10 fun activities for lockdown 2.0

By Olivia M

Here we are again…. We’re more than halfway through a second lockdown and pandemic fatigue may understandably be seeping in. As we spend almost another two weeks in the now familiar territory within the walls of our homes, many of us most likely baked our year’s worth of banana bread and took part in goodness knows how many Zoom quizzes during the first lockdown. If you’re anything like us, you probably don’t fancy a repeat over the remainder of lockdown 2.0. However, that doesn’t have to mean we all spend our days in some stupor, staring blankly into space while we binge on trash TV and prematurely munch our way through an advent calendar. 

Lockdown 1.0 made us all slow down and consider what we value in life while looking outside our windows at the glorious sunshine, as if Mother Nature was punishing us for living life at full throttle, contrary to the way she intended. As our evenings get colder and darker, lockdown 2.0 offers us a chance to connect with ourselves once more, re-experience the joy of our homes, and learn how to be content with our own company. When mental and emotional overwhelm seem to be the order of the day, these things have never been more important. Here are some ideas for how we can make staying in the new going out: 

1. Get a groove on  

Feeling inspired by Strictly? While coronavirus is proving a rather tricky fellow to shake off, we can at least soon shake off 2020 and dance our stresses away, whether by boogieing away to our favourite tunes or finding a cool dance video on YouTube and learning to bust a few moves. You could even hold a virtual music party and dance along to a playlist you’ve created with friends. An additional benefit is getting some exercise too! 

2. Try out some new recipes  

This is the perfect time to have a go at making that dish you’ve been meaning to make but could never find the time for. More time at home means more time we can spend in our kitchens, experimenting with new ingredients and adding to our culinary repertoire. That doesn’t mean having to spend hours cooking though (we have PhDs to work on after all!); there are plenty of quick, healthy and tasty dinner recipes we can whip up. With the recent spotlight on immunity-boosting foods, it’s very easy to do a bit of research (or pick up your local supermarket’s free food magazine for some inspiration) and try something new, while giving your immune system a helping hand at the same time.  

A simple, one-skillet Shakshuka dish 

3. Re-visit a favourite movie / game from your childhood 

With the sense of déjà vu we have with this second lockdown, why not indulge in a bit of nostalgia? Take yourself on a trip back to care-free times and forget about your stresses for a while. If you can’t think of a favourite childhood movie, you can choose any movie which you loved watching the first-time round or maybe even revisit a favourite childhood game you loved playing. …Pokémon or Mario Kart, anyone? 

4. Reflect on your strengths and achievements  

I admit this one’s a little cheesy but in these prolonged, difficult times we live in, it’s more important than ever to draw on our reserves of resilience and reflect on the aspects of our character which helped us through the first lockdown. We have seen acts of humanity and kindness emerge under the greatest of pressures, showing us that we can prevail through adversity. Whatever your personal circumstances, you will no doubt have done your best to channel your inner superhero, even if it’s only being able to smile through the madness of it all. Let’s face it: if we can get through 2020, we can do anything!  

5. Volunteer remotely 

While lockdown 2.0 may make us feel a bit restricted in what we can do with our time and how we can use our time for the benefit of others, there are many chances to help from the comfort of our own homes. You can find an opportunity to suit your availability, skills and interests through the university’s Volunteering Hub. Flex your creative muscles and send cheerful cards to lift the spirits of sick children, help older people get online or run virtual English conversation clubs for refugees. Fancy using your well-honed research skills for the greater good? Try your hand at using satellite imagery to map buildings, roadways and other features to help humanitarian organisations plan for and respond to disasters; categorise images of faraway galaxies and review videos of animals in their natural habitats with Zooniverse or get involved in a range of online projects around the world with United Nations. Many of these opportunities have no minimum hours’ commitment and can be completed in your own time. So even if you can only spare an hour, you can still make a big difference! 

6. Try a new hobby (or return to an old one!) 

Maybe you received a woolly jumper last Christmas and fancy having a go at knitting one yourself or perhaps you want to become a jigsaw puzzle maestro? Now is the perfect time to indulge, whether you want to pick up a new craft like watercolour painting or wish to dust off those novels on your bookshelves which you haven’t had time to read yet. If your old/new hobby is crafts-based, you could volunteer to give away your masterpieces to brighten up the lives of those who need it.  

7. Watch funny shows / movies / videos 

Laughter is the best medicine, they say, and we need it more than ever now. So treat yourself to a sketch featuring your favourite comedian or watch a comedy which never fails to crack you up. After all, we can’t be stressed at the same time as we’re laughing our heads off.  

8. Learn new skills or languages  

Expand your horizons and even future-proof your career. There’s nothing quite like the joy of learning something new. Consider what you’re interested in and upskill. There are a range of online courses and videos to help you learn practically anything you want, often for free or a low cost. Whether you want to learn to play chess or delve into the world of web development, there’s something for everyone. If linguistics is more your thing, the International Society offer fun and friendly online language classes for different levels. So, whether you want to learn Farsi or brush up on your Greek, you can find a class to suit you. Then when the world does open up properly for travel again, you’ll be all ready to set forth and wow the locals with your new lingo! 

9. Have a clear-out  

Ok….. I know I said ‘fun’ things to do but hear me out on this one. Organising your wardrobe space or work desk doesn’t necessarily have to be a joyless task. In fact, often you can find discarded bits lying around which you had forgotten about but which suddenly evoke memories of the good times, such as a poem you wrote years ago, an old Christmas card from a friend you’ve lost touch with or photos from years gone by. Perhaps you’ll also find things which you could sell as you no longer need them, so not only can another person benefit but it could make you a bit of spare money for Christmas, speaking of which…… 

10. Plan for Christmas!  

With lockdown coming so close to Christmas, it gives us the perfect excuse opportunity to avoid the last-minute rush and plan our annual mass-present buying properly! 2020 has not been the nicest of years to say the least, so why not use some of the time to put some extra thought into your gifts, to make your loved ones feel even more special this year? 

---

Discover more from Research Hive

Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.