Following the latest recommendations from the government to stay at home during the Covid-19 pandemic, we wanted to give you a list of some great ideas to keep you entertained (and sane!) during this stressful time.
After a few weeks on lockdown you might be running out of ideas for things to do from your home, so we've come up with a list of activities to keep you entertained (and sane!) during this stressful time.
We know that all these words (quarantine, self-isolation, pandemic, etc.) can seem a little daunting, so it’s important that you dedicate some good time to having fun and looking after your mental health.
Board games & chill
If you’re staying at home with your family or housemates, why not get all those good old board games out and show them what you’re made of? You could also get creative and play online with your friends.
You’ll have a lot of time in your hands to practice your Scrabble skills, finally learn how to play chess, or even finish a game of Monopoly. Although to be honest, not even a lockdown is enough time for a full game of Monopoly.
Channel your inner Marie Kondo
That’s right, we all know who she is, we’ve all dreamt of putting her techniques into practice, and somehow, we never find the time to do it. Well, no excuses now. It’s time to clear out those cupboards and wardrobes and say hello to a freer you!
Get creative
They don’t say that the best stories were written during a pandemic for no reason!
Whether it’s your inner Picasso trying to crawl out of you, or your inner Shakespeare feeling inspired, take this time to put your creative thoughts into practice.
You could write a journal or make up a scrapbook, or you could even start a blog. You could also start to draw and paint. And if you feel like you want to share your talents with the world, why not take it a step forward and create social media accounts where you can share your creations? A lot of people are looking for entertainment on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook right now, so it’s the perfect time to share your skills.
Catch up on your books
We’ve all been binging on Netflix, and at some point, there will be no more Tiger King episodes to watch (if you've even got any left, that is), or your eyes will start to hurt from all the screen time. So it’s a very good time to catch up on some reading!
There are a lot of great apps to find books to read, one example of this is Goodreads. So make sure you download it and finally read the books you’ve never had the time to read before.
Stay active
As we stay at home every single day, it becomes easier to fall into the habit of sitting on the sofa and not moving from there, for the entire day. While it’s okay to have some days where we don’t want to do anything, laziness can also become our worst enemy, as it can have a big impact on your mental health.
Try to stay active, open up YouTube and look for some home workouts that you can do. Staying active doesn’t only mean doing sport, you can also try other things like Yoga or Pilates. If you also follow this with a balanced diet, you will be helping yourself feel so much better every day.
Learn a new language!
With so much time in your hands, this could be the perfect opportunity to broaden your skillset and learn a new language.
Duolingo is a good app where you can do just that. They’ve made learning a new language extremely easy, as they use a ‘fun and addictive’ way of learning, where you can earn points, race against the clock and level-up!
Stay social
Being at home doesn’t mean you still can’t have a good laugh with your mates. Nowadays, it couldn’t be easier to stay connected with technologies like Whatsapp, Skype or Houseparty, to name a few.
So as a substitute to a night at the pub, you can grab yourself some beers, go online and have a virtual gathering with your best friends!
Join Royal Hideaway
Finally, as you may have seen across social media we have created a Facebook group called Royal Hideaway, to keep Royal Holloway connected during this time. The group has reached over 2000 members, and a lot of you have been sharing your experience staying at home.
We host a lot of activities at Royal Hideaway, including Fitness Friday and pub quizes on Sundays. But the main goal, is for you to stay connected with one another and make the best out of this experience.
Join the group!
Please remember that although you can’t physically see us, we’re all still here and most importantly, we’ve got your back.
We know that a lot of you are still living on campus during this period, so despite the closure of some of our services, the Union Shop remains open to ensure access to food and other essential items. We've also recently introduced a Union Shop takeaway, where you'll be able to pick the items you want, add them to your basket and come collect them from the shop.
Visit our online shop
Our Advice Centre has moved online, so if you’re struggling with anything, you will still be able to access their services through the website, via email or by phone.