Ten Ideas To Stave Off Boredom During Coronavirus Lockdown
Our first concern during the Coronavirus lockdown period is to ensure we remain healthy, mentally and physically well and, of course, that we are sticking to the NHS and Government guidance on self distancing.
However, we also understand that some people will be struggling with loneliness and boredom, so we have come up with some ideas to help you through the long days and evenings!
Clean Out Your Cupboards
Cleaning out your cupboards can be really cathartic. Organise your clothes and put into a bag any items you have not worn for years so they can be taken to the charity shop once you are out of quarantine. This is also a good time to sew on those buttons that have been sitting in a drawer for the past six months!
Develop Your Cooking Skills
There are lots of recipes on the internet so take this time to be creative and try out some new dishes. Keep your leftovers and transform them into something delicious for the next day! Again, there are plenty of recipes on the internet on how to make a meal out of leftovers.
Get Fit & Healthy
Set yourself a 30 day challenge which may include eating sensibly, exercising more, getting more toned or learning a new type of fitness such as Pilates, Zumba or HiiT. There are lots of videos on YouTube to help you get fit, lose weight and tone up.
Do Some Puzzles Or Play A Game
If you are home alone, look out an old puzzle book, jigsaw or pack of cards. Those of you who are self-isolating with your family can get even more creative. Set your own quiz for the family or transform a room into a fun ‘escape room’ with fun riddles and challenges for the family to attempt.
Pick Up The Phone & Call A Friend
Remember to pick up the phone or do a FaceTime call with friends and family. We’re all in this together so they will be delighted to hear from you. The elderly are particularly vulnerable and may be lonely so make sure you are in regular contact via the phone to keep their spirits lifted.
Read A Book
Re-read an old classic or download a book or two onto your Kindle. Once you get stuck into a good book it will be difficult to put it down! Plus, it may even inspire you to write your own book. After all, they do say there’s a book in all of us!
Help Clean The House!
Split the chores between everyone in the house. It isn’t fair that one person should do all the cleaning, cooking and general chores. Look at your cleaning routine as part of your fitness for the day!
Find The Inner Artist In You
Grab a pencil and some paper and start sketching. If you are at home with family members, why not sketch each other? Set up a timer for 10 minutes and start sketching the person next to you. You may be surprised at the results!
Dance To Some Music
Put on some of your favourite tunes and have a really good singalong and dance. If you are feeling really inspired, set some challenges. Put on a piece of music and ask each individual to act out the lyrics along in time with the song. Make it even harder by putting some noise cancelling headphones on so you cannot hear the music – then guess what song the person was miming!
Meditate
Try meditation, some deep breathing exercises or try some basic yoga (again, there are lots of videos to help you on the internet). This will help you feel less anxious and much calmer and more relaxed.