Written by Harry Croose
"Lockup all your love and go and throw away the key."
Hello, all hope you are well. Especially in these times, if you are reading in 2020, with the Coronavirus lockdown. 🙂 I have had a few requests to write a blog post on things to do while in lockdown; luckily for you my fantastical followers, here it is. 🙂 Here is the long list, with an occasional elaboration, as to why I think they are possibly a great idea for you! 🙂
I will say this however if you have to do something, limit your time watching the news and social media. Awareness is important, but an overstimulation of negative headlines can do more damage them people realise to their psychology. Also make sure that you have a routine, and that you have a variety of things to do, that you most of all enjoy, but also tasks that give you the satisfaction of working towards your goals and dreams. 🙂
- THE LONG LIST OF IDEAS OF THINGS TO DO -
- PLAN YOUR DAY – Have a To-Do List or a Goals Journal so you have particular objectives to complete so you are not just wasting your time, apologises for the bluntness there, but you no deep down what I say has an element of truth to it, espcially if you don’t have clear goals. I would recommend Google Calendar, to help with time blocking your days.
- DEDICATE A WORK PERIOD (per day) – Spend a few hours every day doing tasks wether that be for your Work, School or University. Just make some progress it doesn’t matter how much. If you again plan far ahead, a few hours a day should be sufficent for you to get many of your tasks completed.
- READ BOOKS – There are so MANY books, out there to read. 🙂 Take advantage of Amazon (depsite the new delays), books are a testament to education and mental stimulation, that will certainly keep you entertained.
Wether it be fiction or non-fiction, experimenting with different genres and authors is a fantastic idea. - LISTEN TO AUDIOBOOKS – Listening to Audiobooks, (especially from Audible), again it is amazing, and books can be obtained instantly, and can be listened to via the app. I would personally recommend The Game of Thrones Series and Harry Potter Collection for those who like fantasy. You would find thousands of books, from different genres all at very affordable prices at the moment during lockdown.
- WATCHING YOUTUBE – You must have a YouTube account surely, listening/watching some of your favourite YouTubers for surely give you a laugh, education or whatever you are in to!
- PLAYING VIDEO GAMES – Wether that be on your Xbox One, Xbox 360, WiiU, and Nintendo 3DS etc. There must be plenty of games you haven’t played or haven;t visited in a long time, perhaps you should play them game. The good news is it does eat up time, the bad news is if you get addicted you won’t have a lot of time for anything else – so be careful on that front. But it is lovely to play all together with the family from time-to-time.
- COMPULSORY HOUSE CHORES – House Chores are neccessarily and everyone seems to dread it, but if you make it a routine in the morning (while let’s say listening to an audiobook), you can just get it done and chores might even become quite therauputic and relaxing after a while, rather than a nuisance. This includes, washing up, drying up, washing machine maitenance, hanging the washing to dry, changing sheets, and just generic tidying.
- CLEANING/ TIDYING THE HOUSE – This goes beyond the normal house chore level, where you actually do a proper tidying and cleaning of the house, with a hoover, and polishing your surfaces. and sponging/wiping the floor. This again could be tiresome work but it is certainly fulfilling to get even just one room tidied to the best of your ability.
- HOUSE/GARDEN (RE)DECORATION – Perhaps you have the resources already in your house to redecorate or even to just move the furniture round to give it a new feel to a space, especially being in lockdown it might be a rather good idea to change the scenery or the look of it, every ones in a while. (This also includes your Garden).
- WATCHING DOCUMENTARIES – Education watching of documentaries is always good, is there a period of histroy you wanted to visit? There are plenty of free ones on YouTube, TV Channels, Netflix, Amazon Prime etc. I am personally very in to The Tudor Period at the Moment.
- WATCHING TV – A bit self-explanatory, a good show to watch is always great on occasion. Are their any shows to catch up on that you want to watch? Or any new ones?
- WATCHING FILMS – The same as above, are there any films you haven’t watched. I would recommend Disney+ for that. 🙂
- PLAYING BOARD GAMES/ QUIZZES WITH THE FAMILY – These nights are always fun!! Wether it be Monopoly, Cluedo, Scrabble, Frustration etc. Plenty of board games to play, you could even make a tournament of it, with prices!!
- START YOUR OWN BLOG/WEBSITE – Why don’t you spend time, creating a blog/website, you can start one for absolutely free on WordPress. 🙂 Post regularly it may be entertaining for you and you may establish a viewership. 🙂
- START (OR PLAN) YOUR OWN PERSONAL BRAND/BUSINESS – A great opportunity for you to establish a Personal Brand via Social Media while working from home. Some businesses may even find great opportunities in these period, despite the not so pleasant circumstances.
- REVISE FOR YOUR DRIVING THEORY TEST – It is important you know. 🙂
- SKYPE FIRENDS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS – See if they all alright, organise to talk to them every so often even if it just a phone call, but Skype would be preferable.
- BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA – Don’t add to the overwhelming numbers of negative posts and naysayers you have duty to yourself and your family to not be sharing unneccessary articles, that may prove detrimental to someones mental health. Be self-aware of what you are sharing, posting and if you do that you will be a beacon of hope online that people need in this dark hour in 2020. Make sure you also spend less time on social media though it has as already said become a rather depressing place. Filter out those who convey messages you don’t want and replaces them with those that allign with your way of thinking (a more positive ideal). This will change your personal algorthim both on social media and yourself.
- WRITE DOWN YOUR LONG-TERM/SHORT-TERM GOALS – Refer to them every day, and take action accordingly to those goals, whenever possible.
- SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY – An excellent opportunity to spend more itme with your family members, and to build upon the loving relationships that you have.
