It's day 12 of Lockdown 2.0. Procrastination has reached new highs and that homemade banana bread just isn't cutting it anymore. If this is sounding all too familiar then let me introduce you to 7 brilliant ways to spice up your lockdown life whether you're furloughed, straight up unemployed or perhaps WFH. But by all means, keep baking that banana bread as well!
1. Fitness
We've all done it. Told ourselves we're going to start running or join some kind of fitness programme over lockdown but have always conveniently found an excuse to avoid doing so. No judgement here, I'm guilty of doing just that as well. Like many people, my preferred method of fitness is on a court of some kind, or a swimming pool, but sadly this just isn't feasible at the moment. In the meantime, I've been partaking in those dreaded home workouts that fitness influencers preach about. Having come from a summer where the only form of fitness I took part in was lifting wine bottles to my lips, I can relate to all of you who are hesitant about starting on zero fitness. I'm currently doing 2X10 minute workout videos, five days a week. 20 minutes of my day between writing my blog, doing my course, or applying for jobs is enough to keep my body ticking over till I feel I can do more. No one is asking you to go for a 5km run in the miserable English weather or purchase a celebrity-endorsed fitness programme. 10, 20 minutes whenever you feel like it, that is all. I recommend Lilly Sabri for short but snappy workout videos that involve zero equipment and sometimes include her very cute dog!
2. Cooking
Those of you who know me will be laughing at me even suggesting this, but hear me out. While it goes without saying that most of my cooking (particularly at university) would send Gordon Ramsey into a state of pure shock, I am at least attempting to improve my culinary skills and lockdown has provided me with the perfect opportunity to do so. I've attempted to cook everything from the classic spaghetti bolognese to mushroom risotto and a few things in between, all with varying success. But one underlying factor throughout all of these dishes is how much I've enjoyed the process. Sure, I may swear too much, use too much wine, and I cannot for the life of me cut an onion, but I am improving nonetheless. I'd like to say my days of Deliveroo are long-gone but who are we really kidding.
3. Start a blog
As I like to think I've demonstrated, absolutely anyone can start a blog, regardless of their literary expertise. All you've got to have is a passion for something whether this be fitness, cooking or gaming and boom! You've got your blog. It's not all about gaining a massive readership and making money. As a chronic over-thinker and stress-head, this blog has been an excellent outlet for me, especially during these strange and uncertain times. You don't have to upload every week, just whenever you feel like talking about something so this is perfect for those of you with commitment issues or those of you who just love a good vent.
4. Online Pub Quiz
While I'm no Egghead, I have been known to love a good pub quiz. It's the perfect way for me to put all that useless knowledge floating around my brain to good use. Courtesy of my boyfriend's lovely family, I came across a virtual quiz known as the Inquizition Pub Quiz which runs every Sunday at 8 pm. It's a general knowledge quiz interspersed with music, film and television questions that conclude the week marvellously and help keep those Sunday scaries at bay. They also have more knowledge specific quizzes such as the Harry Potter Quiz, a Disney Quiz and a Sports Quiz! There really is something for everyone and they only cost a couple of quid so what's your excuse?! I'll see you at the Harry Potter Quiz, witches!
5. Chocolate charcuterie board
Taking social media by storm, the chocolate charcuterie board is the perfect excuse to over indulge this lockdown. Let's be honest, you've earned it. Take inspiration from the picture below but by all means personalise it with whatever you can get your chocolate-obsessed hands on! That's the beauty of this board, it can be as extra or as simple as you like. They are also extremely Instagrammable so if your posts have been a little dry as of late, this one's for you. I'll be having mine with ludicrous amounts of marshmallows and strawberries!
6. Start an online course
As some of you may or may not know, I have started a 2 month copywriting course this lockdown. She's done it ladies and gents, she's finally decided what she wants to do with her life. Now I'm by no means saying that these online courses are purely for the unemployed, so even those of you who already have a job can start one! With over 1000 courses at your disposal at The Open University, lockdown is the perfect time to expand your knowledge in something you may have an interest in. They can be done in your own time and around your job and you never know, you may end up finding your true vocation!
7. Make your way through IMDB's top-rated movies
If all the above suggestions sound like far too much effort, then this might be more your speed. Give those ghastly Netflix Christmas films a break, and instead open up your mind to some fantastic films that actually merit your attention. I'm sure most of you have seen Shawshank Redemption and can all vouch for how incredible it is, but how many of you have seen City of God or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest ? These are just two of the 250 films IMDB have as their top rated movies and are so good, it HURTS. So please, do yourself a favour and make an effort to watch a few of these, I promise you won't regret it. But remember...good films aren't just for lockdown, they're for life!
Stuck on something to watch this lockdown? Check out my recommendations for the 5 best TV shows you can stream right now!
I’ll stay with No 1. Fitness. I can recommend an App “couch to 5k” a 9 week course. Walking/jogging/running every other day, taking you to the 5k run. If I can manage, you certainly can. Chris.