CASSIDY BESSA AND KENDRA CONNOCK
Staring at your calendar seems a little more daunting these days as the lockdown looms over the next few weeks. As millions of South Africans settle into some sense of the ‘new normal’ consisting of being confined to one’s home, PDBY has put together a list of things to occupy some of your newly acquired free time. This list is not exhaustive and, if you happen to try any of these suggestions, or you have an activity you think should be added to the list, be sure to tag @PDBYMedia on social media and use the hashtag #ThingsIMadeDuringLockdown or #ThingsIDidDuringLockdown.
1. Start a journal and write about what’s happening: The mundane aspects of everyday life in isolation can distract us from the fact that we are living in unprecedented times. Now is an excellent time to start a journal and write about what is happening not only in our country, but around the world at this time, so that you have a record to look back the finer details of life in lockdown once all the chaos has passed.
2. Meditate: Meditation can be great for your brainpower and muscles. You can find free meditation guides on YouTube or the app, Headspace, has free resources to use during the quarantine period. Take advantage of the free trial and do some meditation every day to calm your anxiety and stress during this period.
3. Sustainable selling: We all have clothes in our cupboard that we no longer wear. Now would be the time to make a bit of cash and create an Instagram page where you can sell some of your lightly worn clothes. You can start with a minimum price and then allow people to bid in the comments. If you need help thinking of a way to start a page, follow @ shopnicolascloset on Instagram to get a few pointers and tips on how to sell your clothes. There are also lots of other Instagram pages that sell clothes from which you can get inspiration. You can even alter some of the clothes to make them even more fashionable. And if you don’t want to sell your clothes, consider altering some of your older pieces. Embroidery, dying and adding prints are fun ways to change up your look. Just keep in mind that you will only be able to send these sold items out after the lockdown.
4. Beginner musicians: Another skill you could learn during this time is the basics of a musical instrument. Youtube has tutorials that will make you feel like you’re in a real music lesson, or you could opt for apps like SimplyPiano, Yousician, and UberChord (all free) to start you off on the right note and perhaps ignite a passion for playing a musical instrument.
5. Obstacle course: Most people already know their homes like the backs of their hands and the prospect of being confined to them for the next while can seem suffocating. It’s important to stay active during this time, so why not try setting up your very own obstacle course in your house or garden? Find ways to make your home landscape more interesting and get your blood pumping at the same time.
6. Colouring in: Colouring in is a great stress-relief and can help ease your anxiety around current affairs, and can also unlock your creative side. Crayons, pencils, markers, whatever your vice is, now is your time to try out something new. If you don’t have a colouring book, head on to Instagram and follow these accounts to get some free colouring pages that you can print out and colour: @ Valfre, @ambivalentlyyours and @ togethergallery. They have a variety of different art styles for everyone to enjoy.
7. Learn a new language: Knowing how to speak different languages is always a good skill to have, and now would be the time to learn a language you’ve always wanted to learn. You will probably not come out of lockdown speaking another language fluently, but you can easily pick up some of the basics. The best way to do this is through Duolingo and similar apps. Duolingo is a free app and the lessons only take a few minutes.
8. Research a topic: Lockdown is a great time to read up on something you’ve always wanted to know more about. Download some podcasts, find some explanation videos, and look up some articles to get into the nitty-gritty of a topic, and come out of lockdown a little more clued up on your topic of choice.
9. Virtual Hangouts and spreading some joy to those around you: Although we may not be able to make direct contact with those around us, there are some ways we can stay connected. Drop a friend a message to check up on them every now and then. If you have a door or window in your house that people outside can see, leave a happy or encouraging message on it to spread a little bit of joy to someone who might need it. To keep in contact with friends, try a group FaceTime call (for IOS users). If you are not an IOS user, you can use Whatsapp video call or the ZOOM app (these options work for IOS users too). Whatsapp video call only allows you to speak to three people at the same time, so if you are interested in having a larger hangout, ZOOM is a better option. If you would like to have a more interactive hangout, try the Houseparty app. It is free and offers fun activities like the Head’s Up game and other trivia games. It is also a good alternative video call tool if you do not want to use the previously listed tools.
10. Drawing/ Painting: Being forced to stay home is a good time to explore your artistic talents by trying your hand at drawing or painting or, if you’re already an artist, enjoy spending this time creating masterpieces! Youtube is a great place to find artistic inspiration and instructional videos. Beginner drawing tutorials, or a Bob Ross painting tutorial is a good place to start. You may even find a new hobby to continue once the lockdown is over.
11. Microwave recipes: Panic buying has left shelves with the strangest collections of ingredients, and as the lockdown progresses, it becomes more and more difficult to come up with exciting ideas for meals. Microwaves are a student’s best friend when it comes to cooking and there are heaps of yummy meals that can be made in them, from mug cakes to cinnamon rolls, macaroni and cheese, to a quick and easy risotto. Don’t overlook your microwave, it can pave the way to a delicious (and easy) lockdown meal!
12. At-home yoga: This is a great way to get your body moving and keep yourself fit during the lockdown. You can find free yoga classes on YouTube. You can also go onto Corepoweryoga.com where you can find many free yoga classes of different durations and that target different areas of the body.
Illustrations: Kayla Thomas, Giovanna Janos and Leah Rees
I’m Kendra! Coffee addict, cat lover, postgrad student. Usually found reading, napping, or doodling.