It’s been a week since lockdown here in the UK. Are you bored yet? Here are 100 ideas to keep your mind and body busy while you stay safe at home.
Creative Projects
- Sara Tasker’s #StayHome Photo Challenge
- Turn you windows into art with Myro Doodles
- Sew yourself a gorgeous kimono gown
- Make miniature matchbox art
- Make a luxurious kantha quilt
- Draw on your patio in chalk
- Practice life drawing
- Recreate works of art with objects and people in your own home
- Make your own ring and have it cast
- Sculpt with salt dough
- Make bunting to brighten your home or garden
- Press flowers
Frugality
- Mend your clothes using the Japanese art of Sashiko
- Make these reusable cotton pads by Sophie Benson
- Repair broken china using the Japanese art of kintsugi
- Repurpose your old t-shirts into cushion covers or tote bags
- Create new outfits from current clothes
- Mend your knitwear
- Make your own lip scrub
- Use up your free makeup and skincare samples
Finance
- Small things you can do to help you finances with The Frugality
- How to stop impulse shopping by Field and Nest
- Do a Money Makeover
- Reduce your household bills
New Skills
- Learn how to make pasta with Salvi’s
- Make your own plant based dye like Botanical Threads
- Practice shuffling cards until you can shuffle like a pro
- Do a free course with Open University
- Knit yourself a scarf for winter
- Perfect your winged eyeliner with Bethany from The Vintage Beauty Parlour
- Learn how to play poker
- Learn how to wire a plug
Get Active
- Try Dance Like a Mother online dance classes for adults and kids, including babywearing parents.
- Live fitness sessions with my bootcamp instructor Kieran every evening at 7pm
- Do the 250 squat challenge
- Work out with Mr Motivator
- Try belly dancing for beginners
- Do an online yoga class
Organisation
- Sort out your cosmetics and create a capsule makeup wardrobe
- Print out your Instagram photos and display them
- Write down your favourite recipes in a recipe book
- Declutter your phone and backup your photos
- Arrange your books by colour
- Carry out some basic car maintenance
- Moth proof your wardrobe
Connect
- Start a virtual book club
- Play your friends and family at scrabble via your phone
- Post cards to your friends and family
- Host an online pub quiz
- Have a webchat karaoke party
- Visit Chester Zoo online
Culture
- Browse the best exhibits in the British Library
- Listen to the 6 Music Festival 2020
- Visit the Pyramids of Giza, the Taj Mahal or Machu Picchu
- Stroll around the Musée d’Orsay in Paris
- View the Schiaparelli exhibit at the V&A
- Visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam
- Watch Shakespeare at The Globe
Food & Drink
- Create your own unique gin
- Make a year’s worth of marmalade
- Grow an avocado plant from seed
- Try these great store cupboard recipes from Nicky’s Kitchen Sanctuary
- Make a sourdough starter so you can bake your own bread
- Make puff pastry (you’ll probably never have time to do it again)
- Level up your cake decorating skills
- Stock up your freezer with some great freezer meals
- Make your own secret recipe herbal tea
Wellbeing and Mindfulness
- Grow new house plants by propagating cuttings
- Get into a healthy bedtime routine
- Watch Parks & Recreation
- Dye your hair that bright colour you’ve always wanted (if it looks terrible at least no one will see you!)
- Listen to birdsong from your garden or window and learn which birds they are
- Start keeping a journal
- Listen to a free audiobook from Audible
- Print and colour these mindful colouring pages
- Look through your holiday photos and print your favourites
- Fold origami cranes to display in your window
Little Luxuries
- Make breakfast an event
- Give yourself a pedicure
- Make your favourite cocktail
- Have afternoon tea
- Order a meal from your favourite restaurant to eat in
- Pour yourself a glass of wine, grab a book and play this, this and this at the same time
Home
- Give your Ikea furniture a makeover
- Paint and hang bird boxes
- Plant a herb garden (either indoor or outdoor)
- If you have a collection of something, display it beautifully
- Plant a window box to improve the view from your windows
- Make a bee hotel
- Give your kitchen cupboards a makeover with Little House On The Corner
- Recover an old lampshade
Helping
- Sign up to be an NHS volunteer responder
- Help out a local charity through Do-IT, Volunteering Matters, or Reach Volunteering.
- Give blood
- If you have to stay at home sign up to be a “check in and chat” volunteer
- Donate to your local food bank
- Check in with any vulnerable neighbours
- Help to save Britan’s footpaths in your local area
Let me know what you’ve been doing while self isolating – I’d love to heae more ideas in the comments!
