We are well into lockdown and have yet to reach the virus peak in the UK. The weather has been a comfort for many with plenty of dazzling sunshine. It’s hotting up too with temperatures in double figures. However, after almost 4 weeks at home for many, more for others and the further lockdown added, we need a few things to help us make the time at home more enjoyable and help keep us busy.
Collaborative post
10 Ways to Make Staying at Home More Enjoyable
Reorganise Your Wardrobe
It’s getting warmer and now is the time for a quick rejig of your wardrobe. Move the items that are best suited to the warmer weather to the front, so they are more easily accessible and clear out any clothes you no longer want or don’t fit into. You can stay cool and comfortable in women’s trousers, with cute comfy light jumpers, or opt for flattering feminine dresses. These are great options for pottering about the home, arts and crafts with the kids, cooking etc. The key is comfy clothing to help keep you feeling cool and relaxed. The bonus is, if you make room in your wardrobe, you’ll have room for a few new items to enjoy wearing!
Declutter
You would be surprised at how much more relaxed your mind is when there is less obvious clutter in the home. As a messy home with excessive amounts of toys, furniture, etc can have a detrimental impact on our state of mind. Clear out what you don’t need and see how your mood lifts and your stress levels begin to drop.
Read A Book
I always say I would love to have time to read. You’d think now I would. I’m afraid that isn’t the case as I’m just as busy as ever juggling the kids, husband, housework, kids’ homework, cooking and working full time from home. For those that have the time, reading can be very therapeutic. Not only is it enjoyable but it takes us away into another world far from our own and can distract and also relax the mind.
Pamper Yourself
The kids have been looking for new things to keep themselves entertained at home and came up with a great idea. The set up a home spa. So far, they’ve given their brother a foot soak and massage, washed and styled his hair, styled each other’s hair, applied face masks and hidden my tweezers. Damn it – how am I going to clear the caterpillar growing above my eyes now?! They’re having a fabulous time and you can too. Take a little time for yourself or get the kids involved, you’ll be amazed how much they’ll enjoy it and it’s calming!!!!!!!!! Play some soothing music and whip out those pampering gifts you got for Mother’s Day or Christmas. Now’s the time to use them.
Bake
Baking is fun and my kids love to bake, as do many adults. It’s a great distraction and you can get creative with ingredients used, as well as with how you decide to decorate. I have a pretty extensive range of equipment at home having baked all sorts for years. If you don’t have a suitable selection of bakeware, you’ll find all sorts of great baking accessories on sites like wayfair.co.uk. Whether you need mixing bowls, spatulas, scales, bakeware, piping and icing accessories you’ll find it all here.
https://melaniesfabfinds.co.uk/recipes/simple-lemon-drizzle-cake/
Enjoy a Chat, Drinks, Dinner, A Movie or Games Night with Friends
You can still enjoy drinks and a chat with friends and family during lockdown! The other week I was introduced to Houseparty! New to me as apparently I’ve been living under a rock, this app is just what we all need for face to face group chats. It’s fantastic. The app is free to use and is currently one of the most downloaded apps. My friends were subjected to me creating a salad for dinner whilst we caught up.
Exercise
Guaranteed to boost your mood, a workout can be beneficial to young and old. Whether it’s the kids working out with Joe Wicks or adults exercising with or ogling Chris Hemsworth. Get those endorphins whizzing around your bloodstream for a quick happy fix!
Do a Puzzle
It’s not just kids that love to do puzzles I know many adults do too. Now is the time to get those puzzles out you’ve been storing in the cupboards or even buy a new one.
Colouring in Books
During our stint in hospital previously when one of my daughters was very ill we would often do the colouring in sheets provided by the hospital. These range in complexity and design and were really good fun to do. There is a reason they offer these to children in hospital – they reduce stress and improve mood.
Decorating
I’m seeing numerous posts from facebook friends saying they are decorating. Now is as good a time as any. For those stuck at home with very little to do, now is the time to finish off those odd jobs around the home you’ve been putting off for the last 3 + years. Not only will you be left with a sense of achievement but it’ll improve the look of your home resulting in a more zen frame of mind.
How are you making the lockdown period more enjoyable?
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We had a huge clear out/ declutter these past few days and it is so nice, it’s been really therapeutic to get rid of lots of stuff. I love doing jigsaws and wish we had more of them.
Jigsaws are really good fun. I hope you get hold of some more.
Staying at home has been something my wife and I have done since 2014, with the exception of family gatherings or similar events. We rarely go anywhere, and travel? We never really did that. This is a crazy time for us all, and your tips will make life at home more pleasant!
Sounds like you’d be able to give us all some tips for staying home.
We have been declutter a bit at a time, still more to do which is keeping us busy. Also been doing a lot more baking which I am loving as have been neglecting that for a while
We need to do more baking, we got a bit sidetracked and haven’t done much since our lemon drizzle cake.
Wow, I have done everything on that list already. Shows that this lockdown has been going on for way too long. Hopefully, the situation calms down soon!
I agree it is making us all a bit stir crazy.
These are some lovely ideas of things to do I think it is really hard to keep yourself going at times and doing something you enjoy is a big thing. I could do with some home cooking!
It can be a struggle but keeping busy helps.
Baking is one thing I am doing a lot of during the lockdown and watching movies with my kids. We are also spending more time in the garden having a good play in the sun
We love to watch movies together. Finding one they all want to see is the hard part. Sounds like yours are getting plenty of vitamin D!
We have been doing a lot of baking and similar things recently! Steve’s been cooking a lot more now – it is amazing what this time at home is allowing us to do.
It’s great when you get to do things you enjoy but never normally have the time to do.
Thank goodness for video chats right? Loved the drawing function on house party. Some great ideas here. I really need to declutter my wardrobe.
Ha, yes chat sure does come in handy now.
We have been completing tasks around the house that we never really found the time to do. Decluttering and sorting things out can be so therapeutic.
It really can. Plus it’s great to clear things out you no longer want.
As soon as any of the rooms are ready in our new house I’ll be looking forward to decluttering and reorganising. There’s not too much I can be doing at the moment and it’s a real pain x
It can be a pain but you’ll get there soon enough. I hope the decluttering goes well Rhian.
Yeah ! bored ??? never with your FAB suggestion – still need to declutter
It’s the perfect time to get the house organised and sorted. I’m working my way through my to-read pile!
Good idea. It’s great when you have the time to read.
Looking at that lemon drizzle cake makes me want to start baking right away! The smell of baking wafting around the house is lovely and so is the finished product. So much nicer than shop bought cakes and a productive way to spend time at home .
Homemade is much nicer and can be healthier too.
The only problem with decluttering is that the charity shops and tips are closed so I have nowhere to put it
They are temporarily. It’s looking like things may be changing shortly.