Here we are again. Staying home to stay safe in yet another lockdown.

How are you coping with lockdown 3.0? Are you prepared and ahead of the game? Or are you finding yourself struggling with juggling everything about once again?

Whether you’re working from home, finding it a breeze, staying afloat, homeschooling the kids and trying to keep up with the rest of the usual daily tasks and chores or finding yourself scrambling around with your head, well, elsewhere — I just want you to know, that you are doing amazing! It’s not easy for everyone, but you’re doing the best you can. And that’s enough! Take your time, relax, it’s not the end of the world. We all cope in very different ways.

It really doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom though. If you are “lucky” enough to stay home to stay safe, a little bit of positive thinking and a change of mindset can really help you to pass the time.

With that in mind, I’m not going to waffle on, I’m just gonna hit you up with my ‘30 things to do . . . lockdown 3.0 style!’ . . .

1. Join an instagram baking class – Bread Ahead is streaming baking classes and master baker Dominique Ansel is showing you his expertise via Instagram. From doughnuts to brownies, there’s no limit to what these pros can help you create. Take their ingredient list on your next shopping run before tuning in.

2. Live stream the Northern Lights – Just because you’re stuck at home, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on some of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders. Thanks to Explore.com, you can now live-stream the Northern Lights straight into your living room.

3. Setup a home karaoke session – If you’re usually wary of the karaoke crowds, now’s the time to choose (and ace) your go-to belter.

4. Host a virtual murder mystery night – Just when you thought Who-dunnit mysteries would be limited to figuring out who got into your stash of quarantine snacks, Red Herring’s multilayered games can now be adapted for virtual gatherings with the assistance of Zoom or Google Hangouts.

5. Search the skies – whilst our movements may be limited, there’s a whole lot going on above our heads. From super moons, meteor showers and satellites, why not set up a camp fire and go star gazing.

6. Bring an aquarium to your home – missing a trip to sea life? Why not create your own at home. From setting up a fish tank, an outdoor pond or even growing your own sea monkeys and aqua dragons.

7. Learn a language – there are tons of websites and apps out there helping you to learn a new language. Pick one up for free and say “Bonjour” to a whole new world.

8. Clear out your wardrobes and donate it to charity – now that you have some spare time on your hands, why not have a mass clear out and donate your items to a charity.

9. Hit the gym in your living room – ugh! Exercise, right? *insert eye roll here* No, Change your mindset, exercise is good for our health and especially our mental health and there’s lots of free apps available, so get one downloaded, get your butt in gear and get your sweat on at home. You’ll feel great for it!

10. Make friends with the neighbours – In normal times, you might not be the type to actually talk to your neighbours, you may have already become best friends, given that we’ve had several lockdowns now. But let’s be honest: your social life’s a wreck right now, and you’re going to make friends with the people next door, no matter what. Make a card, introduce yourself, offer a helping hand in the garden, have a cup of tea over the fence or on the driveway, make a basket of muffins and spread some good cheer amongst the neighbourhood.

11. Check out live webcams online – with curfews and lockdown measures being enforced…again, things are looking a little different – as the live webcam feeds of tourist hotspots show. You do wonder who the odd straggler is and why they’re still knocking about, but mainly it’s made us even more impatient to get back out and explore.

12. Lose yourself in a colouring book – sounds a little lame doesn’t it, we’re not freakin’ five; but colouring in is highly therapeutic and can help to ease your anxiety and stress levels. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself and find out.

13. Binge watch Netflix – some days are just meant to be lazy. So cosy up, get the snacks and hit the sofa for a day of pure binge watching!

14. Get outdoors – being cooped up for a long time can get to the best of us, make sure to get outside for at least one hour a day. Maybe a jog around the block, feed the ducks, tidy up the garden, feed the wildlife, take a bike ride around the town, learn how to roller skate. Your only limited by your imagination.

