How to Enjoy the Great Indoors During the Coronavirus Pandemic

While we’re all for enjoying the great outdoors, the COVID-19 crisis means that many of us will be spending inordinate amounts of time inside. Whether you’re coping with coronavirus symptoms or holed up at home to reduce the risk of contracting the illness, isolating yourself indoors is a smart idea, but that doesn’t make it particularly exciting. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 10 activities to help fellow outdoor enthusiasts make the most of time spent in the great indoors.

Clean and repair gear

We’ve all got gear that needs a little love. Now that you’ve got some time on your hands, why not do something productive? Scrub stains out of beleaguered backpacks. Bust out the needle and thread and sew holes in shirts, hem hiking pants, and patch puffies.

Practice zen (and the art of mountain bike maintenance)

Bikes are beautiful albeit complex creatures that require constant upkeep. No better time than quarantine to give your neglected steed the attention it deserves. At the very least, lube up your chain, fix flats, and clean the damn thing. If you want to dive deeper, grab a bike tool starter kit, scoop up the necessary components, and get to work. At this point, you can unravel nearly every bike problem imaginable with careful Youtubing (we’re fans of GMBN’s maintenance channel). Of course, many mechanical issues are better left to trained professionals, so be shrewd about what you decide to tackle on your own.

Tune and wax your skis or snowboard

Just like bikes, skis and snowboards necessitate endless maintenance. With the right tools and some online detective work, you should be able to revive your beloved equipment with a proper tune. Learning how to sharpen edges and fix core shots on your own is practical, satisfying, and will save you money in the long-run.   

If you’re a frequent backcountry skier or splitboarder, waxing will keep you speeding through the flats this spring. And if you’re a resort skier or boarder who is sadly done for the season as ski areas have shut down nationwide, waxing is a chore you should complete before chucking your equipment in storage. You’ll want to apply an extra-thick layer of wax to your bases—more than twice the amount of wax you’d typically use—and refrain from your regular scraping regime. This coat will protect your edges from rusting away and keep your bases from complete desiccation in gear shed or garage.   

Watch outdoor adventure films

Streaming is an obvious pastime for anyone under quarantine. There are a surprising amount of epic adventure films on Netflix and Amazon Prime, not to mention countless short films on Youtube and Vimeo. Travis Rice’s Dark Matter just got released on Amazon Prime—if you haven’t already seen it, drop everything and watch. Also, be sure to put Redbull TV in your rotation. You can easily add the free Redbull TV app to your Smart TV, or visit Redbull TV’s website and watch from your computer. From skiing and surfing to climbing and paddling, Redbull puts out mind-boggling outdoor adventure content. If you're scrolling mindlessly through Netflix and can't decide on what to watch, we heartily recommend plunging into Redbull's unparalleled library.

Practice and learn technical skills

Believe it or not, the great indoors is a perfect place to practice and learn outdoor skills. Climbers and mountaineers should score a copy of Freedom of the Hills and read it cover to cover. Practicing ropework and knots in your living room isn’t a particularly exciting way to spend an evening, but it will help prepare you for the next adventure. Backcountry skiers can bury beacons in backyards, not to mention read up on avalanche safety. If you’re a paddler with a pool, why not practice rolling your kayak? The point is this: while it’s easy to sit around and vegetate on the couch, you’ll probably be a lot happier if you spend your time on things that you actually care about.

Tie flies

Part arts and crafts, part science, tying flies is a practical way for the fly fisherman to save money, stock up on flies, and pass the time. Flies range from simple patterns a child could whip up in a matter of minutes to complex, nuanced nymphs that will have you cursing with frustration. Regardless of your skill level, catching fish on a hand-tied fly is one of the best feelings in the world.

Plan dream trips 

It might be a while before travel is in the cards, that doesn’t mean you can’t plan a dream trip. Study maps, read guide books, dig into forums, and put together your dream itinerary. Why not? Even if the journey doesn’t come to fruition in the near future, it’s a fun exercise that might pay off in the long-term.

Exercise

Quarantine is no excuse to let your workout routines fall to pieces. In fact, there’s no better time to get fit. Like a convict banging out set after set of push-ups in solitary confinement, take this utterly bizarre moment to commit yourself to strength and conditioning. With heaps of workout classes and apps available online, you can dabble in different workout styles, find instructors who work for you, and make physical fitness a part of your daily routine. Not only will exercise help fill your day, but it will also make a notable difference in your overall health and happiness.

Try yoga 

Everyone and their grandmother knows that yoga is a good idea—the problem is that a relative few pursue the benefits. With coronavirus as a catalyst, turn your living room into a yoga studio. There are innumerable yoga classes online—in fact, many shuttered yoga studios are live-streaming classes to their members. Good for the body, good for the mind, yoga is exactly the kind of activity that we should all be doing during this trying time.