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There is certainly no right or wrong way to do quarantine. As long as you are staying home and following government guidelines, you’re checking huge, live-saving boxes off the list. I personally have oscillated between working myself into a stress case after a marathon WFH day because I have trouble turning off at night, to thinking I was going to get Olympic-medalist-fit doing yoga videos online to melting into the couch like a true “chip sofa,” as my French uncle calls it. That said, introspection is probably becoming as universal as baking banana bread during this time. And with inner searching, I like to think often comes creativity.
There are plenty of fun, inventive, and varied ways to make the most out of your walled-in experience. Sometimes, it’s about adapting what you already love. Or, perhaps, it’s time to try something new that you’ve had on your mind. Either way, we’ve put together a little cheat sheet of sanity savers that are keeping us Vogue editors right-minded at present. We’ve all become at-home hobbyists in our off-the-clock hours; all of these ideas are both time and skill flexible. Plus, they come along with some serious spring fashion inspiration. It’s truly a choose your own adventure. We hope these quarantine hobbies will entice you to try the things we love, or something else that will spark joy for you. While I’m not sure I will ever have a green thumb, I certainly find myself compelled to snap up this gardening tote bag, indoor plants or not!
Indoor Gardening with Estelle Tang, senior culture editor
I’m much more of a maximalist mess than aspirational Pinterest homemaker, but now that I’m home every hour of every day, I’m more grateful than ever for my plant habit. All the green turns a room into a bower; it really feels alive. (Plus, I get to think about ceramics all day, which is my second favorite thing to buy: Most of my planters are made by my friend Marian Bull, and I love this colorful Not Work Related one.) People remark on my green thumb, but I have a secret: I only own hardy, forgiving varieties. The only things my pothos, bird of paradise, monstera, cactus, aloe vera, and succulent dependents require is to be watered once a week, and some fertilizer love every now and then. Beware: Don’t start with a fiddle leaf fig if you don’t want to drive yourself crazy.
Watercoloring with Charlotte Diamond, assistant market editor
I ve always harbored a vision of myself as a modern day Mary Cassatt heading out into nature with paints and notebook in hand to paint en plein air. With neither the time nor the actual skills, however, that has remained just a fantasy...until now! Since going into quarantine, I have found watercoloring to be a therapeutic and easy hobby to undertake. You don t need many supplies (or talent, in my case) to get going; just some paints, a spare hour or two, and your imagination. What better way to grab hold of the outside world when it is so uncertain and out of reach? I know my newfound love for watercolor will carry me through the rest of quarantine and beyond.
Basket Weaving with Alexandra Michler, director, fashion development
I have long admired the beautiful craft of Nantucket basket weaving. I took a mini course this past summer. As I am here sheltering in place, I found this the perfect opportunity to hone my craft. My appreciation has only grown now that I understand the dedication and careful touch basket weaving requires.
Learning a Language with Rachel Besser, market editor
I can t speak a lick of French (at least not well enough for anyone who does speak French to understand what I m saying, sadly). I ve been saying I ll take French classes for years now, but always put it on the back-burner. Aside from work and nominal quarantine hobbies like reading books, and putting together puzzles, I ve decided to finally make good on my word and begin French classes with a teacher on Zoom!
Virtual Bookclub with Naomi Elizee, associate market editor
Recently, I started a mini-book club with my sister Tatiana in an effort to stay connected during this time. My sister is 8 months pregnant so we will see if the book-club stays strong once the baby is here!
Backyard Birding with Madeline Swanson, accessories editor
It all started with my avid birdwatcher of a mother. A total bird aficionado, she takes road trips to birding festivals, mans the ornithology booth at the Minnesota State Fair, posts pictures on Instagram of northern flickers huddled around the heated bird bath she has set up in our backyard, and gets wildly excited about spring warbler migration.
While birding is not an activity in which I normally partake, social isolation makes people do strange things, and after being shacked up with my parents in Minneapolis over the past month, I ve slowly warmed up to the idea. There is certainly something to be said for an outdoor activity you can practice from your own backyard that makes the day-to-day of quarantine a bit more exciting. And with very little equipment required, getting started is a cinch.
Binoculars are key (of course my mom prefers super hi-tech versions from Nikon and Swarovski, but for beginners such as myself, a lower-price point option like Wingspan Optics Skyview Ultra style will do the trick). Supplement with Cornell Lab s Merlin Bird ID smartphone app, which allows you to identify species according to their call, an illustrated guide book like Audubon s Birds of North America or The Sibley Guide to Birds (both of which can certainly double as a chic addition to any coffee table), and a neutral-colored getup à la Jane Goodall, and you ll feel like a pro in no time!
Jewelry Making with Zoe Ruffner, beauty editor
Anyone who knows me knows that every empty inch of surface space in my apartment is covered with shells I ve found over the years. I first started collecting them with my grandma when I was young (she used to fill glass lamps with them!) and still find that there s nothing as meditative or relaxing. Now that I have a little more spare time, I decided to finally try to put my shells to use. I ordered some thread and beads from Amazon and began stringing them on necklaces, bracelets, and anklets for my friends, and in return they re making a small donation to a charity of their choice.
