Game And Fun

10 things to do when you’re stuck at home

As we tread cautiously into 2021, a large swath of Planet Earth is once again stuck at home. If you're reading this, chances are you're one of them. Yes, staying safe indoors is important for our own and others' safety – but that doesn't mean we can't have fun. We may have changed our name to Time In last year, but our mission to bring you the best culture, entertainment, food, and fun from around the world haven’t.

So, of course, we wanted to compile the ultimate list of things to do indoors – from curated lists of the best movies and podcasts to indoor fitness, online learning, games to play, amazing live streams to watch, and some offbeat activities dreamed up by creative people all over the world.

We'll be updating, evolving, and expanding this list of fun things to do at home as time goes on, so check back soon for more great indoor activities and streaming culture. You may be stuck at home, but if you stick with us, we guarantee you will not be bored for a single second.

10 actually fun things to do at home

1. Investigate the most recent virtual activities.

You've exhausted Netflix and Amazon Prime, and sourdough and Houseparty are no longer cutting it. We, like you, are looking for completely unique, one-time events that are exciting enough to liven up any government-mandated night in. So it's fortunate that each week brings a slew of live-streaming plays, music, talks, exhibitions, and other online events from all over the world – here's our pick of the best virtual things to do this week.

2. Find a way out of an online escape room.

We could all use some escapism right now. But how can you get away when the majority of the world is still at home? Answer: the internet's brilliant virtual escape rooms, which provide an incredibly literal way to feel like you're breaking free – all without leaving your couch. Do you like thrills, puzzles, and supernatural chills? These eight online escape games will undoubtedly get your heart pumping and your adrenaline pumping.

3. Enjoy the thrill of a new true-crime podcast.

The best true-crime podcasts follow murder mysteries, cold cases, and miscarriages of justice through twist after twist, sometimes gruesome and always enthralling. In fact, at its best, the true-crime genre can be so engrossing that it's easy to burn through an entire series, leaving you yearning for more intrigue. That is why we have compiled a list of some of the most captivating murderous and mysterious stories for you to listen to next. Put on those headphones and hold on tight.

4. Watch the amazing new movies you missed because, well, 2020.

Yes, 2020 was a film year unlike any other. Nonetheless, despite the closure of cinemas, the transition to streaming, and the wild uncertainty about what comes next, there were plenty of captivating films to enjoy. Last year was fantastic for fans of female filmmakers, jolting horror films, Terrence Malick, and Adam Sandler. Check out our list of the top 20 films of 2020 for proof. Sure, it's no consolation that your local cinema is currently closed, but it should keep you entertained for a while.

5. Improve your cocktail-making abilities at home.

Taking the time to make a quality cocktail at home can be therapeutic. We're talking about the kind of sipper that necessitates a handful of ice, a cocktail shaker, a dusty bottle from your liquor cabinet, and possibly a swish of citrus. To help spark some creativity, we asked Time Out staff around the world to share their go-to cocktails, the drinks they know how to make by muscle memory, from classic (Negroni, anyone?) to novel (you gotta try the Tommy Casual).

6. Take off into the sci-fi universe.

Science fiction isn't all spaceships and space battles (though there are plenty of those), and when it's good, it's a welcome diversion from reality. But it's the subject matter that really sets it apart. Whether it's gender politics, racism, environmental collapse, or capitalism, science fiction is full of fables that tell us about humanity today and where it's headed. You don't know your Asimov from your elbow, do you? We've compiled a list of 100 of the best science fiction films of all time, as well as ten of the best science fiction books for beginners.

7. Begin running (and actually stick with it)

Could the year 2021 be the year you finally start running? If you're thinking about just going for it, you might be wondering how the hell you get started. Well, one Time Out writer went from total running skeptic to marathon finisher – and here's how you can, too. If running isn't your thing, we've also got beginner's guides to yoga, weight lifting, cycling for fitness, and outdoor swimming.

8. Refresh your culinary repertoire

Okay, so you're probably tired of making the same meals over and over again. That means your culinary repertoire is probably in need of an update. We asked Time Out staff around the world to tell us about the best cookbooks they relied on to get them through 2020 at the end of last year. No one was surprised when many of them leaned heavily on baking, learning how to make the perfect sourdough loaf and killer banana bread. Others satisfied their wanderlust in the kitchen, making dumplings, bibimbap, and fattoush. See what appeals to you – and bon appetit!

9. Find some fantastic new female authors.

There are few pleasures greater than losing yourself in a good ol' yarn, as many of us have discovered this year. And, of all the dazzling literary universes to which you could escape, the grimy mafia-tainted underworld of Elena Ferrante's epic Neapolitan novels ('My Brilliant Friend,' 'The Lying Life of Adults') has to be among the most thrilling. Ferrante has released a list of her 40 favorite books written by women, ranging from award-winning classics to lesser-known contemporary translations, in a rare glimpse into the pseudonymous Italian author's reading tastes and the literary worlds that have inspired her.

10. Reintroduce yourself to video games.

Is your button-masher broken? Right now seems like a good time to scratch that itch. If you've been staring at that dusty console in the corner for the past year, here are six brilliantly nostalgic games that will transport you back to your childhood (and probably make you want to stick around there). Can't get enough of it? We've also weighed the benefits and drawbacks of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and compiled this list of the most immersive open-world games.

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