The world as we know it has changed. The outbreak of COVID19 has us on lockdown until the end of April, and we’re all still trying to make sense of it. Being on social house arrest can be frustrating, but it’s something that’s out of our control and (ultimately) for the good of our nation. While these strange times can be unsettling, there are some things we can still control – like what we do with the time that we’re homebound.

Here are our top three tips for making the most of lockdown.

1. Get your game on.
Games are an amazing opportunity to bond with your fellow inmates. Bring out the ol’ boardgames collecting dust in the cupboard, dig through drawers for that pack of cards, or play one of your favourite childhood games, such as Hide n Seek, Capture the Flag or Red Rover, depending on how much space you have, of course.

You can even make up your own game. Have you ever seen that episode of Friends, the one with Bamboozle – the game with all the crazy rules? Get the whole crew together and devise an awesome game that you’ll all enjoy. Start by pinning down a goal. Then decide what players can and cannot do to reach that goal. And bang – you’ve got a game! Include fun extras, such as risks and rewards, and maybe even prizes for the winners. For those who love online or if you’re solo during lockdown, here is a list of the top 10 online boardgames – there’s something here for everyone!

2. Get your fitness on.
Doing exercise is a great way to stay healthy and burn off cabin fever. Set up a daily routine where you get to exercise to your favourite tunes and bust a sweat. If you’re locked in with little people, create a chart with exercises that everyone can do. Schedule “family fitness time” at the same time every day so that they know what to expect. Make it as fun as possible – maybe everyone dresses up, maybe you do it over a Zoom call with friends, or maybe you do it to a crazy playlist. There really are no rules!

One great tip for increasing motivation is to have a performance chart of sorts. Each person gets a smiley face with a set amount of points for participating, and bonus points (think star stickers) if they do an extra ten push-ups, star jumps, etc. The person with the most points at the end of the week get a prize – whether it’s more screen time, a sweet treat, or a prezzy once lockdown is over. Stumped for fitness ideas? Check out these awesome kids workouts to do at home. A little too grown up but still need inspiration? Joe Wicks has loads of videos tailor-made for adults in lockdown. Check them out!

3. Get your chef on.
Being creative in the kitchen doesn’t have to be expensive, and it’s a fab way to learn something new. Think of something you’ve always wanted to cook or bake, Google the recipe and grab the ingredients while you’re on your next supply run. Then put on some tunes and get cooking! Need some foodie inspo? Check out these lockdown munchies that you can make quickly and easily. Cooking or baking is also great way to involve the whole family. Choose one of these 22 recipes for kids and let the little ones create their own desserts!

If your family does take to cooking, why not organise a bake-off or a Master Chef competition? Get together and plan how the competition will run, what the rules are and what a suitable prize is. Consider the size of your cooking area, as you may need to take turns. Small kids will need help, and cooking times with vary depending on who is cooking and what they’re cooking – make sure the game is fair for all. You could place the Master Chef soundtrack in the background, have commentators, judges and even film the whole thing, depending on your family dynamics. The most important thing is to involve everyone and have fun!

We hope you enjoyed these helpful tips! Post a comment below and let us know what you’re doing to keep busy during the lockdown.