How to Keep Yourself Busy During Lockdown

GSS staff have put our heads together to share a list of things we’ve been doing to keep busy during lockdown. What have you been doing to keep yourself busy?

COVID-19 is sweeping across the world and it is without doubt a frightening time. Our hearts go out to the front-line workers, NHS staff and anyone who has been unwell or lost their lives, or the lives of their loved ones.

For most of us, GSS staff included, COVID-19 has meant we have been in lockdown at home for an extended period of time. We put our collective heads together and wanted to share with you the ways in which we have all be keeping busy.

REST.

Now, this might seem a little counter-intuitive, being on a list about keeping busy… but, how often is it we really take time to properly rest? Once a year on holiday maybe? If you are anything like us, you will spend most of your time running around like a headless chicken!

We must stay home at the moment, for most of us, that’s the only thing we can do to help keep people safe. Use this time to recharge and relax. Finish that book you started last summer, take naps every afternoon or lie in on the mornings. It will do you the world of good to just slow down.

Gardening

Spring has finally sprung, and good weather is on its way! It’s time to get out in the garden and start planting, mow the lawn and give the hedges a good sorting out! Now you have plenty of time you can really get creative! Have you always wanted a rockery? Or quite fancied a pond in the garden? It’s time to pick up a spade and get digging.

If you have little ones, major renovations in the garden might not be on the cards, but this is the perfect time to get them out in the mud! Learning how seeds germinate and seeing them grow into flowers or vegetables is great fun!

House Renovations

Focusing on home renovations is a productive way to use this free time. It could be small jobs, like touching up paint work. Something simple like this can really bring a room back to life. Have you got shelves in a corner you have been meaning to put up for ages? Well grab the drill and get to it!

Spring Cleaning

Skating around the kitchen and wiping the sides down is all most of us have time to do at the end of a busy week. But once in a while digging everything out of the cupboards and giving it a good clean is needed!

This is the perfect time to Mrs Hinch your home. Most of us have way too much stuff! Clothes that we don’t wear anymore, bizarre Christmas gifts we haven’t looked at since Boxing Day and accumulated junk that seems to fly in the windows! Try tackling a cupboard at a time and getting rid of anything that doesn’t bring you joy!

Cooking

Ever since lockdown has begun there has been a massive upsurge in baking! We have been exactly the same! Cakes, cookies, even bread! We have been on a baking binge and we are loving it!

If you’re not feeling baking then get cooking! Had a recipe in mind you have always fancied? Or always wanted to learn how to make a soufflé? Now is the time! Turn to YouTube for some great cooking classes and get learning. Or if you’re stuck for recipe ideas, we recommend Ottolenghi, we are obsessed with his modern, yet simplistic middle eastern dishes. 

Arts and Crafts

For most of us, work and family time comes first. This means other hobbies often get pushed to the side. Do you have a creative side? Did you love art and school, but then you got an office job and never really had the time to draw or paint?

When you’re working lots, time with your family is precious, and in a world that is becoming more and more competitive, you need to stay up on everything work related so you don’t lose your edge. But right now, why not slow down, pick up a pencil and start sketching? It’s relaxing and a great way to engage the creative side of your brain.

Catching Up with Loved Ones

We know that right now is not the time to be hanging out with grandparents, or aunties and uncles, but this doesn’t mean you can’t connect with your loved ones. Do you have friends that moved to New Zealand or family members that live abroad? Or friend you ‘keep meaning’ to call?

Right now, everyone is at home, so you can be sure you will catch them! Pick up the phone and get dialling, reconnect with people and send some love around the world. Staying at home and sending good vibes out is all most of us can do right now.

From the GGS team, we want to send our good vibes to you. We hope you are happy, safe and well and find a little inspiration from this article.

How have you been spending your COVID-19 down time? Reach out to us on social media and share your photos of your experiences!