Keeping Yourself Entertained During the Lockdown

We’re living through unprecedented times. At the start of this year, who would have known that we’d be facing a worldwide pandemic within just a few months? Who could have anticipated that we wouldn’t be at work, that kids would be off school, that we’d be confined to our own homes, only able to leave for essentials, such as food or medication. The spread of coronavirus and Covid-19 has changed the world drastically and thrown our usual routines up in the air. If you’re safe and healthy, you’re one of the lucky ones. But it’s still okay to feel bored, lonely or stifled with this new way of living that has been imposed on us for our own safety, for others safety and to reduce the toll on healthcare systems. The good news is there are plenty of things that you can do to keep yourself as best entertained as possible. Here are a few that you might quite enjoy!

 

Photo by Garrett Morrow.

 

Computer Games

Computer games can keep many of us occupied for hours on end. There’s little more fun than getting deeply involved in a game. It can also keep you connected with friends who are playing online at the same time, helping to beat feelings of loneliness and opening up avenues of communication with people you get on with. Stock up on a few different games that you can see yourself enjoying.

 

Fly a Drone

Drones are a great novelty purchase. Not only are they fun to fly and operate, but many have cameras installed that can capture footage – both stills and film – from an aerial view. Why not invest in a drone from a reliable supplier like DrDrone.ca? It’ll be fun to set up and play about with. Just make sure that you have permission to fly your drone (helicopters are becoming more prominent across skylines and you don’t want to interfere with them). You should also probably keep it in close proximity, as you may not be able to get out to collect it if it runs out of battery or comes into trouble.

 

Zoom

Zoom and Houseparty are two apps that have really taken off during the pandemic. They allow you and your friends, family or other loved ones to hold group video calls that can be extremely fun and a great opportunity to “spend time with” one another. Whether you just have a casual chat or host some sort of pub quiz or game night over your Zoom chat, it can be a great use of your time and leave you feeling a lot more positive.

 

Bake

It seems like half the world has turned to baking – and the grocery store shelves seem to say so too. While it may be difficult to come across flour, self-raising flour, baking soda and bicarbonate of soda at the moment, you should be able to get your hands on some online or as part of your food shop when you do venture out to do your food shopping. Look up some recipes. It’s rewarding, helps you develop an impressive skill and you get a sweet treat at the end. What’s not to love about it?

 

Exercise

The gyms might be closed but you can still stay in shape – or get into shape if you haven’t really exercised as much before. It’s recommended that the average adult gets around one hundred and fifty minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or seventy-five minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week. You should still aim to achieve this in lockdown. Invest in a little home workout equipment, such as handheld weights, a yoga mat (to make floor activities more comfortable, or to practice yoga and pilates on), kettlebells, resistance bands or anything else you might need and follow a few online tutorials. You’ll feel all the better for it.

 

Read

Got a book that’s been left on the side untouched for months because you haven’t had time to get around to it? Well, there’s no better time than the present. Reading can stimulate your mind, boost your creativity, increase your knowledge and just be a plain pleasurable activity to engage with. Get a drink ready, find a comfortable spot, kick back and start turning through the pages. You’ll be immersed before you know it. If you’d like to read but don’t know where to start, think of what appeals to you. This could help you to pick a genre. There are endless lists of classics out there and there’s bound to be something that you’ll find yourself enjoying!

 

Watch a Series

Whatever streaming service you choose, there are bound to be plenty of great TV series on there. So, why not pull out the popcorn, get a drink to hand and start watching something that your friends have recommended, that people are posting memes about online, or something that might have simply caught your eye in an ad or elsewhere. This is a simple pleasure. You don’t have to do anything but sit back and watch.

 

Learn a Language

Sure, you might not be fluent in another language by the time lockdown ends, but why not use this time to learn the basics in a language that interests you or could be useful to you? Spanish, Mandarin, French, Italian, Portuguese… the world’s your oyster! There are plenty of resources out there. From language apps to software like Rosetta Stone, online tutoring, online classes and more.

 

These are just a few different activities that could occupy your time while you’re in the lockdown. Some are useful. Some are plain enjoyable. Whatever you do with your time, just make sure you’re relaxing and releasing any anxiety or stress that you may be holding as a burden. Don’t put pressure on yourself. Keep in touch with loved ones. Maintain a sense of routine. Do something productive each day. All of these things will help!

markmunroe
Mark Munroe is the Creator and EIC of ADDICTED. He's ADDICTED to great travel, amazing food, better grooming & probably a whole lot more!
markmunroe
markmunroe