The world is currently facing trying times due to coronavirus, and it’s proving to affect everyone in different ways. However, some people are using this unique situation as a way to rekindle their creative fires or as a chance to complete any long put-off tasks. During these times, it’s only natural that we may feel dips within our motivation levels and our overall mental health. This is why it’s so important to fill your days in lockdown with engaging and creative activities, and to remind yourself that you are not in a productivity competition with others. If you’re at an end with things to do to occupy yourself during lockdown other than Netflix bingeing and ab workouts, these six refreshing ideas are for you! 

Get Creative

It may be hard to believe, but the opportunities to be creative at home are endless! With so much technology at our fingertips, it’s easy to get started on your own YouTube channel or create your own personal blog that covers topics that you’re excited about and want to share with the rest of the world. If you’ve been delaying writing a novel or postponing reading a trilogy, now is the perfect time to complete just that! You can also try out journaling, doodling, and painting, which can be ideal for de-stressing and to separate yourself from negative media reporting that can often be hard to ignore. To avoid procrastination, try to put away your phone or any other distractions you usually have, and set goals for what you would like to achieve or complete during the week.

Learn New Skills 

The extra time we now have at home has provided us with the unique opportunity to learn new skills or to pick up on a hobby where we left off. You can learn a new language, advance your career related skills with online courses, or even try new hobbies that you may not usually be drawn to, such as learning how to give readings with tarot cards. For those who love the outdoors, why not give gardening a shot? Even if it just means helping your family out with planting a few new flowers, gardening can be a therapeutic and rewarding activity, and it’s also an excuse to get out in the sun in the comfort of your own home.

Sort Out Your Wardrobe 

There’s nothing more satisfying than a clean room, and for most people, clothes can take up a lot of the space! Sort out your clothes and decide what to keep or what to give away to charity when you can. If you’re wanting a bit of extra cash, why not sell your unwanted clothes, electronics, or books? Having a fresh start doesn’t have to be limited to just your bedroom – take a shot at some DIY video tutorials, rearrange furniture in your living room, or paint walls and hang up cheerful art prints to create the impression of a fresh, new space. 

Watch your old family videos and look through photo albums 

There’s something so magical about looking back into the past and laughing at embarrassing photos of yourself or your siblings. This is a great way to bring the whole family together without the use of technology and screens, and it can really lighten the mood when you need it most. You can even organize and print off your recent photos to make new albums, buy scrapbooks to fill with all your favorite memories, or even create a fun video compilation from past trips and vacations that you can send to your family and friends. 

Bake! 

Now more than ever is the best time to grab those baking books that have been stored away for years in the kitchen and start mixing up some sweet treats. Getting creative in the kitchen doesn’t have to be just restricted baking either – you can easily gather cooking inspiration through blogs, TV shows, YouTube videos and cooking apps to organise fun dinner times where you and your family can take turns in preparing tasty meals (and desserts!).

Games Night 

Why not gather the family one evening and enjoy laughs, delicious food, and a good old fashioned board or card game. As we can all often get carried away with the whirlwind of social media and technology, this can be a perfect idea to kick back and spend time socializing with your loved ones. However, this doesn’t have to mean you can’t invite family and friends to join in on the fun via video call! 

How are you keeping busy during this quarantine?

Thank you for reading!