Well, here we are. I don’t know when you’ll read this article, but at the time I’m writing it a “list of activities to do at home” seems more important than usual. We are facing the mighty battle of 2020. Man vs. Virus. And also some other potentially devastating occurrences that don’t need to be discussed any further here. This isn’t a sad, scare ya article. No. This article comes from a place of love and support. Along with the recommendations in this article, I wish you all good health and wellness, both mental and physical. So without further adieu, here are some recommendations, from myself and the rest of TeamSHO, on what to do if you find yourself stuck at home for a while.
Smoke weed.
Obviously. Smoking weed is fun and relaxing. For most people. Fortunately, consuming cannabis is one of those magical creations that enhances and elevates complimentary activities. So before, during, or after said activities, please feel free to ingest as many cannabinoids as you’d like.
What’s your favorite way to smoke? Is it a joint, a bong, a blunt, a bowl, a dab, a vape, a rig, a torch, hot knives, an e-rig, a CARTA, edibles, CBD, CBG, CBN or not consuming at all? Whatever it is, enjoy it. I respect the decision not to consume cannabis, but if you’ve never tried it, and you’ve always wanted to, and you’re of legal age, maybe now’s the perfect time to try something new 😉 Or don’t. Either way, enjoy the rest of our suggestions for what to do when you’re stuck inside.
Movies
There’s not a much better way to spend a “rainy” day than to curl up, smoke up and put on a great movie. It could be an old favorite, or one of the hundreds of amazing movies that have been produced in recent years. With so many platforms and so much content available, this is a great time to catch up on some top notch cinema. If you’re feeling extra anxious these days go with a hilarious comedy and bring some levity to the situation.
Ben Recommends: Watch that movie that you’ve always wanted to see but just never had the chance. Maybe your best friend has been telling you for years to, “get your sh*t together and watch Pulp Fiction!!” Whatever that movie is for you, go watch it, now! For me it was Stanley Kubrick’s, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Released in 1968 it holds up as one of the most innovative and beautiful films of all time. A true cinematic masterpiece. I also recommend Netflix’s “Critically Acclaimed Films” Category, they got some bangers on there.
Here are some of my all-time favorites: Interstellar, Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas, Good Will Hunting, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Fantasia, American Psycho, My Cousin Vinny, The Departed, Godfather Part 1 & 2, City of God, Boogie Nights.
TeamSHO Picks: I Love You Man, Superbad, Raging Bull, Dazed and Confused, A Serious Man, Sacario, This Is The End, Goodfellas, Mulholland Drive, Pride and Prejudice, Fight Club, Friday, Very Bad Things, Port of Call: New Orleans, The Shining, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
TV Series
You ever think to yourself, I wish I could catch up on that show everyone has been talking about, but I just don’t have time? Well, now you do. So why not light up a personal joint, pick an award winning series and start a bingefest of epic proportions. TV shows are great because they create a world that you can “live” in over the course of several seasons. You get wrapped up in the characters and you root for them on a subconscious level. Most shows over 4-5 seasons have 40-50+ hours of entertainment. So, when picking a show, make sure it’s something you are ready to commit to for a while.
Ben Recommends: HBO Series have long been referred to as some of the greatest shows of all time. (Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Curb Your Enthusiasm) But if you don’t have HBO check out Netflix’s TV Shows. There’s some great classics on there. Maybe try something funny and comforting like The Office, New Girl, or Parks and Rec. If you don’t have Netflix, I don’t know what to tell you; you’re kinda f*cked.
TeamSHO Picks: Weeds, Bob’s Burgers, Nathan For You, Better Call Saul, Real Bro’s of Simi Valley, Kingdom, Ozark.
Music
Music is always there for you. It’s the soundtrack of our lives. It can help us forget, or it can amplify a feeling or emotion we’re experiencing. Getting high and listening to music is just one of those things that makes sense. Now might be a time to go on the hunt for great new music, or maybe it’s a time to return to some of your all time favorites. Either way now is a great time to make yourself an amazing playlist, get unreasonably high and vibe the f*ck out.
Ben Recommends: Go back to the classics: Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Beatles. Or go back even further: Louis Armstrong, Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald. Or just go all the way in on 90’s hip hop (Nas, Wu-Tang, Jay Z, Biggie, Tupac).
TeamSHO Picks: Bennie and The Jets/Elton John, Tony Hawk Pro Skater Playlist, P!nk, Smooth Jazz, Logic, Lizzy Jeff, KOTA The Friend.
Write
It doesn’t matter what; just write. Maybe it’s a short story, maybe it’s a journal entry, maybe it’s a poem, maybe it’s an article about what to do when you’re bored at home… Whatever it is, put pen to paper and don’t stop for at least 2 minutes. Writing is very therapeutic and oftentimes it can be revealing of what’s going on inside of us. Now is a great time to reflect, introspect, but also to record how we’re feeling and what we’re doing at this time and place in the world. Good, bad or scary, this is a very interesting time in human existence. Record your thoughts, share your ideas and, maybe together, we’ll realize most of us want the same thing. Love, support, safety, security, food, a nice place to live and a good job. Maybe it’s time we focus on getting what we want out of life rather than being absorbed by routine. Now is a time to break the vicious cycles that control our life. What cycle or life loop do you find yourself in? Write it down and then formulate ways you can break or escape it.
Ben Recommends: Use pen and paper. It’s a more intimate experience. Set a timer and literally do not stop writing until 2 minutes is up. There will be times when you feel like you have nothing more to say, but just keep writing. It’s a very healthy exercise. If you want to afterwards you can transcribe the writing on your phone or computer. Either way I recommend saving it to look back on later.
