As the world is trying to adjust to life under the ‘new normal’, there’s constant talk of a second lockdown in the UK. Restaurants and pubs nationwide at the moment have a 10pm curfew and gyms and fitness classes have been told to shut again in hotspot areas. Adding to these woes are the theatres and cultural venues which still remain closed, causing grave damage to the social tapestry of our urban areas.
If a second lockdown takes place – which is likely – it will coincide with much shorter days and far less sunshine. Without the benefits of good weather to act as a mood booster it’s evermore important to seek out interests that have a positive effect on our wellbeing this autumn and winter.
With this in mind, I’ve been trialling a few activities and these are the ones that help keep the blues at bay:
More mindful cooking & eating
As the old adage goes, ‘You are what you eat’ and that’s why cooking is so important for a healthy lifestyle. This is hardly revolutionary news but its worth lamenting since it’s all too easy to fall back on takeaways or unhealthy eating habits – myself included.
Now don’t get me wrong, I could definitely improve my culinary skills, but I’m getting there. If you’re anything like me you probably have UberEats downloaded on your phone so the temptation to get a takeaway is literally at your fingertips. In a bold move, I deleted the app with no signs of re-installing it any time soon. I know installing the app again is easy, but when the idea pops in my head I just remind myself of why it’s been deleted in the first place.
The thing about getting a takeaway is it rarely tastes as good as expected and then the realisation it was a waste of money adds to the disappointment. Yet still, when laziness strikes and a strong allergy to washing up takes hold, it’s easy to be seduced. However, with a little prep (less time than what it takes waiting for a Deliveroo), you could make something tasty, filling and nutritious .
There’s always the sense of satisfaction that you get from doing something yourself when you nail a dish. We all love praise, so try cooking for others and you’ll soon be batting off compliments for your latest concoction. There are many other benefits associated with cooking, including stress relief and knowing exactly what you’re putting in your body.
If you’re looking for some easy and flavoursome recipes to add to your repertoire try these scrumptious vegetarian Indian recipes.
Yoga
After a little persuasion from my friend who’s been incorporating yoga into his life for several years with fantastic results, I recently started yoga and the feeling I get after each class is almost up there with climbing Ben Nevis. It’s not easy but hugely gratifying.
There are all different types of yoga and some classes are more advanced than others so don’t feel intimated if you consider yourself to be as stiff as a plank of wood. We’re all beginners when we start something new so don’t compare yourself to the yogi contorting their body into a pretzel at the front of the class. That person started as a beginner too but you just didn’t see the process of them getting to where they are today. It takes consistency and once you start noticing the difference in your mind and body there’s no going back.
If you have to self-isolated or reside in a hotspot area, taking online classes or following YouTube tutorials are a superb alternative. Looking for a place to start? Yoga with Adriene delivers each class with a calming energy that will make even the most stressed of souls unwind.
Discover more music
Music makes us feel good and now there’s a scientific reason for it. Research proves that when you listen to the music you like, your brain releases dopamine, a ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter that helps you feel happier. It can decrease the level of stress hormones, help you stay calm, and combat insomnia in some cases. I personally don’t have any problems sleeping, but when I need to unwind, Brian Eno and Philip Glass are my guys.
There’s so much to love about music, especially its role in how we connect with people, whether in national anthems, lullabies for children, love songs, or religious hymns. And while the pandemic prevents singing together in person, don’t let it stop you singing in the shower!
Next time you’re on Spotify or YouTube listening to your favourite track, take notice of what these sites suggest you might like – it’s one algorithm I’m happy to indulge in.
Play board games
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of scrolling aimlessly through social media even though it never makes us feel good. So let’s put down our screens and switch to analog for our entertainment by playing a board game. There’s a wonderful feeling of nostalgia once the boardgames are pulled out of the cupboard. It’s like being a kid again on Christmas day and the only time your dad would legit owe you money for staying at your property in Mayfair.
There’s so much to choose from including classics like Monopoly, Scrabble and Chess to modern games well-suited to the most common quarantine scenarios of solo play, two-person gaming, and family time.
In case you’re wondering, my go-to game is chess, I’m obsessed with playing despite not being very good – warning, it takes a lot of losing before you feel the glory of winning.
Get creative / learn a new skill
With more time spent inside, lockdown could turn out to be one of the most creative times we’ll ever have to experiment with things we’ve always wanted to do.
While some of you might still be furloughed, having the time to spend on your passions could be a blessing in disguise or at the very least, a productive and fun way to pass the time. We should embrace boredom and see what comes from it.
While I’ve been trying to improve my writing and branching out into poetry, my friends and family have turned to creative pursuits too. My brother has been mastering painting, my neighbour has taken to drawing trees from our local area and my boyfriend has been learning the tricks of photography.
While saying this, it’s also important not to feel bad either if you’re too tired to learn a new skill or pick up a new hobby… Sometimes what we now need is to rest, so we can be ready for those interesting things down the road.
