Ways to Stay Entertained at Home During The COVID-19 Lockdown

The lockdown has many of us bored/annoyed/angry or feeling hopeless. It’s time we change this by focusing on the things that we can do to make the best of this situation. Here are 10 simple ways that you and the whole family can keep busy and entertained during this COVID-19 lockdown.

Create a Routine or Schedule

When you’re going to work you have a set schedule that you follow, like wake up at 6 am, go for a run, make breakfast, get ready, go to work, etc. It’s important to try and stick to this schedule as much as possible. Try to get up at the same time, since you can’t go for a run, exercise indoors, get ready for work as you would on a regular day, start work at your regular login time, take breaks to avoid mental fatigue. A schedule will help you know what to do when and reduces anxiety.

Exercise

Staying active and exercising during this time is critical. It is easy for us to slip into sloth mode and not want to move from the bed/couch, but exercise will make us feel better, help to clear our mind and also improve immunity! At the same time, over-exercising is harmful, so learn to strike a balance. You don’t have to hit the gym or use any equipment; you can try these simple exercises to start with. All you need is a little space and a little motivation. Check out this article for Best Exercises to do at home.

Finish any Pending Home Maintenance Tasks

When you spend so much time at home, you’re likely to find things around the house that need your attention. This is a great time to get these maintenance tasks out of the way. Now’s the time you can oil that squeaky door, tighten that leaky faucet, descale the showerhead, tighten doors and so on. These tasks don’t require professionals to do them, you can easily do it yourself, or if you need help, there are plenty of YouTube videos that can show you how it is done.

Spring Clean

Winter is over, as summer approaches we need to get out house ready for the change of season. So, this is the right time for you and the family to clean up the house. You can divide tasks and create a cleaning calendar so that each room gets attention and each person has something to do. Put away blankets, carpets and declutter, change curtains, and make way for summer! Declutter as much as you can, the more surfaces in your home means the more cleaning and sanitizing you will have to do.

Learn a Skill

Is there something that you have always wanted to learn, but never had the time? Now is the perfect time to start. There are plenty of online courses available on platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, and so on that offer professional courses where you can pick up new skills. These skills don’t only have to be up-skill for work, you can even learn skills for fun like a musical instrument (on YouTube) or a new language (on Duolingo).

Catch up on the Shows you missed

Have you heard of people binge-watching shows, but just never had the time? Now, with Netflix, Amazon, Hotstar, etc. all available on desktops, mobiles, smart TVs, on firesticks and so on, you can catch up with all the shows you missed. You can buy a 1-month subscription or a yearly one, and watch great Indian shows like Family Man, Mirzapur, Sacred Games, Little Things, Pushpavalli and so on. There are international shows that you can watch as well like Game of Thrones, The Witcher, Peaky Blinders, The Handmaid's Tale, and so on. If you prefer watching movies, then there are thousands of movies you can watch too, like the Oscar winner - Parasite that is on Amazon Prime now. These streaming services also have movies in many regional languages that you can enjoy.

Play Games

If you’re looking for games to play with your family, then it’s time to dig out all those old board games and puzzles and work on it, from monopoly to Uno these games can keep you entertained for hours. You can even teach your kids some fun card games if you don’t have any board games. If you live alone, then there are thousands of online and mobile multiplayer games that you can play. You’ll play as a team, individual or against opponents, these games help you kill time and make friends.

Connect with Friends and Family

If you’re a social person, then don’t let the lockdown keep you away from friends and family. Pick up the phone and call them. There are many apps like Zoom, Houseparty, WhatsApp, Skype etc. that even let you video call them. You can even set up events, sing-alongs and play games while talking to them, the possibilities are endless. This can boost your mood, help you stay connected with those you care about and also get your mind off your troubles.

Learn to Cook or Improve your Cooking Skills

If you don’t know how to cook, now is a great time to learn. There are plenty of online tutorials that can teach you the basics. You can even learn new styles and new cuisines. If you already know how to cook, then try learning to bake, or look at websites that offer you, online classes, by master chefs from around the world.

Do something that relaxes you

These times are stressful, and managing work, managing your home and taking care of those around you is also stressful. You need to make some time for yourself. Do something that makes you happy and relaxes you. This could be anything from meditation to gardening, singing to knitting, praying to self-care, whatever it might be, make sure to get some quality ‘me’ time in the day. For a lot of people, that time is spent alone, and for some it could be with family, either way, carve out at least a minimum of 30 minutes to relax.

What are you doing to stay entertained at home? Drop us message below and let us know. You can also reach out to us on NoBroker by clicking below. Remember, stay home, practice social distancing, and stay safe. This video is a quick reminder of what you can do to stay entertained

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