Here are three to try: 1. Obscure card games like canasta or euchre. You can learn the rules together. 2. Classic board games: Candy Land, Sorry!, Chutes and Ladders, Clue, Monopoly, Operation, Scrabble 3. Old-school perennials: Silly Putty, Slinky,jacks, paddleball

Take a Cue From Your Cat

Felines have perfected the art of doing nothing. Take your time-wasting cues from the animal kingdom's champion layabouts, get your family to treat you like a pet and you're guaranteed to be refreshed (and hairball-free). 6 a.m. Get up and demand an early breakfast. Loudly. 7 a.m. Go back to sleep. You’ve been up for an entire hour! 12 p.m. Sleep some more. 4 p.m. Wake up and stretch. Think gentle, languid movements — you don't want to strain anything. 5 p.m. Demand dinner. Order takeout. Purring at your pizza is optional. 6 p.m. Graciously socialize with humans. Call a girlfriend or relative. 7 p.m. Groom yourself. Time for a long soak in a bubble bath. 8 p.m. Back to sleep. It’s been a rough day — and you’ll be doing it all over again tomorrow.

Enjoy No-Cook Comfort Foods

Some days, turning on the stove is just too taxing. Here, soothing comfort foods that require minimal effort, zero culinary skills and no oven mitts.

Classic sandwiches, from humble to sophisticated. Think bologna and ketchup, peanut butter with banana slices, cream cheese and chunks of green olives. Crusts optional.

Cinnamon toast Slather the bread with butter and generous amounts of sugar and cinnamon.

Pudding cups with Rice Krispies, M&M’s, Reese’s Pieces or crumbled cookies.

Antipasto plates Lay out a spread of cheeses, olives, pepperoni, roasted red peppers and salami.

Cold cereal Put out bowls containing cereals from three different boxes and call it a buffet.

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