Staying Creative During the COVID-19 Crisis

Hello to whoever may happen to stumble across my blog and this post, and a very warm welcome to my little corner of the internet.

I first want to say, I hope you are doing well, staying safe, and staying home when possible.

I hope this pandemic hasn’t affected you or your loved ones too severely, and if it has, I send you all the well wishes and sympathy that these words will allow.

I also want to send a huge thank you to those key workers and NHS staff. They are truly amazing and have showcased to the world that in times of crisis, they’ll always be there helping the nation. We see how hard you are working and your sacrifices. I hope when this is all over, we will continue to acknowledge and admire your devotion and dedication to your work.

I also know that it can be difficult being away from friends, family and colleagues during this time, but as the common pick me up goes, ‘we will meet again’. Things will return to some sense of normalcy sooner or later (maybe even a new and improved idea of ‘normal’) and we can continue with our lives as best as possible. So, with all that being said, the concluding message here is, I hope you’re doing well.

I feel like a lot of Corona related content is being picked apart lately so there are a few disclaimers I would like to make before we begin the bulk of this blog post...

Disclaimers:

1. This blog post is not meant to shame key workers, those working from home, or parents who are homeschooling their children. I understand that not everyone has so much free time during this pandemic, and if that is you, you are valid, and doing a great job! This post is targeted towards those who aren’t being stimulated, or who have much more free time than they would usually have, and are looking for something to do to occupy their time and keep them busy.

2. It’s completely fine to feel a bit lost, disoriented, or unproductive. You have every right to feel your feelings, there isn’t a handbook on how to handle a pandemic in the modern age, and you are entitled to find your own ways to cope with the situation, and that may just be to relax. You DO NOT have to be productive, continue to work or do anything on this list in these times if that’s not for you. Everyone copes differently.

3. This is NOT a time for competition. Whether that is body, food, or fitness shaming, ‘Look at everything I’m doing’, or, ‘I’m doing more than you’. That’s not right, and that is not what I am doing with this blog post, or a message I would ever support.

4. This post is purely for those who may be a bit bored or are looking for a bit of structure that they’re now missing from their daily lives. Maybe you want to keep productive, creative, create some new hobbies, or just have a bit of fun but don’t know where to start. Whatever your situation or reasonings, this is the post for you.

5. Remember, there is time to breathe! Please don’t overload or overwork yourself in an attempt to be productive, or because you think you need to. Take things slowly. Now is the time to remember how to enjoy yourself again. I know we live in a very detail-oriented and deadline-based world, but in these times, you can take these hobbies at your own pace. Soak it up and enjoy.

And now, let us get into this post.

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As hard as this lockdown maybe, I think some aspects of it can be seen as a blessing in disguise. This is such a wonderful time to rediscover those hobbies you had to leave behind because working life became too demanding. It’s a great time to reconnect with family and friends, both those whom you are in lockdown with and those who are just a facetime call away. Why not try to pick up that skill you always wanted to learn? Try your hand at learning a new language. Finish a few DIY projects around the house that you kept overlooking because ‘I just don’t have the time’. We as a society have never had such free time before to fill with hobbies, rediscover our passions and spend leisure time with family. Even if there aren’t things you’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t or hobbies you want to pick back up, you might just want to find simple ways to find enjoyment or a bit of light in these uncertain times. That’s where this blog post comes in.

This is a blog post for those who are looking for a bit of inspiration on what to do during this lockdown. It's jam-packed with hobbies and ideas to get you through this troubling time. So, without any further adieu, let's get into it...

1. Keeping your space tidy!

So, we’re going through a worldwide pandemic that keeps us inside our homes. What might be the first thing that slips through the cracks? Cleanliness! I cannot stress how important it is to your wellbeing, and quite frankly, your homes, that they are kept relatively tidy. A tidy space means a tidy mind, as the saying goes.

