How To Enjoy Lockdown: Five Ways To Succeed In Isolation

How Can I enjoy lockdown?

Is there a lockdown looming? Are you not sure how you’ll deal with yet another stint in isolation? Well today is your lucky day because I’ve put together a list of creative lockdown ideas to help you get through it without tearing your hair out – or having to resort to watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S again (although the latter is totally acceptable imo). These will help you get through – and possible even enjoy your lockdown experience.

Make Lockdown Meaningful, Not Busy

Keeping yourself busy and always having something to do might sound like the perfect way to get through those long and arduous hours at home, but what happens when you have some down time and you realise you didn’t actually have fun? The key to happiness (or enjoying lockdown) is finding a purpose. Purposeful tasks that are meaningful to you will have a meaningful impact on your life and mood.

For example, does that Pinterest craft printout actually satisfy any creative hole in you or are you just looking for something to keep the hands busy until dinner is on the table? It is a lot easier at the end of the day to feel fulfilled if you feel like you’ve done something that matters to you, instead of something that will end up in the bin.

Some examples:

1. Read a book about a topic you wanted to learn more about.
2. Create that painting for your room you’ve been meaning to make.
3. Start that DIY project you’re passionate about.
4. Organise your bullet journal/diary.

Make A lockdown Routine – and Stick To It

Lockdown tends to throw us all off balance. This can lead to feeling lost or falling into a routine that only makes you feel worse and exacerbates the situation. That is not what we want! Ask yourself: how you want your day to look? Think about it from a practical and honest perspective. Do you have enough time/energy to stick to the routine? Are you setting yourself up to have a successful lockdown experience?

Daily Routines and Weekly Plans

I use a diary (bullet journal) to organise my day and week. I use a weekly planner to write a do-to list of the things I would like to complete by the end of the week and then every morning I wake up at 6am (I’m a morning person!) and plan out my day as I have my morning coffee.

From my lockdown experience, I have found having around 5 things on my weekly to-do list is an achievable, practical amount. 10 things is too much for me and I end up getting overwhelmed. Five things on my to-do list gives me the option to choose to do one thing every day. Some of my to-do list items will be fun stuff like make a new painting. That means on Monday I might do the research for the painting and on Tuesday I might to the sketching. On Wednesday I might not feel like painting so I might push that off until Saturday. Other weekly to-do list items are less fun, such as calling the bank.

By making a routine of getting up early and planning out my day gives me the flexibility to check in with how I feel that day and structure it to fit my needs of the week. Which brings us to the next creative lockdown idea…

Check In With Your Feelings

Pretending everything is cool and normal will only get you so far. It is OK to feel worried and stressed. It is a worrying and stressful time! I recommend checking in every morning to see how you feel. Are you hopeful? Are you scared? A check in with your emotions can help you understand your emotional response to the situation. This can help you decide if you need to do something about your feelings or accept them. Focus on what you can control for the day. Checking in with your emotions can help you understand yourself better and prepare you for the day.

Get Back To Nature

In Victoria (Australia), we were allowed an allocated 1 hour of exercise outside per day during our lockdown. In Sydney the rules are even more lenient. To stay sane and survive the lockdown experience, I recommend utilising that time to get back to nature. Take a walk to the park and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. What can you see, smell, and hear? What flowers are in bloom?

I always find taking a moment to enjoy nature helps my mood and calms me. If you are not able to leave the house for whatever reason, having some inside plants and/or fresh flowers can help bring that feeling that nature brings into your home.

Look To The Future

Lockdown won’t last forever. Repeat it with me. There will be an end. What kind of person do you want to be at the end of it?

I like to write down where I imagine myself being where lockdown ends. That way, I can always refer back to it during the lockdown experience. It gives me a chance to make goals that will reflect future me and I can ensure I’m on track. You do not need to write down any big goals. Maybe you just want to make sure you keep up with your studies, read a book, or keep in contact with friends. Maybe you have big dreams and want to use this time to explore something new! Wherever you imagine yourself, just make sure it is practical and realistic and all your goals are S.M.A.R.T.