We all have been on lockdown for a while now, surrounded by horrifying news of COVID-19, uncertain of what the future entails. While this isn’t a productivity contest in any way, you can take this situation positively and make good use of the time on hand.

Truthfully, I spent the first 15 days in a state of panic, as did the rest of the world. Apart from working from home, all I did was check the news, eat, and sleep. At the end of March is when I decided to make good use of the ample time I have at my disposal and thought I would share a few things that you can do to help you feel better!

Create

Always wanted to sketch and paint but didn’t have the time to? Get to those paintbrushes that have been sitting idle for years and paint all the things you have always wanted to. Design that pretty flatlay you have been eyeing on Instagram or recreate a TikTok you loved!

Remember all the photographs you pinned on Pinterest? Try to recreate them at home by creatively finding photogenic corners of your house. Write that poem that has been keeping you up at night. There are so many ways to create content; choose the outlet that appeals to you the most!

Clean

How long has it been since you cleaned the drawers in your room? When was the last time you rearranged your wardrobe? These tasks are always going to be tedious but try to make them enjoyable! I recently rearranged my entire wardrobe and the way that I made it fun was by creating outfits in my head with different pieces of clothing!

Learn

I know this might seem boring, but learning doesn’t necessarily mean learning something that’s going to get you a better job. While it’s a good time to brush up on your skills and get some certifications in, learning can be a joyous experience too! Learn a new language, a new hobby, a new game, a new instrument, gardening – it’s really endless!

Ideate

This is probably going to sound odd, but guess when I get most of my ideas? A few minutes before I sleep and a few minutes before I get out of bed. I spend a portion of my day building on these ideas and I’ve realized that this process feeds my creative brain the best. I also record them in my journal, so I don’t forget any!

Think about some things you want to do and spend some time on them every day. Let me know if that makes you hustle more. 😉

Design

I understand that this might not be something that everybody wants to do, but give it a second thought. Is there anything in your life in the coming future that you would like to design? It could be your current house, your new house, a workspace, a wedding, outfits to wear after the lockdown, or that cake you’re planning to bake! I’ve got myself a Stylus pen to design my ideal house – not just how it would look on the outside but intricate details like the wallpaper of each room, the placement of plants, and so on.

Communicate

About 4 years ago, I had a very bad habit of only keeping in touch with friends who I’m surrounded with. I learned the hard way but eventually habituated myself to talk to my family every other day and keep in touch with my close friends all the way from kindergarten. While everybody seems okay on the outside, make sure to text that old friend of yours to check up on them. You never know, you might have just made their day by that text of yours!

Self-Care

Taking care of your body and mental health is more important than ever during this lockdown. I have always been lazy about oiling my hair hours before a shower but during this lockdown, I have made it a habit to do so.

I’m sure there are so many self-care habits that you would love to inculcate and now’s the right time to start them. In the meantime, don’t forget about caring for your mental health. The lockdown can be stressful and induce anxiety in many. Meditate, read a book or talk to somebody who can help you navigate through these unprecedented times.

Watch

We all are binge-watching some TV show or the other on the numerous streaming platforms we have subscribed to but there are many different types of content that you can watch. National Parks and museums around the world are conducting virtual tours for all the wanderlust travelers. Creators, writers, and educators are going live on various social media platforms organizing workshops for free. Take advantage of the wealth of content out there!

Cook

This might seem very conventional, but cooking can be therapeutic if you’re living alone. It’s also a good way to spend time with your family! 

Have cook-offs with your family every week and if you’re home alone, have virtual cook-offs. Exchange recipes and try cooking something new every week. The next time you’re craving your favorite entrée or dessert, maybe think about cooking or baking it and you might enjoy it even more!

Help

While we’re safe in this lockdown with the comfort of having a house to live in, food to eat, water to drink, a secure job, and other pleasures of life, remember that everybody doesn’t. If possible, do your bit of donating to verified non-profit organizations of your choice that directly help the ones in need. If not, spread the word by promoting these organizations on your social media handles. Never underestimate the power of social media! Even if you have 100 followers and your promotion ends up influencing 2 followers to donate Rs. 100 each, it counts.

I hope this blog inspires you in some way! Let me know what you have been up to during this lockdown in the comments below. I would love to hear from you and get more ideas! 🙂