I realise things are all up in the air, but making the effort to make your bed, clean your sheets, hoover and mop, take the rubbish out, straighten things out, organise your belongings, and all in all just keep on top of things, is going to improve your headspace tenfold and do wonders for you. Personally, I’ve had a sort out of every aspect of my space. I continue to change my sheets every week, alphabetised all of my books, dusted and polished every surface, organised everything, threw away what I don’t need, sorted through my wardrobe, and had a tidy and cleanout. I touched upon every aspect of my space and tidied it all, and I feel so much better for doing so. Make this your step one!

2. Creating a Schedule

I went through two initial ‘struggles’ when the lockdown was announced, and creating a schedule fixed both of these.

Firstly, I thought, ‘I’ve got all of this time, what should I work on when?’. Secondly, (and one that has been a struggle for years now) something that I like to call, ‘leisure guilt’. Whenever I’m doing something just for me, and not to further my career or seem busy, I become incredibly guilty that I’m just wasting my time. These things include video games, reading, and exercise, all things I enjoy doing but feel guilty about doing. I knew this was something I had to work on, especially during lockdown where downtime is going to be necessary. It was one simple phrase that helped me and one I remind myself of daily, ‘no-one can call you lazy during a pandemic’.

Think about it! There’s nothing open, limited jobs to apply to, nowhere to go, no jobs to go to (aside from key workers), nothing to really spend money on, no-one to see, once the basic housework is done, what’s there to do? We have to spend our days doing something, and those hobbies we have are valid ways to spend our time. I created a schedule with designated time for these hobbies, as well as all the work that I wanted to achieve. I also made it simultaneously strict and freeing, which allowed both of these struggles to begin to dissipate.

One thing that I wanted to control right away was my sleep schedule. I knew laying in all of the time and going to bed late was ultimately going to be bad for my mental wellbeing. So, I made it a goal to try and wake up at 8 am every morning. Once I fell into this routine, I began naturally waking up between 8 and 9 without the aggravating sound of the alarm clock. I was also falling asleep around 10-11 because of these early rises. I’m now getting my full 8+ hours, within a healthy time frame, and I feel all the better for it.

I then scheduled time in the morning for my three main hobbies, reading, gaming, and writing, then the bulk of my work projects for the afternoon and evening, and an hour walk sometime during. I’m starting every morning on a positive note by scrubbing off the previous day with a shower and skincare, emptying my mind of initial thoughts and feelings by writing for a few minutes, enjoying a bit of escapism through reading and then playing one of my favourite games for a little while. It really helps me start the day with a happy and clear headspace. Scheduling time AWAY from working, and scheduling time FOR leisure, was the first on my to-do list (get it?). My schedule allows me to squeeze in self-care, exercise, hobbies, and work, all in a day’s work, and without burning myself out. By the end of each week, I’ve accomplished so much.

Of course, this isn’t for everyone and only do this if you are in need of some structure.

3. Morning and Evening Pages

Since lockdown came into effect in the UK on the 23rd March 2020, I’ve been writing morning and evening pages. I’m not sure what made me start doing this little project but I’m really glad I did. I’ve always wanted to get into a routine of grabbing a pen and paper first thing in the morning rather than my phone, and the lockdown has allowed me that. Every entry is dated along with the time and where I was at the time of writing, and remember, if you do embark on this lockdown project, use a clean and unused notebook.

My morning pages are for whatever I want to jot down first thing in the morning. However, a few ideas reoccur in every entry, I always write, the things I would like to accomplish that day, how I’m feeling at that moment, and what I’m looking forward to that day. The rest of the time is for writing whatever else is on my mind at that moment, occasionally this will be coherent ideas for projects, and other times it’s just utter rambling and emotion. This allows me to start my day with a clear mind and a clear focus on my daily goals.

My evening pages are the counterpart to this little project. At the end of each day I write what I managed to accomplish from my list, whether I had to miss anything and why, what I’ll do to improve tomorrow if I didn’t hit all of my goals, how I’m feeling, any notable mentions of things that happened, and as with my morning pages, it then turns into a ramble of whatever pops into my head.

I’ve followed through on these pages every day since lockdown and I really recommend it. It is rather helpful in getting all of your immediate thoughts onto paper, working through how you feel, and clearing your mind both before you embark on your day, and as you're winding down for the night.

