By now, you might be going a bit stir-crazy. It’s not your fault. And you are must certainly not alone. People were sent home from work in late March thinking that they would be back in the office no later than 2 or 3 weeks from that point. 6 months later, we are still at home.

When cities went into lockdown mode, it was the first time most of us had ever seen anything remotely like it. Without warning, restaurants were closed. Some are still only open for delivery and outdoor dining. The latter is an option not available to many establishments in crowded cities.

Even now, many only leave their homes to walk their dogs. They are still getting takeout, groceries, and medicine delivered to them. That might grant you a certain amount of protection from the virus. But it does nothing to protect you from being cooped up in the house too long with too much to worry about and not enough to do. Here are some suggestions for things you can do to stay happy as well as healthy and wise:

Get a Stationary Bike

Running seems like a great way to stay trim and fit. It has virtually no upfront cost beyond a good pair of running shoes. The problem is that it is a very high-impact sport that will have you consulting with an orthopedic specialist before you are 40.

Indoor cycling is big business. It is not just a fad. It has been around for a very long time for good reason. Here are just a few:

• You can get a good workout even when the weather does not cooperate.
• You don’t have to worry about getting into accidents.
• You don’t need bike lanes or special routs to have a safe ride.
• Helmet not required.
• Workout as early or as late as you like without worrying about how much daylight there is.

You don’t have to get one of those expensive machines with video instruction subscriptions. You can find good deals on basic bikes that will provide you all the challenge you want and need.

Buy a Game Console

These days, gaming consoles are on a 7-year cycle. Game consoles are big business, even more so due to the pandemic. This is a particularly good time for consoles as the new ones have already been announced. Both Sony and Microsoft will be releasing two variants of their next-gen consoles. One will be sans disk drive.

You don’t have to be a hard-core shooter enthusiast to get a lot of enjoyment from a gaming machine. You will find everything from classic puzzlers, to sport, to the most excellent flight simulator. There are games for kids and adults of all ages and interests.

Join a Bookclub

When you are done exercising your body on that new stationary bike, don’t forget to exercise your mind with a good book Thanks to Covid, e-readers are booking. Whether you are using the latest Paper White Kindle from Amazon, or a lesser-known brand, an e-reader is a superior choice to ink and paper.

You don’t want to go to a bookstore and brows the shelves. Everyone touches those books and they are not all as health-conscious as you. By using something like a Kindle, you don’t have to leave the house to brows one of the largest repositories of books the world has ever known. You can have your book almost instantly. And they are usually less expensive than a paperback. Joining a bookclub provides the extra value of keeping you social as well as socially distanced.

Don’t let lockdown lock you out of being your best self. Stay fit with a piece of indoor exercise equipment. Enjoy next-generation games with the whole family. And invite your social circle to enjoy a good book together.