Read
I love a good book. The right book can captivate you and keep your nose between the pages until you’re completely done. Getting high makes me read a little slower but it makes me absorb the words in a very mind expanding way. Find yourself a book that you simply can’t put down. Reading has a very positive effect on the brain. It’s mentally stimulating and known to be a stress reducer. After reading frequently, you may find you have a heightened vocabulary and improved analytical thinking skills. Any way you cut it, reading is a great way to spend your time and to improve yourself. Pick something that inspires you and make sure you read it all the way through.
Ben Recommends: There are thousands of Top 100 Books lists. Check those out. Pick a book that you’ve been meaning to read. Cross it off one of the million lists you have floating around in your brain. One book that stands out for me is, The Alchemist by Pablo Coelho. That book changed my perception of reality. It’s beloved worldwide and it’s one of my personal favorites.
TeamSHO Picks: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami, Botany of Desire by Michael Pollen, Big Fish & Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Wallace, 3rd Degree by James Patterson, Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky, “Anything by Brett Easton Ellis,” The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
Meditate
In this unfamiliar, chaotic time, it is very important to quiet the mind. There are tons of mental and physical advantages to meditation: primarily the reduction of stress. Many celebrated people, like Howard Stern, have cited Transcendental Meditation (TM) as instrumental in their success as a human being. But, there are many methods, so find the one that works best for you. Don’t get frustrated if it’s difficult to quiet your mind at first. It takes practice. Simply observe the thoughts and let them go. The attempt alone can be very beneficial to your mental and physiological well being.
Ben Recommends: Find a guided meditation on YouTube. 30 minutes seems to be a good length of time. Find a quiet place by yourself and try your best to focus on the speaker’s voice. The Secret Universal Mind by Kelly Howell has done wonders for me in the past. Try a new one each time until you find one that you love.
TeamSHO Picks: Transcendental Meditation, Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Exercise, Breath Counting, Painting, Smoking and vibing out.
Research
Do you find yourself fascinated by certain subjects? Why not take a deeper look. With the internet we have a world of knowledge at our fingertips. Now’s a great time to dive deep into something that interests you and you find fulfilling in some way. Maybe it’s a certain event in history, maybe it’s a psychological study, maybe it’s a way to improve your health or recipes that take 20 minutes or less. Whatever it is that you’re interested in, spend some time, take some notes and expand your knowledge of something you truly care about.
Ben Recommends: Whether it’s mental health or physical health, now, more than ever, is a time to be health conscious. Look into activities and diets that will reduce your stress and strengthen your immune system.
TeamSHO Picks: Mandela Effect, Stars, Ancient Aliens, Skinwalker Ranch, Rick Simpson Oil, Space, Cryptozoology.
Call Friends and Family
Whenever you’re going through a difficult time it’s always good to reach out to the people you care about most. Whether it’s a parent, a child, a sibling, an old friend, or a new one. Pick up the phone, reach out, connect. We’re all going through this strange time together and it’s nice to know you’re not alone. Find comfort in your strongest relationships. Make jokes, reminisce over simpler times. Bottom line is we will get through this and, since you have some extra time on your hands, reach out to that friend you’ve been meaning to call, or check in on your Aunt who might be feeling lonely right now. I’ve always found when life is at its most challenging, you can rely on your fellow humans. When times are toughest, people usually rise to the occasion. Make the call. And if other people are feeling scared, be a force of positivity for them.
Ben Recommends: A phone call or FaceTime over text. Truly connect. Maybe now is a good time to bury some old resentments, forgive and forget, let go of the past and start anew. Now more than ever we need to love each other and learn to get along.
Games: Board Games/Card Games/Video Games
Board games are more for families or roommates than if you’re by yourself. But there’s always solitaire and soooo many amazing video games. If you do find yourself stuck inside with a few other people, then maybe it’s time to bust open a board game and party like it’s 1994. Board games have the ability to take us back to a simpler, more innocent time in our lives. They can take a while, they can be socially engaging, a welcomed distraction from the outside world, and a great new reason to hate your sister-in-law. After all, if you have Hotels on Park Place, Boardwalk AND them Greens, who gives a f*ck what’s going on in the world. You’re about to get PAID. And video games are just inherently awesome. I’ll be honest I’m a bit out of touch with the best new video games but I remember some classics.
Ben Recommends:
Board Games: A game that takes a while. Monopoly or Risk.
Card Games: Poker or Something fun and silly like Cards Against Humanity.
Video Games – Madden, GTA 3 & GTA Vice City, Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart
TeamSHO Picks:
Board Games: Sorry, Clue, 7-11 Doubles.
Card Games: BlackJack, Spades, War, Gin Rummy
Video Games: Call of Duty, Golden Eye, Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo
“Self Love”
No judgement here. Wink wink. Ga head, enjoy it. “Self Love” has been proven to have several mental and physical benefits. It’s 100% safe, no risk of pregnancy, STDs, or viruses. It’s a healthy, natural way to practice self-care and improve your health. And a very pleasurable way to kill 5-35 minutes.
Ben Recommends: Whatever floats your boat.
Note: I refuse to ask my coworkers their thoughts on and favorite practices of “self love”. That would be an HR Nightmare.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed the insight. Above all else, make productive use of this time. Many of us all over the U.S. are working from home and it’s important to adapt and evolve. Let’s take this time to step our game up, across the board. I left out things like eating, showering, brushing your teeth, going to the bathroom, sleeping. I recommend those things too. Let’s keep working, let’s keep living and let’s keep growing. But in the meantime, if you find yourself stuck at home for a while, and you’re starting to get a little stir crazy, and you feel the fear creeping in; take your pick of these stress-free activities that are sure to bring some peace and understanding to your life. Stay safe out their kids. See you on the other side.
