Ten ways to beat the Boredom at home

There are hundreds of resources coming to light for children at home while the schools are closed but what do you do if you don’t have children at home and are struggling to occupy the time. Just a word of advice don’t advertise that fact to any parent as you could quickly find yourself off someone’s Christmas card list pronto!

I have listed below some ideas to keep you busy inside that are either free or relatively low costs involved so you can keep both your body and your mind active…there is only so much Netflix you can watch!

1. PE with Joe Wicks The Body Coach on YouTube

This has proven a really big hit in our house for both the kids and us. Its only 30 mins and the exercises are relatively straightforward and gets the heart rate going right after breakfast. Joe also has a number of workouts over on his Youtube channel for different scenarios including easy exercises for seniors and five minute workouts for those of us that don’t have a lot of time maybe.

2. Learn British sign language

The British sign language website was allowing you to enroll and pay as you go to learn. I have been doing the basics free via presenter Natasha Lambs YouTube channel. It is more geared towards kids, so they have been joining in with me. We are watching the same lesson on repeat for a few times to get the hang of it but its enjoyable.

3. Free Courses on Training Matchmaker website

There are several courses on offer both free and payable through this website (here). It has been a lifeline for me on occasion as there are so many resources especially if you want to dive into social media more. There is a free Instagram course, a free course on how to teach yourself how to use Canva or video creation for YouTube and thousands of free open university courses that you can enroll in right from your living room. I don’t think I have came across a website with so much to offer on one platform!

4. Free resources with Libraries NI

If you live in Northern Ireland then visit the libraries NI website and sign up. There are thousands of books you can check out by downloading them along with audiobooks and hundreds of magazines that sell in your local newsagents. You have Hello!, Ok magazine, all the home magazines, hobby and sport magazines and business magazines. All free and backdated copies are available.

5. Learn a new language on Duolingo

This is a free website where you can download the app or desktop version, create an account and off you go. There is every language you could imagine on the site and its suitable for all levels. You will be ready to impress on your next holiday..whenever that might be! Check out the site here.

6. Online Yoga classes

This is a great way to relax, meditate and help take your mind off what’s going on even if its just for 30 minutes. I am fortunate enough to belong to a private facebook group for yoga  which I am practicing at home. The kids are big fans of Cosmic kids yoga via YouTube. I really recommend looking on YouTube for a yoga instructor that you feel comfortable with and give it a try. It really helps aid a good nights sleep.

7. Start writing

Simply put pen to paper and start writing. Ideas could stem from writing about what is happening in the world to starting with some short stories, write poetry, start an autobiography or generate ideas for a blog. The list of possibility is endless.

Building on my point above, everything operates through social media nowadays and sometimes its good to just take a breather from it all. Get back to writing letters to your loved one. This is particularly important if you have a loved one in residential care that you cant see or maybe see through facetime, skype etc . Those letters will last a lifetime and really capture your thoughts and feelings at the time. Imagine looking back on those 10 years from now, it would seem very surreal indeed.

8. Set up an online chat group

With apps emerging like House Party and Zoom where multiply people can appear in one video chat now is the time to catch up friends from the comfort of your own house. Infact now is the time to catch up with that person you have been trying to meet up with for months because let’s face it everyone is at home so no excuses are valid! Its also a great way for the family to get together and catch up all at once.

9. Start Scrap booking

This could be based around a theme using photos and cut outs to make quirky designs in an album or notebook and finding the perfect paper-crafts supplies is part of the fun! You’ll need:
• Patterned paper and/or card stock
• Acid-free adhesive (tape runner and/or liquid)
• Some embellishments and/or stickers
• Paper trimmer and/or sharp scissors
• Page protectors/album

It would be like a modern-day real-life Pinterest board!

10. Take up mindful colouring in

There are numerous websites that offer free templates to download colouring in pages for adults or you can find ideas on Pinterest. Research suggests that mindful colouring, as with meditation and art therapy, can provide numerous benefits for all ages. Along with providing a much-needed break and the chance to relax and refocus, it can: Help lift your mood, decrease anxiety and stress. Something we all need a bit of right now!