Within the last month, the coronavirus has turned the world upside down. Life as we know it changed dramatically almost overnight, and we’re now all of a sudden forced to stay inside our houses with friends and family.
Whilst some people are using lockdown as an opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones, most of us seem to be stuck in a rut finding things to do to contain boredom. Whether you’re working from home, trying to complete school or university work remotely or have absolutely nothing you need to be doing during this time, here’s ten things you can do to keep yourself occupied.
1. Do some exercise
It seems that getting fit is one of the most popular lockdown activities at the moment. Even though it’s not possible to go to the gym, take advantage of the extra time you have and start your fitness journey. Whether you want to complete home workouts, go for a run outside, a cycle or even just a walk, exercise is needed during this strange period to keep your sanity in check.
2. Learn to cook
Cooking might not be everyone’s forte but use the next few weeks to make it your forte! Making good food is a valuable skill, particularly for those who are looking to move out of their family home when lockdown is over. Start out with simple dishes and recipes that you can make for your family, including tasty desserts, cakes and brownies. You might put on the extra weight you lose from your new exercise routine, but it’ll be worth it!
3. Get ahead with school/ university work
If you still have upcoming exams and coursework to hand in, this could be a great time to get ahead of the game. Even if your deadlines are not for a few months, it may be worth it to get started now and relieve some of the extra stress later on. Staying on track with your school and university work will also give you a sense of accomplishment and a boost in productivity that you wouldn’t have got from sitting and watching Netflix all day.
4. Spend quality time with your family
Lockdown has forced many families to come back together. If you have previously moved out of your childhood home and have now come back to live with your parents and siblings, use the days given to you to catch up with them and strengthen bonds that may have loosened. There are lots of activities you can do together to keep yourselves entertained, for example, playing boardgames, puzzles, or maybe even creating Tik Toks! After lockdown is over, you might look back and wish to have the time spent with your family again so make the most of it while you can.
5. Teach yourself something new
If there’s something you always wanted to do or learn and there’s never been the right time to start, lockdown is the perfect opportunity to get going with whatever that may be. Keep yourself entertained by learning a new instrument, a new language or something else you can later use to impress your friends with when you can finally see them again. Right now, you have all the time in the world to learn something and make lockdown a positive experience which you can later look back on with at least some fondness.
6. Watch a new TV series/ film
Taking the next few weeks to be lazy and to watch that TV series or film you’ve had your eye on for ages is nothing to be ashamed about. Actually, getting stuck into a new series can be one of the quickest ways to while away the time whilst quarantined. Make every night a film night and use that Netflix or Amazon Prime subscription you might have previously neglected, which is something you can do with the whole household. Disney have also recently launched their new streaming service, Disney +, which includes a variety of the classic Disney films, alongside some brand-new content as well.
7. Get organised
If you’re living space is a mess, this often has a direct impact on your stress levels (most of the time unknowingly) So, keep yourself entertained by decluttering your house or flat and obviously, also giving it a deep clean as you go. As well as giving yourself something to do, having a good tidy and organisation session will do wonders for your mental health, even if you don’t realise it.
8. Take the time to read
Like myself, a lot of you will enjoy reading a good book, but you usually have no time for it in your normal day-to-day life. However, now is the time to pick that book back up and regenerate your love for reading. Particularly if you like fiction, books can transfer you to worlds a lot more interesting than your own (especially right now), which is something
9. Keep in touch with friends and loved ones
As we all hibernate inside our houses, the realisation comes that we might not be able to see our family, friends and loved ones for the foreseeable future. To keep these connections strong, we must take advantage of the next best thing in the form of Skype and Facetime. Group calls with friends and family will keep you entertained whilst keeping your heart happy at the same time.
10. Plan for when all of this is over
Although it might not seem like it at the moment, there is an end in sight. Instead of being sad about the reality of the current moment, spend time planning fun things to do when life regains some normality. Do some research about exciting places you can travel to, events you might want to go to in the future or activities you want to do with your friends when you can see each other again. It’s all about staying positive during this confusing time.
