Freedom In Lock Down

In South Africa lock down has been put into place by the President. Unless you are an essential services individual (health care worker, grocery store worker, delivery driver, etc) that pretty much means STAY HOME unless absolutely necessary! (Urgent medical attention or buying food, which should be done every 1 to 2 weeks at the least). Many other countries are putting lock downs in place and some people and towns are choosing to self isolate and quarantine even without government instructions.

Thank you to those of you who are taking the Covid-19 Pandemic seriously. To those of you who aren't, seriously?! GET. YOUR. SHIT. TOGETHER! There's no other way for me to say it, people who are not taking this seriously are the ones causing it to be more of a problem and are responsible for jeopardizing the health of those who are high risk as well as themselves and their loved ones.

On to the list of things to keep you occupied and sane during your lock down or quarantine period. These are all things that will bring a sense of accomplishment and help find clarity during a time of panic and confusion.

1) Baking / Cooking

Baking and cooking are going to be life savers for you! Buying raw ingredients tends to save money and during the pandemic jobs and the economy are taking a beating, to say the least. This will also allow you to change it up, make the things you want as well as learn new recipes and life skills that will help you long after the pandemic ends. You'd be surprised with what you could make with a few simple ingredients and spices. Here's a tip, google your favorite food and see how you can make it at home! You can also meal prep and freeze a lot of what you make for a later date.

2) Pick up an instrument

For millennia music has been known to sooth the soul and uplift spirits! Worst case scenario, we lose streaming services like Spotify, highly unlikely but so was a global pandemic just a few months ago. So grab an instrument, get on YouTube and learn to play your favorite song, trust me! Learning the opening chords to Metallica's Nothing Else Matters was a mood changer and I'm not even good at guitar, but that's the point of this time, spend it on doing something you've always wanted to spend your time on.

3) Writing & Art

Express yourself through writing or creating works of art, this can include painting, drawing, photography, poetry, stories, articles, the list goes on and on. The major thing here is expression, being confined to your home can really play with your mental stability. Journaling is also a fantastic way to unscramble your thoughts and can often show you how small your problems are compared to how they may seem. Who knows you could even create something that goes down in history or sets you on a whole new career path.

4) Board Games, Video Games & Apps

Social distancing doesn't mean no social entertainment! In fact a friend of mine back in Canada and I decided to download a few apps that we could play while half a world a way. Games like Words With Friends, Bloons Tower Defense, Draw Classic and Trivia Crack can keep you both stimulated and connected. Board games and card games are fantastic for playing with people you may be quarantined with, there are a ton of games you could play with a deck of playing cards, or even clue or monopoly to pass time (Highly recommend washing your hands and keeping the sanitizer on standby for this). Let's also not forget the world of video games, in this day and age on most platforms, you're connected to entire civilizations and journeys that can draw you in for hours, days and even weeks... "Wait we were experiencing a pandemic? Didn't even notice!"- A Gamer

5) Stay Fit

The science behind the benefits of fitness is almost inarguable. Ever heard the saying "healthy body, healthy mind"? Well it's truer than you would think. Many personal trainers, including myself, are using social media platforms to hold live training sessions or put out workouts that people can do at home for FREE! Keep your body active and your mind sane, fitness also improves your body's immune system which is very important during a global health pandemic. You don't need a gym or gym equipment, just yourself is enough to make a difference and also get you going on the body you've always dreamed of having, especially after all that baking and cooking, definitely speaking for myself on this one!

6) Movie Marathon

Lock down and quarantine doesn't have to be all about self improvement, although it's definitely a good time to do so. However relaxation and switching off can be just as beneficial, especially if you're a workaholic or someone who is always on the go. Give yourself a break and watch your favorite movies or even ones you haven't seen before. You have enough time now to smash out every Marvel and Star Wars movie out there, not that you necessarily have to watch these, I'm a geek so guilty as charged for doing this... although not necessarily due to a global pandemic.

7) Take Up a Course

With many jobs and business struggling during this time, it may be a great opportunity for you to take up a new profession or learn some new skills that could find you work that isn't affected as badly as others. There are many online courses one can take, both free and paid. The world economy is changing and people and business are starting to see the benefits of online education and work, so now is as good a time as any to get some new skills under your belt and be qualified in a field you've always had an interest in or be qualified enough to earn a higher paying job.

8) Start a Business

Finding yourself financially struggling during this time can really be nerve wrecking! If re-educating yourself is not a direction you feel like taking just to find another job, then consider doing so in order to start your own business. Start by choosing a passion of yours, as it's always easier to put the effort in when you enjoy what you're doing, this is also a long term plan so don't expect results immediately, but once you're in the groove and going, being an independent earner can unlock an entirely new world for you. There are a lot of free services and platforms, including social media, that can help you get a business going. This is also a great time to see how you can be innovative and change society for the better through your business.

9) Learn a Language

As travel is not a viable option right now, consider taking up a language or two for the places you want to visit once travel becomes a possibility again. You'll find yourself enjoying your destination a lot more when you're able to communicate with locals more easily, attempting to speak to locals in their language will more often than not make them more friendly and helpful towards you as they can see you're putting in the effort. It's the same as when someone speaks to you in broken English, you get the just of it and you tend to be more helpful. Learning a language can also lead you to meeting some amazing people and working or living in places you never thought you would.

10) DIY Home Improvements & Spring Cleaning

I saved this one for last because I feel as though many of us would procrastinate it, unless that's just me. Now is a great time to change that light bulb you've left for the past four years or redo the room you've been thinking about. Be creative, make your living space more comfortable and to your liking, this will greatly improve mood and keep you from feeling claustrophobic in your own home. Spring cleaning is also a great idea, "Out with the old and in with the new", even if it's not Spring where you are, it's Autumn (Fall) in South Africa at the moment, so no excuses. Once all the dust clears you'll find it easier to breath for sure and more at home in your own space.

The time we have been given to stay at home like this is a once in a life time opportunity to do the things we love and work on one's self and our futures. The circumstances around it may not be ideal but we have to stay positive and find the silver lining. By improving ourselves and our living spaces we will come out of this with a more positive attitude, willingness to change in order to save our planet and compassion towards one another and the impact this pandemic has had and will further have on us.

It's time for a mental evolution as a species, it's time to let go of old ways and begin new ones. We all hoped and prayed that 2020 would be a revolution for the better, this is it. For the better! We have been given a sudden and intense opportunity for the following 9 years to be the decade that humanity saved ourselves and our planet from the path we were on.