If you’re looking for your next lockdown adventure, then we’ve got you covered. Whether you simply want to relax, become a pro baker, or brush up on your Spanish, there are still plenty of productive ways to keep you and your family entertained at home.
Stimulating the mind is just as important as exercising the body, so why not try an online course? A number of websites like Hubspot Academy have a whole array of accredited courses available to try. Whether you want to learn something new or sharpen up your skills for professional development, focusing on deadlines can help the time pass quicker.
If deadlines and reading aren’t your cup of tea, then why not try a new podcast? Whether you’re after relationship advice, documentaries or meditation, both Spotify and Audible have an endless selection that’s available for free. From the uplifting Archewell Audio by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to Heist with Michael Caine, you’re sure to find something that piques your interest.
Already a master baker of banana bread? Then push yourself a little further and find your new signature bake. Try setting yourself a new challenge each week, and before you know it, you’ll be a pro at everything from macarons to soufflés. And with monthly subscription services like Bakedin, where you get a unique baking kit complete with exclusive recipes and dry ingredients posted straight to your door each month, you’ll always have a new surprise bake to look forward to perfecting.
Prefer your food more savoury? Working from home gives us more time for meal prep, and there are plenty of cooking tutorials available online. Perfect your Sunday Roast or learn to make lasagne from scratch. Longing for that dish you always order at your favourite restaurant? Get creative and discover how to make it in your own kitchen. Or if you’re struggling to get inspired for what to get making next, why not try out a weekly subscription service like Mindful Chef or Simply Cook? With delicious recipes to choose from each week, you can expand your repertoire with ease!
If you’ve been dreaming of your next post-lockdown adventure, now’s the time to brush up on your language skills. There are plenty of online resources and apps available like italki and Memrise, where you can engage with native speakers and learn useful phrases. You’ll be ordering sushi and asking the way to La Tour Eiffel in no time.
With March just around the corner, now is the perfect time for a big spring clean. The key is to set yourself some daily and weekly goals that you know are achievable. Ticking those items off will give you a great sense of accomplishment, while also cleansing the mind to help ease anxiety and stress. Decluttering promotes a positive mental attitude, vital in lockdown life.
Tackle your own virtual fitness challenge, and each time you walk, run, swim or cycle a certain distance, move along a virtual map towards your goal. Climb Mount Everest with The Conqueror or explore the Irish coast with Race The World.
Whichever challenge you choose, most will include a medal to commemorate your achievement. Plus, you can set up a JustGiving page, so you can keep fit while helping raise money for your chosen charity.
Creative activities do wonders for our mental health. Get the whole family involved and try your hand at sculpting with some air drying clay, or learn how to knit and make yourself something cosy to wear. Need some inspiration? Sites like Etsy have plenty of starter kits to choose from.
For your next virtual catch up, why not try an online escape room? Local to Telford, the award-winning Xscapenow have a whole range of escape room adventures for you to choose from to play online. The idea is that your team works together to complete riddles and challenges, escaping the room within a certain amount of time. And if you’re looking for something for the kids to get involved with too, there are a whole host of themed rooms available to try, from Harry Potter and Pokémon to Golden Girls. This is a great bonding experience, something that’s all the more important while social distancing.
With public closures across the country, organisations are instead offering virtual tours of all your favourite places. So curl up on the sofa and take a trip somewhere new.
Stay close to home and walk around some of Britain’s top gardens with the National Trust, or head East and explore all the wonders of Japan. Watch the pandas live at Edinburgh Zoo, or catch up on Chester Zoo’s library of virtual visits.
The most important thing to do this lockdown is to remember that there are no expectations. Everyone’s situation is different, and home-schooling or work might mean that life is more hectic than ever. Take as much time as you need for self-care, and aim to come out of this healthy and happy—everything else is just a bonus.
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