Opening doors during lockdown

Like many of you, until last month, I’d been craving a little sunshine to go and explore the London scenery. I was anticipating eating out, going shopping and inviting friends over to my new house for a housewarming party. But with the global situation changing so suddenly, plans were cancelled, as were exams.

During lockdown, I know many of us may feel like our world has been turned upside-down, like all our hard work over the last year has come to nought. Being indoors all day, it’s easy to lose perspective. What’s the point anymore? I have nothing to do now is what many of us are thinking.

Actually, lockdown is the perfect time to start a new leaf and do things a little different. With so much time suddenly on our hands, let’s not waste it! You’ll be surprised how much you can do if you look around. Here are some ideas:

• Baking! Our local shops ran out of bread last recently, so I decided to try my hand at baking bread myself. It turned out amazing! Go ahead and amaze yourself with your baking skills.
• Try a bit of writing. I’ve started a journal myself; I reckon someone somewhere, at some point in the future, will want to know what the lockdown of 2020 was like for an average undergraduate, time to put my penmanship to good use!
• This is a perfect time to fix relationships and spend quality time with family. Play board games together or curl up for a movie evening. Try choreographing a set with your siblings, it’s good to laugh together.
• Learn a new skill, like video editing, watercolour art, tie-dye, first aid, a new language or even something simple like how to cook.
• For those of us who never got around to fulfilling that New Year’s resolution to GET FIT, there’s no better time than now. Organise an exercise routine and impress yourself.
• Volunteer for the NHS. We need them and they need us!
• And of course we still have online studies to do. Even without exams, education is a MUST, so don’t slack!

Lockdown is also a time to think and be grateful for what we have. Let’s remember those less fortunate in our prayers and stay positive! Keep busy during this lockdown and you’ll be surprised what you can accomplish!