For many of us, the lock down has not changed our plans for much of the day. Those that work at home continue to do so, whilst many have moved from office to home work. But for those without work and those furloughed, the days can be difficult to get through. With that in mind, we take a look at things to do to alleviate boredom.
The first thing to say is that you should not feel pressured to learn something new or be productive. It is up to you if you want to relax or not. But should you actively want to use your new free time to do something productive, you have a wealth of options. First off, why not prepare for that next foreign holiday, whenever it may be, by learning a new language? There are a wealth of learning tools out there, many of which are free, at least for the basics.
Searching for a new job? The employment market will be unknown after some sort of normality returns. But many of us will be reassessing our lives right now and will either need to look for work or consider a change. If you now possess some spare time, why not give your CV a makeover? Make sure that it is all is up to date with your latest achievements and experience. For bonus points, you could give your LinkedIn a makeover, too, which is what I did last week for the first time in five years!
For your physical and mental health, it is vital that you get some exercise. We are all allowed to leave the home for such purposes, as long as we are sensible. Just a short walk round the block every couple of days can make all the difference.
It’s great how difficult times can bring out the best out of people, and have unforeseen bonuses. It has made me embrace video calls, checking in with friends and being more sociable. Long may it last.
Of course, one of the most productive things to do when bored has to be cooking. However much you cooked before, consider improving your skills. It is fun, and you reap the rewards yourself of any improvement
We all have a pile of books that we’ve never touched! If you’re stuck for something to do, crack on with your ‘must read’ list. Dedicate just 30 minutes a day to reading. Bonus: Research from Kingston University suggests that reading may make you kinder.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Now is a good time to decide what lies ahead. Make the most of a bad situation and aim for better times ahead.