a language includes many benefits—improved memory, better problem solving skills and an enhanced creative thinking capacity. In addition, learning a language leaves you with a hidden talent. 

What you’ll need: A computer, laptop or smartphone. 

Where to start: Duolingo makes language learning easy, offering more than 20 languages for users to learn through their website or smartphone app. If maintaining a routine is difficult for you, turn on notifications, and Duolingo will not let you miss a day.

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About the Contributors
Kayla Santos
Kayla Santos, Arts & Entertainment Editor
Kayla Santos is a senior journalism major who loves gooey chocolate chip cookies, traveling to new places and playing volleyball at the beach. [email protected] Hi readers! I come to you from the city of San Jose, California, which is about one hour south of San Francisco (and has the best boba). I’ve always loved sports. I was always that girl that would rather be out playing basketball than going shopping or doing makeovers. I came into Biola as a kinesiology major with hopes of a career in sports medicine and sports training, but everything changed during the spring semester of my sophomore year. Though I still love athletics, I realized that there is something that I enjoy even more than that: storytelling. After two years as a kinesiology major, I decided to change my major to journalism.  Although I joined the Chimes party a little bit later than most, I’m thrilled to be on staff once again for my senior year at Biola. I love all kinds of music: reggae, R&B, 80’s, alternative—you name it! You can count on me to constantly be on the lookout for artists and bands that are on tour. That being said, I am so excited to be editing for the Arts and Entertainment section of the Chimes this year. When I’m not on the search for the next concert, I love going to coffee and tea shops, finding cute places to snap photos and eating Korean barbeque.
Lauren McBride
Lauren McBride, Senior Copy Editor
Lauren McBride is a senior Cinema and Media Arts major who appreciates good coffee and good stories. [email protected] Born and raised in the great state of Texas, I knew from a pretty young age that storytelling was my forte.  I grew up with a huge love for reading that led to me developing an equally large imagination.  I always seemed to have a knack for writing, and the skill came naturally to me. Now, in my senior year at Biola, I am finishing my studies in both Cinema and Media Arts and Journalism.  Studying in both of these programs has allowed me to pursue my passion for storytelling and gain a better understanding of what that looks like in different contexts.  Telling a story through a film is vastly different than telling a story through the news, but both are their own unique art form that I am privileged to get to experience.  I am very excited to continue to tell stories through the Chimes this year!
Emily Coffey
Emily Coffey, Managing Editor
Emily Coffey is a senior broadcast journalism major who loves John Mayer, Bernese Mountain Dogs and high fives. [email protected] I grew up in the beautiful state of Oregon, which provided a lot of opportunities for adventures like white water rafting, mountain biking, and hiking. During a three-month stint in Nepal with my family (I was homeschooled), I got to document the lives of 13 women who had undergone some form of human trafficking, medical neglect, or family abuse. From here, I found my passion for storytelling.  Though I came to Biola as a music major, I started working at the Chimes my freshman year and quickly made the switch to broadcast journalism. My love of verbal and written communication, especially in storytelling, soon blossomed into a love of visual storytelling.  Now, I work for the Chimes and am heavily involved in many other student media organizations. You can find me covering a story, interviewing students about their artwork, at the beach, or running. 
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