Sports? Cancelled. Festivals & Concerts? Cancelled. Restaurants & Bars? Closed.  Bed & Sofa? Open 24/7!

Following the recent government advice to stay at home, it’s easy for the vast majority of us to fall into the realm of boredom. A place where binge-watching the entire catalogue of Netflix, getting lost in the world of TikTok, and taking ‘power naps’ so often, they’ve practically been renamed ‘hour-naps’, are all that’s left, and that’s only after eating everything (questionably) edible in the fridge.

But, we have some news for you! Rumour has it, during the 17^thCentury Plague, Shakespeare took the national lockdown as an opportunity to write his highly-acclaimed screenplay, King Lear! Now, if that doesn’t put into perspective just how much you can achieve during this lockdown, we don’t know what will. But not to worry, it’s not too late to find your inner-Shakespeare and turn it around! While many of us may consider knowing the latest Kardashian-Jenner drama a unique hobby, or sending your friends the best memes on Instagram a constructive pastime, we’ve got an impressive list of activities and creative hobbies that we think will make this period a little more exciting and productive! And yes, we’ve checked, all of the activities listed below are #StayAtHome-approved!

Become bilingual (or multilingual)

Unlike the Shakespearean times, fortunately for us, we have technology on our side, with tonnes of apps and websites right at our fingertips and the ability to connect with people across the globe. Apps such as Babble and Duolingo make learning a new language fun and easy. With options from French to Spanish, Dutch and even Korean to choose from – the app store (or google play store) is your oyster! Try even connecting with someone who is a native speaker of your new chosen language. Language Pal and Hello Talk are great apps for this and are a perfect way of staying connected, feeling less lonely and meeting new people, even whilst you’re social-distancing.

Expand your knowledge

Just because ‘school’s out’ doesn’t mean you should put a stop to all of that brain power you would otherwise would be using. The Open University have made hundreds of online courses free so you can keep your mind occupied and learn something new during isolation! From business to science, history and technology, there are subjects across the board to choose from. Learn about psychology, or forensic science, or further your understanding of a historical event, climate change or even the legal system. With hours of material including case studies, videos and even group discussions, you can connect with like-minded people and support each other in your new venture!

Learn to draw or write in Calligraphy!

Cutting back on screen-time and grabbing a pen and paper instead, can do wonders not only to pass the time, but also for your mental health. Studies have shown that drawing can shift your focus from the hustle and bustle of normal life, stresses and anxiety and works as an outlet to increase concentration and productivity. The same goes for Calligraphy! In recent years, this classic skill has had a face-lift and today’s art of modern lettering has had an incredible response (much thanks to HRH Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markel, who announced her love for the hobby). Known to be as effective as meditation itself, learning calligraphy could be the positive distraction you’ve always needed! What are you waiting for? Pick up that pen! You can find tips, tutorials and all the inspiration you’ll need over on Instagram and Pinterest!

Dance/Yoga

Always wanted to be Beyoncé’s backup dancer or become a Yogi? Dance and Yoga are great ways to keep your body moving – even when you’re staying at home! YouTube has thousands of dance routines and follow-along Yoga classes available. Choose a complicated dance or an intense yoga session and it could keep you busy moving for weeks, leaving you feeling very accomplished with yourself once you’ve nailed that Downward Dog or Ariana Grande routine! Or, if you’re just looking for a bit of fun, there’s a reason TikTok dances go viral! Start off easy and work your way up to nail those complicated one minute dances – they’re much harder than you’d think! 

Awaken your inner-chef

As McDonald’s has shut its doors for the foreseeable future, along with every other restaurant and bar, now would be a good time more than ever to up your MasterChef game! With plenty of cooking shows available and endless recipes online, dive into the world of flavours and food! And who knows, in the long run, it could even save you some money! Say bye-bye to Nando’s takeaways and hello to Jamie Oliver’s 15-minute meals – it’s a win-win! Already a self-made chef? Why not try learning the art of mixology, and create the perfect cocktail or mocktail to accompany your signature dish!

Social-distancing can feel lonely, but we’re all in this together! Let us know if you try out any of our suggested activities, or share with us your favourite pastime!