With lockdown restrictions in place, it can be difficult to keep the boredom at bay. We’re all spending lots of time at home and looking for ways to keep busy. Today’s article will give you 5 great ways to occupy yourself during lockdown. Let’s get started.
With lots of time on our hands, this lockdown could be a great opportunity to change up our day-to-day routines for the better. Cooking is a fantastic way to learn new skills while making something you can enjoy! You may wish to order your groceries online, especially if you are shielding during the coronavirus pandemic. Cooking your own meals lets you experiment with new tastes and textures whilst being delicious and healthy. It can also be much cheaper than buying ready meals or ordering takeaways. Try classic recipes like hearty winter stews or experiment with international cuisine. Pick up a new cookbook or find recipes online and start afresh to keep yourself busy! The BBC Food website is a great place to start.
It goes without saying that lots of us are feeling more stressed and anxious than usual. The pandemic has changed our day to day lives, leading us to spend lots of time at home. Music is a wonderful way to pass the time – it even has therapeutic properties. Music therapy can relieve stress and boost your mood. It could take the form of listening to your favourite songs, playing an instrument, or moving to music. This provides a physical and emotional outlet, helping to support you through these difficult times.
Lots of us spend the majority of our days sitting down for long periods of time. Being at home in lockdown means it can be difficult to stay active throughout the day. However, we all know that exercise is vital to maintaining good health and fitness. Online resources are a good place to start, especially if you’re just starting out with exercise after a long period of inactivity. You’ll be able to find plenty of beginner-level exercise routines to help you get started. If you have a condition like arthritis which makes it hard to exercise, the internet is a great resource. Try searching for low-impact exercises or seated exercise routines. If you exercise regularly at home during lockdown, your fitness won’t be the only thing to improve. You’ll also increase your confidence and boost your mental health. Once it’s safe for community centres and gyms to reopen, you might even want to join an exercise club or class and meet new people with similar interests.
For more information about the importance of exercise, read this article on the NHS website.
A lifetime of photos, souvenirs, and keepsakes can take up a lot of space in your home! Besides being a fun hobby, scrapbooking is a great way to display your cherished memories and make the most of your storage space. Placing your favourite holiday snaps and family photos in a scrapbook will give you the chance to reminisce. It will also make these previous keepsakes easier to access whenever you want to take a trip down memory lane. Let your creative side flourish during the lockdown! Use scrap paper and other materials you have around the house to make a low-cost, environmentally-friendly heirloom which will last for generations to come.
While it’s vital for us all to stay at home as much as possible during lockdown, it’s important to spend some time safely in the great outdoors. With the cold winter weather, make sure to wrap up warm with a scarf and gloves. Spending time outside gives you the chance to immerse yourself in nature, which can help to relieve stress and anxiety. It can also combat feelings of isolation, which lots of us are experiencing in these strange times. Something as simple as going for a daily walk in the great outdoors can work wonders for both physical and mental health. If you can do so safely, we’d really recommend getting outside once a day.
To view the latest coronavirus restrictions where you live, go to the relevant government website: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.
That brings us to the end of our guide – there you have 5 ways to keep busy during lockdown. We hope you’ve found this helpful and that you are safe and well. The coronavirus pandemic is a difficult time for everyone, so remember to follow the guidelines in your area to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Make sure to stay up to date with your local GP surgery and look out for any letters regarding plans for your vaccination.
If you would benefit from some extra support at home, whether that’s help managing a medical condition or just keeping up with cleaning and hygiene tasks, Abing Homecare can help. We offer home care solutions for people with a wide variety of needs. We can arrange domiciliary care visits to help you with any tasks you’re finding difficult. Alternatively, if you need round-the-clock support, we can find the perfect live-in carer for you. Get in touch today to arrange a quick Needs Assessment.