15. Take up a new hobby – ever fancied yourself as an artist, a knitter or maybe a bit of a hula-hooper? Whatever hobby you’ve always wanted to learn. Now is your time! There are so many courses available online to help you out and many of them are absolutely free! Keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram, there are lots of tutors and groups lending a helping hand and teaching new skills.

16. Go back to college – there are literally so many options wildly available online these days, from taking an online college course to gaining a diploma. The world is your oyster . . . Kind of!

17. Book a holiday – need something to look forward to? Book a holiday (maybe for sometime in the distant future, you know, once all this has blown over ) it will give you that little boost of hope and happiness that you may need right now.

18. Learn to play a musical instrument – like, properly. Now is the perfect time to gain yourself some new skills. The World Wide Web and App Store can help you out immensely … maybe even check out your local neighbourhood and support local. Teachers are still teaching online so join a club!

19. Sign up to a ‘happiness class’ – As the world around us changes on a daily, almost hourly, basis, we’re all facing some new anxieties. That’s where the world-famous Ivy League university Yale comes in. They’ve shared their most popular course, The Science of Well Being, online, for free, wherever you are in the world. Following psychologist Laurie Santos’ ten-week seminar series, you’ll learn how to increase your happiness, debunk myths about what makes us content and ultimately create better, more productive habits.

20. Calm the **** down with a meditation app – Serenity seems pretty hard to come by right now, but you can breathe a sigh of relief: whether you’re a fully fledged meditation guru or totally new to it all (and, tbh, a bit confused by the hype), there’s a plan. There’s so much choice out there when it comes to meditation apps – because an app can put you in the right frame of mind when a stick of nag champa just won’t cut it.

21. Play a nostalgic board game – There are certain classics, Scrabble, Connect 4, Monopoly, that every household probably owns. Go dig them out and get your game face on!

22. Do those home DIY jobs you’ve been putting off – face it, it needs doing, you have the time, just go and do it!

23. Joe wicks is back – love him or hate him, his hearts in the right place and he’s getting the nation moving again. Kick off those slippers (you don’t even need to get out of your pyjamas!) and get your ass in gear and get the blood pumping. You’ll be knackered. It will feel good!

24. Get into pottery – (something I really want to have a go at) It’s even on the TV at the moment. Checkout some online workshops, order some supplies online and get those creative juices flowing. Who knows, you could be a secret little potter!

25. Spend some digital time with loved ones – it’s hard, I know, we’re all missing our family and friends and have totally had enough of staying in now. We may not be able to have a squeeze and a cuddle but at least we have technology. Who knew that video-conferencing apps would become such a big part of everybody’s lives so quickly?

26. Start a journal – it may sound absolute pants but it’s actually a great way of getting everything off your chest. You can write about the coronavirus, your life or even direct it to someone. Trust me, you’ll feel a whole lot better with all those thought and worries out of your head.

27. Read – it’s the most relaxing way to pass the time and helps to slow the brain and reduce stress. Whatever you enjoy – read it cover to cover, maybe even join an online book club or review it on Facebook to inspire your friends!

28. Get organised – have a January spring clean! Tackle a cupboard a day! Organize your Tupperware so that the lids match the containers, get a charity box ready for the old stuff.

29. Create a book of wishes – create your very own book of dreams and wishes of what you want to create in your life and watch those thoughts become things as you write them down and start believing that you have them!

30. Do nothing – Here’s the thing. we’re normally all about squeezing the absolute best out of life. We want every second we spend to be spent well: eating the best food, soaking up the best culture, dancing at the best parties. But right now, things have been turned on their head again. Everyone is having to stay in and do less. We’ve done it once, we can do it again! And actually, we should be a little relieved at having a bit more time on our hands. Time to dream, doze and do absolutely nothing. So by all means try and pack as much into your lockdown time as you can. But don’t forget to take some time every so often, to switch off and drift – at least until we’re all allowed out in the world again.

happy lockdown adventures

nay nay x