4. Reading

We as a society need to start reading again. Since lockdown I have read a lot more than usual and I’m rediscovering my absolute love for stories and the reading process. It’s part of my schedule to make time for at least 30 minutes of reading a day. It always ends up being longer because I either get so invested that I need to read on, or I’m in the middle of a chapter, and I cannot leave a bookmark in the middle of a chapter, I absolutely refuse.

If you are looking for some recommendations to get you started you’ve come to the right place.

For crime fiction: Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot stories, or Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. Neither disappoint and are full of gripping tales, compelling cases, and charismatic characters, really worth the read and they are classics to boot.

For drama: The Noughts and Crosses series by Malorie Blackman, there are four books in this series, and each is as beautifully written, heart-tugging, and poignant as the previous. The story is about an alternate world/history where racism is rampant but black people are the ones in power and white people are the oppressed. A brilliant idea executed amazingly by the phenomenal Malorie Blackman.

For magical realism: Carrie Hope Fletcher’s novels of which there are four now. ‘On the other side’, ‘All that she can see’, ‘When the curtain falls’, and ‘In the time we lost’. All four are wonderful pieces of fiction, easy reads and really envelop you in a world of pure escapism. My favourites are the first two novels and you can really get lost in these books. Perfect re-introduction's into the world of reading.

Other recommendations: Winning Words, a compilation by William Sieghart (a poetry collection with a mix of classical and contemporary poets, maybe try analysing one or two of them?).

The Girl who reads on the Metro by Christine Feret-Fleury (a beautiful book that I’m inclined to call literary fiction because of the gorgeous language used).

I could sit here all day typing away different recommendations but that could be a blog post on its own (and maybe it will be). The overarching message here is just, pick up a book. I promise once you’re invested, you’ll whiz right through it. The trick to getting into reading is to either pick a genre that you enjoy watching on TV such as crime shows or to pick something you’re familiar with; maybe a book that’s been adapted for film that you’ve watched but never read. Here, you may find more of an inclination to read than by just picking something at random that you may not enjoy as much.

5. Writing: fiction, poetry, novels etc

Always had an idea for a film, TV series or novel but never had the time to plan it or get to writing it? Well, now’s your chance. Personally, during this lockdown, I’ve been working on a poetry collection and a novel idea primarily and then dabbling in a few short story ideas.

Writing is my passion. It is my favourite form of creativity and artistic expression, and I dabble in every medium there is; poetry, novel, short stories, screenplays, stage plays, blog posts, articles, reviews, essays etc. I cannot express to you how therapeutic writing has been for me (my whole life, not just in lockdown) and how much I recommend it to people as an art form.

The first way to undertake creative writing and the route that I went (I have a degree in Creative Writing and English Literature) is to study it to better your talent and abilities. I wish more people understood that studying writing is just as important as picking up a pen or setting up Microsoft word and having at it. There are techniques for every medium, and different mediums require different skill sets. So, I really recommend using the tools at your disposal to understand your chosen medium’s requirements. I promise it won’t take the fun out of it and will make you much more confident in your abilities and well versed in what your medium needs to make it the best it can be.

I recommend the book ‘The 5 Minute writer’ for beginner steps towards writing, or iTunes University, a free app with free first-class courses. There’s a fantastic creative writing one on there and I’m sure one will tailor to the medium or genre you want to explore. And, of course, there are YouTube videos out there that may be of help.

For those who don’t like studying and just want to write for their own need or want but need some prompts, I recommend the book ‘642 things to write about’, a book full of prompts and space for you to come alive with your own ideas and creations. It’s a great book and very therapeutic again. It’s like an adult colouring book but for the mind.

In my opinion, and for those who don’t know what medium would fit them best:

· Poetry is perfect for expressing your feelings and thoughts.

· A Novel is perfect for telling that story you think needs to be told.

· Short stories are the quickest and most effective way for you to creatively write.

· Film and TV are perfect for those with a vivid imagination yet prefer to write dialogue and like the idea of planning movements, scenes, and transitions in a succinct way.

· Stage plays are perfect for the theatre lover.

