We are living through an unprecedented time in our lives, and as the Government has implemented further restrictions on social interactions we will be spending quite a bit of time at home. Keeping that in mind, here is a list of things to do to keep yourself occupied.
Keep a Blog/Diary
As mentioned above, this is uncharted territory and many people don't know how the next few weeks and months will play out. Given that, it is a great idea to keep a diary or make a blog on your life during these coming months. Document your life, what is going through your head, what happened today that made the day a little better? Even if nobody but yourself reads it, it is a great way of getting your thoughts on paper and something to show to your grandchildren in years to come.
Take Up a New Hobby
With nothing but time on your hands, it might be very soon when you reach the end of Netflix. How about taking up that hobby you always wanted to try? Paint picture, knit a sweater, or write a book. These are all creative things you can do by yourself or with someone you love - plus its not like you don't have the time to do so now.
Brush Up on a Language
It has been a few years since you've spoken that language you may have learned in school, or maybe you are looking to take up a new one. Being able to speak the local language of where you are gives you so much freedom and it makes the locals feel like you are embracing their culture. So, when all of this blows over and the borders open up, how nice will it be when you can confidently order a fresh croissant and cappuccino in a small French town, in their language. Or being able to converse with your co-worker when you are back at work who might be missing home. The power of conversation brings everyone closer together. DuoLingo is an amazing resource with plenty of free language courses available.
Start an Online Course
Online course provide a wealth of potential new skill opportunities for those who are curious. Site such as Skill Share are treasure chests of amazing courses on anything you can think of, from graphic design, to coding and even painting. In a world where change is inevitable it is more important than ever to be constantly upskilling and adding new pages to your book.
Start a podcast
Over 40% of the Irish population listening to a podcast at least once a month, why not use the next few weeks to try your hand at creating a podcast? They can be on any topic at all, whether it is something you know a lot about or something you want to find out more. Podcasting gives you the opportunity to learn something new, along with gaining new skills. You don’t need anything fancy to create a podcast; a simple phone recording app will do (VoicePro is one of the best out there). There are many ways at editing your podcast, Audacity is one of the best free ones, however, if you have the Adobe bundle then Adobe Audition is great too!
Get Active
As the majority of gyms and other fitness facilities closed until further notice there is no excuse to let your fitness and health go to the way-side. Get out and go for a walk or run; there is nothing better than getting out into the fresh air (but do remember to take precautions!). Grab your bike and cycle to the store if you need to stock up on supplies. If you are one who used to use the gym for classes then YouTube is now your best friend. With videos on all types of activities for home-workouts, you will find something to keep up your routine. Perhaps you could take up some new activity, like yoga or Zumba! With so many ways to keep fit at home there really is no excuse!
Deep Clean the House
With so much time at home there is really no excuses for putting off that big deep clean you have been talking about! By tackling a room a day you could have the whole house spick and span before the week is out. While tackling the wardrobes try go all Marie Kondo and see if there is anything that “doesn’t spark joy” and then you can always set it aside to donate it. With unprecedented times ahead, and the recommendation for working from home if possible ongoing trust us when we say you will be very glad to be working from a clean and clutter free home in a week or two!
