As lockdown continues, for those of us who can’t work as much as we did, it can be hard to keep the days from whirring into each other. I have lost count of the times I’ve mixed my days up and not had a clue what date of the month it is.
We’ve all got our different ways to keep ourselves occupied, entertained or relaxed. But I wanted to share what I’ve done, as I thought it might be interesting, and it may give you some ideas if you’re struggling.
As a human, I don’t cope well with being bored, luckily I have my adorable dog Badger (who is in the photo above) to keep me company. Perhaps I shouldn’t admit it, but as well as snuggles with Badger, I need constant mental stimulation, otherwise I think too much and my mental health can suffer. Here is what I’ve done to try and keep the boredom at bay.
I’d be really interested to hear from you with what you’ve been doing to stay occupied in lockdown, so please do get in touch.
Jigsaws
This may sound like a slightly odd choice, but I’ve really enjoyed doing little jigsaws. I even managed to order one with my grocery shop that was double-sided, so I got two puzzles in one, and it had dogs on it – bonus! You can find jigsaws in lots of different online shops, but I got mine from Ocado.
Anything with a dog on it is a win with me
Crosswords
At the start of lockdown, my husband and I got stuck in Dubai at my parents’ house. I’ve never really been in to crosswords, but my mum suggested trying one and we both really enjoyed it. She had a little book full of crosswords (and the answers at the back – thankfully, as we did need some help now and again!) that she bought ages ago and it was a real saviour when we were at a loss for what to do. Again, loads of online retailers sell crossword books, Amazon being the obvious one, but I think Waterstones also has a really good selection.
Meditation
Not everyone likes to meditate, but I think that it’s a really healthy thing to do. I don’t do it every day, but every now and again when I’m feeling a bit ‘meh’, I find a guided meditation on YouTube, lay down, close my eyes and let myself relax for half an hour. I always feel re-energised and motivated afterwards. These are some of my favourite meditations to watch for relaxation and help sleeping:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lArtWtxPUw
Meditation by the sea
Netflix/TV
My favourite happy Netflix series
This might be a controversial suggestion, but I find watching a brilliant TV programme or film really helps me escape boredom. I don’t like to sit in front of the TV all the time, but every now and again I have a really lazy day where I ignore my phone, drink cups of earl grey and enjoy back-to-back episodes of whatever I feel like watching. Below are some of my favourite watches so far in lockdown:
For happy escapism – Gilmore Girls series 1-7 and Gilmore Girls A Year in the Life (Netflix)
For laughs – Gogglebox (Channel 4)
For edge of your seat tension and absolutely brilliant writing – FAUDA (watch the subtitled version, not the dubbed one; Netflix)
A great film – Rocketman (wasn’t expecting to like this, but I loved it!; Sky movies)
A great story – Unorthodox (Netflix)
For dreaming of holidays – The Durrells series 1-4 (Apple TV and Netflix, but Netflix only has series 1 to 3)
For some good old British action – Bulletproof series 1 and 2 (Sky 1)
Indulge in a hobby
I don’t really have a specific hobby. I kind of envy people who do, as I think they must never be bored. However, I do have lots of interests that I want to explore further, so I decided to download the Masterclass app. I’ve done classes on cooking, interior design and gardening and it makes me feel like I’m being productive with my time. While I was in Dubai, I had a go at doing some mosaic, which was really fun as well. You don’t have to download an app, just think of something you’re interested in, have a search on Google or YouTube and learn more about it.
Indulging in my ‘hobby’ of baking… and having an accident with the electric whisk!
Exercise
I will be the first to admit that I don’t really like exercise. I like it when it’s done, but I usually always have to motivate myself to do a workout. However, since lockdown began, I’ve realised that if I want to eat cake for lunch then I need to get moving. I started off while I was in Dubai doing the ‘PE With Joe’ workouts on YouTube and soon got addicted. I love that they’re only half an hour long, but still make you sweat and really feel like you’re doing something. Since I got home, I’m still doing PE With Joe a few times a week, but I’m mixing it up by doing yoga and Body Pump online on days where I don’t feel like jumping around. It makes me feel so good afterwards and helps me stay motivated to do other things throughout the day.
Phone a Friend
If you’re anything like me, you’re not a lover of the video call. I don’t particularly like any kind of phone calls (I’m much more of a texter), but I’ve overcome this dislike during lockdown because I miss my friends and having a call with them always makes me happy. Everyone is in the same boat at the moment, we’re all missing our loved ones, so what better way to keep spirits up than by having a gin and tonic over Zoom or FaceTime on a Saturday night.
My friends and I on our weekly Zoom call.
Self-care
I often buy myself fresh flowers. They bring me so much joy to have in the house.
I know this is the current wellness buzzword, but I genuinely believe the world would be a much better place if we all took some time out to give back to ourselves now and again and it’s a great way to say bore-off to boredom. Self-care isn’t about lighting some incense and looking through your third eye (although it absolutely can be if that’s what you’re into), it’s simply about taking some time every day to let your mind decompress by doing something that relaxes you and takes your mind off your worries. For me, I love ASMR videos (check out my previous blog if you don’t know what ASMR is) and listening to audiobooks (see my recommendations below*) or podcasts (I love Table Manners with Jessie Ware). It focuses my mind elsewhere and allows me to relax and clear my head of any negative thoughts that might have weedled their way in.
Even if it’s just buying yourself some fresh flowers, sitting down and having a cup of tea (or glass of bubbly…) for five minutes with your feet up, self-care is so good for you and even better for your mind.
*Audiobook recommendations: The Foundling by Stacey Halls, Soldier Spy and I Spy by Tom Marcus, The Corfu Trilogy (My Family and Other Animals, Birds, Beasts and Relatives and The Garden of the Gods) by Gerald Durrell, The Secret Barrister (author unknown), The Cows and So Lucky by Dawn O’Porter, This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay and Becoming by Michele Obama.