OR, just try a bit of each and see what takes your fancy the most. Let your imagination and creativity run wild and I hope you enjoy creative writing just as much as I do, and who knows, maybe come out of lockdown with a finished piece (or pieces), and a newfound, lifelong hobby.

6. Start a Blog

This follows suit from the previous point in terms of creative writing, however, this type of creative writing may be more freeing for those who want to express themselves through the written word but don’t want the constraints that come with particular fiction mediums. If that's you, then non-fiction is definitely the way to go.

The fun to be found here is not only in the writing itself and the topics that you will write about but in the construction of your blog or website. I, of course, think this site, Wix is a fantastic service for creating your own website. It’s clean, easy, and there’s a lot to play around with. However, those who don’t want to venture into website building can use Tumblr or Blogger to create their blog, both you simply create an account for and you’re ready to publish.

I think a blog created in lockdown could be such a hit. You could share anything from your thoughts, concerns, feelings, and advice to lockdown anecdotes and anything and everything in between. Your blog, your rules, just have fun with it. Tailor it to your passions, your interests, and your own niche. It doesn’t matter if no-one is reading as long as you are producing work you are proud of and filling your days with something fun that you enjoy. When people see your passion for something, they become more interested in you and what you might have to say, and I genuinely believe that.

7. Studying something you’re interested in

This is a good one for those who feel like their brain is becoming a bit mushy due to the lockdown. This could be from excessive use of technology and your phone, not needing a lot of brainpower for daily tasks, or just feeling a bit sluggish. I’m a firm believer in that we should never stop learning, and that we need to be keeping those brains and minds ticking over. Mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise. So, just like with exercise, find something you love doing and you’ll do it more.

Don’t just read up on something for the sake of it, or do quizzes you aren’t interested in, find your thing. For example, I love learning everything I can about literature (especially Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes), history, theatre, psychology and philosophy, so those are topics I gravitate towards when I need some brain exercise. I will research online through reputable sources or read published works and highlight/note take galore, I love it. Not only am I working my brain and learning new things, but I’m also having fun while doing it.

Work out the topics you are interested in and use the internet to learn more about them. I love the internet, but I don’t think we necessarily always use it for the right things. We have an infinite source of knowledge, information, and archival records right at our fingertips. We should be one of the smartest generations and yet we aren’t because of the distraction technology allows as well. In the past we needed a library and a specific book to find the information we needed, now it’s all a 10-second google search away. Take advantage of that blessing! So, open those laptops, tablets and phones, and explore the wonderful world of education online.

8. Create a YouTube Channel/Filmmaking

What might you want to do with all of the information you have studied up on? For me, I love to research my topics of interest and then turn that information into a convenient, educational video for students needing help or guidance, or purely for entertainment for those who enjoy those subjects too.

I don’t just make educational videos, however, I create travel vlogs, document different events like Christmas, discuss past experiences in anecdote form, share help and advice, share my creative writing in film form, I do a lot. YouTube and filmmaking, in general, are one of my favourite hobbies, I love the creative freedom it gives me.

Don’t think of YouTube as just a place for teenagers, or that all of the content is of one type or genre. The site is full of such talent and creativity, you just need to find it. And, if you can’t find something that you would like, pick up a camera and make it yourself, you’ve found a gap in the market and something that could potentially be your niche. You don't need a fancy camera, microphone or editing software, if you have a phone, you have more than enough, and then you can use IMovie for Mac or VideoPad for Windows, both free and easy to use editing software. Done.

YouTube was never about the money or fame for those who began making videos in 2008 or even before, it was a place to be creative, share your thoughts, and be yourself. It still can be that if we allow great content to flourish instead of some of the (quite frankly) rubbish that floats to the top. It can be a great social media site for your next hobby, and you don’t even have to make your videos public. Your channel can simply serve as your own private archive in which you upload videos to keep forever. Whatever you choose to do, do it out of love and passion for it, and no other reason, that’s when you’ll ruin the fun and magic behind what use to make YouTube such a great place.