- DEVELOP A HEALTH PLAN/ROUTINE – Perhpas you should try doing tha tone daily run or walk for exercise,
plan a personal gym in your back garden to get some fitness in. Even if it is for 20 mins or so, it is al lot better than doing nothing – keep active. - SPEND TIME IN THE FRESH AIR – Wether it be on your one walk to the shop or for exercise, or even just to open your bedroom window let the fresh air, you feel better for it.
- WRITE A BOOK – Everyone has ideas of a story they want to write, maybe it is the time for you to write that best-selling novel. (Especially you Creative Wrting Students!!) 🙂
- WRITE A SCRIPT – Same as above, maybe you want to become a script writer one day, perhpaas for Doctor Who or a show you would like to develop.
- WRITE IN A GRATITUDE JOURNAL – Studies show that this has a massive positive effect on Mental Health, it work wonders, make a list of what you are grateful everyday no matter how small or how big.
- CREATE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL – Create your own content, I believe everyone in this world has a gift to share with us all, why don’t you show us yours. 🙂
- UPDATE AND BUILD A PRESCENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA – This would work wonders with the Number 26. Learning skills such as marketing and graphic design would improve your layout.
- START AN ONLINE COURSE (SKILLSHARE) – There are plenty of online courses, for you learn different skills such as Art, Graphic Design, Business Coaching and so much more. Skillshare is very affordable if you use it. 🙂
- START YOUR DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD (UK) – Even thugh you can’t do your residential, you can still strat your Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award for those in the UK, it takes up to 18 months to complete. Hopefully by then lockdown will be gone! But yes the Duke of Edinburgh on the CV will work wonders with a potential employer. 🙂
- LEARN AN INSTRUMENT – Such as a piano, guitar or drums their are plenty of instruments to learn and to get good at, with enough persistance you may even be able to compose your own music.
- LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE (DUOLINGO) – This would be such a help when you are able to travel again if you really wanted to go to Paris for example (Disneyland), learn French, a great opportunity, use Duolingo it is absolutely FREE and an amzing app. 🙂
- PLAY DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS WITH YOUR FAMILY – For those nerds and geeks out there, me included, Dungeons and Dragons may be a good idea, a fantasy game involving the imagination, where you are the characters in your DM’s world, may be a great side campaign/activity to do. 🙂
- RESEARCH JOB OPPORTUNITIES e.g. GRADUATE JOBS – Plenty of time to research opportunities for jobs and graduate placements (once lockdown has been lifted).
- – ALSO FOR UNDERGRADUATE/POSTGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES – Spend the time looking for your future academic plans, what course did you want to do and why? 🙂
- LISTEN TO PODCASTS – There are plenty of podcasts to watch wether your taste is Drama, Comedy or Personal Development, there are plenty to select from. 🙂
- LEARN ARTISTIC DRAWING/PAINTING ETC – Have you got a passion for art, or like to draw? Make your own artistic masterpiece!
- LOGIC PUZZLES and RIDDLES – These are always good to get the mind challenged.
- WATCH MOTIVATIONAL/ INSPIRATIONAL VIDEOS – Enough said really, it gets you in the mood for doing your great things. 🙂
- LEARN HOW TO CREATE AND EDIT VIDEOS (Adobe) – This is a great skill to learn wether in your own leisure.
- LEARN HOW TO COOK OR COOK BETTER – If you can cook well, then trust me this skill with serve oyu for life (pun intended). May even win over a date or two! 🙂
- PLAY OUTDOOR GAMES (IN THE GARDEN) – Playing football, Skittles and other outdoor games in your garden may be a great combination of getting exercise, having fresh air while also having lots of fun! 🙂
- SPENDING TIME WITH YOURSELF – Just becuase you are in lockdown does not give you the excuse to be mean to yourself, make sure you are very kind to yourself no matter what circumstances you are in, and make sure you get the appropriate help if neccessary, your future self will thank you for it. 🙂
- THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-GROOMING/HYGIENE – I know it is basic, but it is easy to forget, if you are not going out you may not put as much effort it, that is understandable and even logical. But you still need to take care of the basics, brushing your teeth, washing your hands especially, washing your hair and having showers/and or baths regularly. It will make you feel better, if you look after your body, your body will look after you. You will feel less groggy and more energised for your tasks and more excited for future prospects. 🙂
- HELPING OTHERS IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD – Help others, you will feel good helping them. DO to others as you would hve then do to you. 🙂
- VOLUNTEER – If you are brave enough like the NHS and other Key workers (#legends #NHS ) you could spend your days volunteering for example to help the homeless and help the elderly get their shopping. This is also part of the Duke of Edinburgh, and is an absolutely brilliant thing to do in this time, so long as you are healthy and able to do so. 🙂
- STAYING HEALTHY: (FOOD) – Make sure to eat plenty and drink plenty to keep optimal hydration. Also make sure that you are eating the right foods more often such as fruit, vegetables, carbohydrates etc. But also giving yourself enough time for treats.
- TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE TRIALS AND REDUCED PRICES – Online shops are reducing prices due to this crash and restriction of movement. So take advantage of that and buy stuff that would be productive towards your goals as well as your lesiure.
- ENJOY SHOPPING (when you go to restock) – More so than not people are sacred at going out, but when it ocmes to shopping it is important that you do so. Be grateful with the pleasures you had when shopping in the past, with the awareness of current social restrictions.
- PLAN FOR WHEN THE LOCKDOWN FINISHES!! PLAN AN AMAZING EVENT – An event for friends and/or family, also in general terms plan for when life returns to normal. 🙂
- BE AWESOME, BE YOURSELF – Remember that you are legend always…
So there you have it, hope you found this list inspiring as much as it was long winded. 🙂
Speak to you soon, until the next blog post! 🙂
Harry Croose 🙂
Speak to you soon, until the next blog post! 🙂
Harry Croose 🙂
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