8 Things to Do During Quarantine (Tech Edition)

Now that 40% of the world’s population has been advised to stay home, people are going stir crazy. Many admit to going through the seven stages of grief – shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, and acceptance. Depending on where you live in the world, your quarantine or self-isolation might have started several months ago or just a few weeks or days ago. And that might determine the stage of your grief. Of course, it must be noted that this quarantine is important. At the time that this article was written, nearly 900,000 people around the world had contracted the COVID-19 virus, and unfortunately, 42,322 lives were lost. If you are not sick, if you do not have to take care of those who are, and if you have the option of staying at home on a paid leave or working from home, you are already lucky.

That being said, sometimes it can be hard to look at the bigger picture, especially since it is not yet clear when the quarantine will end. This is why it is important to keep ourselves busy. You might have forgotten this completely in the chaos of the quarantine, but April is the month of spring cleaning. You might have already cleaned your home up and down and twice over, but what about your technology? If you are wondering what to do at home during quarantine, we have a few quarantine tips for you. This will not only take your mind off things but will also help you in the long run.

Quarantine tip #1: Clean out the computer

How many times have you turned on your computer and realized what a mess it was? You might have unwanted applications, duplicates of files, unnecessary files, strange programs that you do not know how to remove, and so on. If that is your situation, why not take this time to uninstall apps and go through the files to see which ones should be removed, which ones should be organized into appropriate folders, and which ones should be backed up. This will clear up space on your computer, and hopefully, you will have one less thing stressing you out. This is also the perfect opportunity to clean your web browsers. Reset them if you want to start fresh or, at the very least, clear browsing data.

Quarantine tip #2: Organize and back up photos

When organizing files on your computer, take some time to organize and back up photos as well as videos, original audio files, and anything else that is personal and invaluable. First and foremost, such files take up a lot of space on your computer. Photos taken on a DSLR camera can be 20-50 MB each, and so if you have thousands upon thousands of photos, your computer could be crammed. Now that you have time, sort through your photos and organize them into folders so that you could find them when needed immediately. Also, don’t be greedy. If you find a funny picture that could cheer up your family members or friends, share it. When it comes to backing up photos, it is easiest to move them to physical or virtual drives. Note that creating copies of photos can also save you if malware invades and destroys the originals.

Quarantine tip #3: Install security software/updates

When we are busy, we often postpone updates because, let’s be honest, they can take time out of our busy lives. Well, we have time on our hands right now, so why not check what updates need to be installed? On Windows 10, search “Windows Update settings” using the search box on the Taskbar and download the available updates. On Mac (Mohave or later), go to System Preferences and click Software updates. Update the system if any updates are available. You also should go through your web browsers and other installed applications to see if they require updates. Note that installed updates not only make your system and apps run smoother but also patch any security vulnerabilities that could exist, so they are important.

Quarantine tip #4: Organize passwords/change default passwords

We know very well that people dread to organize and update their passwords. We get it, it’s annoying. That being said, as long as your passwords are weak, your virtual security will be weak as well. If you cannot think of what to do at home during quarantine, we suggest that you at the very least figure out your passwords. Remember that you must not reuse, rotate, or create easy-to-guess passwords. Instead, every password needs to be long, contain random symbols, contain upper and lower-case letters, and not contain full words, names, etc. If you have tons of passwords to update – which is why most of us dread to update them in the first place – use a Password Generator. Do NOT forget to update default passwords that come with many devices, such as routers, baby monitors, security cameras, etc.

Quarantine tip #5: Clean up social media accounts/check privacy settings

Another important quarantine tip is to clean up social media. When we are living normal lives, we often think that we do not have time to check every single social media account we have ever created. If you are a millennial, perhaps you still own a MySpace account without even realizing it. Whether or not they are in use, all accounts need to be reviewed. Perhaps you have some sensitive information put on display, and if that is the case, perhaps you want to remove it or change settings so that only friends or followers could view it. What about the photos you might have posted on Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, or another account years ago? Don’t forget that even employers check this stuff, so you want to clean up. Also review privacy settings to see how you can protect your accounts better.

Quarantine tip #6: Learn how to use a new program

What’s a better time to learn a new skill? Perhaps juggling or knitting is not your thing, but you might have always dreamed about learning how to use video editing or photo editing software. If that is something that you were planning on doing in the future, remember that the future is now. Another thing you could do is join a free course or class. EDX, for example, offers free classes from Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, and other prestigious schools. You can also check out FutureLearn, Coursera, or simply google “free courses.”

Quarantine tip #7: Clean computer/lenses/keyboard/headphones

Another great thing for those who wonder what to do at home during quarantine is take elbow grease to work. When was the last time you cleaned your keyboard, your headphones, your camera lenses (including security cameras)? Perhaps you can’t even remember. Our quarantine tip number-seven is that you clean every device you own. This is a good way to inventory your gadgets as well. Perhaps you will find something that hasn’t been updated in a long time or doesn’t have a good enough password either.

Quarantine tip #8: Recycle old hardware/cables

Our eighth quarantine tip is to collect all hardware, gadgets, and cords that you are no longer using. Honestly, how many charging cords or USB cables does one need? You also might have devices that you have been planning on donating or recycling but have not had the time to clean or organize. Remember that you cannot throw away hardware without wiping it first because you do not want any remnants of saved passwords or personal files. Take this time to wipe devices and put up ads if you are planning on selling or passing them on to someone in need once the quarantine ends. If you are going to throw devices or cables away, remember that you must recycle them appropriately. Here are a few guidelines.

Our final quarantine tip is to keep yourself busy. We do not know when the pandemic will end, but instead of pulling our hair straight out of our heads or pacing down the corridor for the umpteenth time that day, do things that have been on your to-do list forever. Take this time to better yourself, and if you are not up to it, entertain yourself. If you still don’t know what to do at home during quarantine, do a TikTok video. That is bound to cheer up you.