9. DIY at Home

If you live in your own space take a look around. Any cracks, holes, paint jobs that need doing, touch-ups that could be done, a storage space tidy, re-ordering etc? Now is the time to get those odd little jobs done that you put off before because of a lack of time.

You’re going to be looking at your home space for a long time during this lockdown, might as well fix what needs doing and decorate what needs to be done. This goes for those lucky enough to have a front/back garden as well. Get some plants, trees, bushes, whatever! Make a birdhouse, plant seeds, get some garden furniture or fix the broken ones, cut the grass, just make your space pretty with whatever is at your disposal. If you’re someone who lives with parents and only has their room, take a look around your room. Would you like to paint it, wallpaper, fix things, make things? Now is your chance to make your space how you would like, even if that’s just putting up some posters or moving your bed to the other side of the room, at least it's something towards what you would eventually want.

Of course, there are restrictions to this like buying the supplies, and if you can’t do that then that is one issue, but even something as small as hanging a picture up that you bought and just never got around to, or rearranging some furniture can make the world of difference. Just get to the things you’ve put off for so long. You can’t say you don’t have the time now.

10. Video Games

This is possibly the one time you can play video games without people jumping down your throat assuming you’re lazy. Like I’ve said throughout this blog, we have to fill our time doing something so why not this? Whether Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, Wii or the poxy Gameboy, as long as you’re having fun that’s all that matters.

I used to love the PlayStation 2 back in the day and played games such as True Crime, Metal Gear Solid, GTA, Lilo and Stitch and Piglet’s Big Game (a variety, I know). If our PlayStation was still up and running today I’d go and play every single one. So, why not see if one of your old, nostalgic consoles still works and have a go at some of the old games you used to love.

For me, this will always be the Nintendo DS. I had every model of that thing up until the 3DS. I will still go back and play Mario, or the Professor Layton games in order of release. I love my DS and have kept every single game I ever had for it.

Recently, however, I ordered myself the Nintendo Switch because I needed the new Animal Crossing game; a series in which I’ve played since Wild World came out for the DS way back when. I’ve been loving playing the Switch lately and it’s my go-to console for lockdown, but I also know I have my other consoles (DS and PSP) to go back to shall I fancy a bit of nostalgia one afternoon. But what I’d give to play my PS2 one more time.

If you haven't got a modern console, I definitely recommend getting in touch with your childhood or past and having a play on something a bit more outdated, you may even find it more fun due to the emotion attached to it.

11. Board Games/Puzzles

This has become the bog-standard for a lot of families during lockdown (do you know how hard I’ve tried to get a non-expensive puzzle?). Board games and puzzles really do bring the family together while also bringing in a lot of tension that can add to the fun and laughter. We’re trying to get credit card monopoly at the minute, as well as The Chase, and Catchphrase, all of which I recommend, and we’ve already got Million Pound Drop and Family Fortunes, both really great games.

If you can’t play with anyone in your house, there are a lot of multiplayer, free app store games that you can get. IMessage itself has games that you can play back and forth. There is also a virtual monopoly that you can gather everyone in, and games like Psycho that will live everyone in stitches.

A lot of people are also hosting quiz nights too. My family recently did one on Zoom this past Saturday to celebrate my dad’s birthday and it was a lot of fun (I also won but that’s beside the point). You could create your own quiz surrounding a particular topic like Disney, or just general knowledge questions and invite a couple people to play. The fun is in crafting a quiz just as much as it is taking part. And, so that everyone gets a chance to do both, why not make it so the loser has to host the next quiz?

12. New Series/Films

Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney +, Sky, YouTube. There is content galore out there and these are just to name a few. If in doubt, turn to TV and Film, there’s so much content out there, you couldn’t possibly be bored.

Some recommendations of mine (some shorter, some longer) are:

Doctor Who. If we’re just talking about the modern series, that is a good 10-11 series for you to get through on its own, and it’s a phenomenal Sci-Fi show.

BBC Sherlock. Each episode is an hour and thirty minutes long roughly, but there are only 3 episodes a season, and 4 seasons in total. How I wish there were more but these four are brilliant enough on their own merit. Bringing the famous detective into the 21st century.

Supernatural. If you want a series that will take you forever and a day to get through, Supernatural is the one. I’m still not even caught up on it. I think there are 14-15 seasons as it stands, each episode 40 minutes and around 20 episodes a season. All about hunting supernatural creatures from Bloody Mary to Angels and Demons.

Manifest. I’m promoting this one for selfish reasons because I need more people to watch it to ensure it is renewed for a 3rd season. The show has 2 seasons already and is about a plane that goes missing for 5 years but returns and no-one on the plane has aged a single day and they don’t think any time has passed. Phenomenal.

Afterlife. A gut-wrenching TV show about losing your partner and the bereavement process. Comedic and light-hearted while also being so real and raw. Brilliant. This has 2 series.

Watch all 22 Marvel Films in Chronological order, beginning with Captain America and finishing with Endgame. Hours upon hours of watch time for you there and fantastic films to boot!

Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, ABC, NBC, Hulu, BBC, ITV. All of these great networks and productions that have hours upon hours of content. You’re bound to find something you'll like. I personally prefer box sets to films because I get attached to characters and story ideas and like to see those repeated, and they are my favourite to sit down with and binge with some snacks, but films can be just as gripping and entertaining especially film sets.

I could go on but I think you get the general gist. There’s a lot of content to be watched of all different genres. Pick a favourite genre and have at it finding the perfect box set or film for you and the family.

13. Baking

Operation experimental recipe is a go. This one could be more of a difficulty for some people due to shopping and buying the ingredients, but if you can do those things, definitely try your hand at baking. If you are in a large household, you could even host your own Bake-Off style competition between family members. Either way, this could be your chance to test your baking skills, and get a delicious prize out of it, the food!

I myself am not a great baker so I can’t recommend a lot of different recipes but you can never go wrong with scones, melt in your mouth cookies, fairy cakes, a Victoria sponge or chocolate cake. And, as long as it complies with social distancing/lockdown measures, deliver some on the doorsteps of some close relatives or friends. Cake and sweet treats are always certain to brighten someone’s day even if it’s just a little bit.

14. Scrapbooking/Journalling

I’m a little disappointed at my journal this year because there isn’t much to document. Last year, I created an entire journal/scrapbook of everything that I did. Every birthday, every event, every holiday, any time something important happened, everything! I collected scraps from those events when possible, I printed photos with my HP sprocket, wrote in calligraphy, did a play by play of what happened, included tickets when I could, I'm talking the whole shebang.

This year that is harder because there will be no holidays, or parties, or theatre shows to go to. However, that doesn’t mean all is lost. While my journal for this year might not be as jam-packed as last year, scrapbooking is still a possibility.

Firstly, you could create your own journal, these are called ‘junk journals’, in which you learn how to create and bind your own books. Secondly, you could attempt to catch up on 2019 and start a journal dedicated to that year with all the highs and lows of hindsight. Print photos, collect scraps, use things lying around the house like string, newspaper, the ol’ teabag effect, and map out your important events from last year. This way you’ll always have something to remember it by (this is why I journal; I like the idea of keeping an archive of the years I've lived). Thirdly, you could scrapbook…anything. Old birthday/Christmas cards laying around? Scrapbook. Old pictures strewn about? Scrapbook. Anything that you think ‘Well, I don’t want to throw that but I don’t want it floating around taking up space’. Scrapbook! This way, all of your memories and keepsakes are stored away safe and neat to be remembered by you in future years. It’s such a beautiful idea, scrapbooking, and one that I hope to keep up forever with a notebook for each year, documenting everything of value and holding things dear like cards and ticket stubs from shows.

So, now we come to the end of a very long, took ages to write, blog post.

I hope this helps you discover some hobbies and things to get cracking on with during lockdown, or if not, I hope you enjoyed purely for entertainment purposes.

I really want to thank you if you are reading this far. I know it’s long but there was a lot I had to discuss. I know times seem a bit bleak right now but there will always be light, somewhere along the way. I hope this post could brighten your day, even if just 1% I would’ve done my job. Stay safe and stay well.

Signing off

Bobbie May Corleys.