Free things to do during lockdown living
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1. Watch a film
Netflix and Amazon Prime aren’t your only options, and you don’t necessarily have to pay for a subscription to watch plenty of excellent films.
Openculture has a great list of 1150 free films you can watch online right now. If you have an eligible university or library card, you might also have access to Kanopy which offers thousands more film options for free.
2. Pop into the Tate
Perhaps once you’ve enjoyed Florence, New York, and Paris, you can come to London to see the Tate Britain for free.
Although you’ll miss out on the lovely river walk to the gallery, you can drop in at any time and see your favourite pieces from the comfort of your own home.
3. Have a karaoke night
Missing karaoke night with your friends? You can still do it from home.
Apps like AirConsole let you turn your smartphone into a mic, and sing your favourite hits with the usual gang and practice new songs to sing at the bar once lockdown is lifted.
4. Learn a language
Always wanted to speak Italian? Intrigued by Norwegian? Think that Mandarin will be useful for work, or perhaps German?
Lockdown gives you plenty of time to dedicate to learning a new language, brushing up on vocabulary, and testing out pronunciation.
5. Arrange a Houseparty
If you still want to meet with your friends – do it at a virtual Houseparty.
The app allows for large group video chats so you can get together for a drink, a chat, or just to see some friendly faces for a couple of hours.
6. Try a fitness challenge
Missing the gym? There are plenty of fitness challenges you can try out from home, so you can emerge from lockdown fitter, leaner, or stronger.
You could try the 100 pushup challenge, squat challenge, to stay healthy at home for free.
Just make sure that you don’t push too hard early on, and warm up thoroughly before you do any exercise.
7. Watch a gig
If you’re itching to go to a gig or think you’re going to miss festivals this summer, you can actually watch plenty of them on YouTube. Watch classics like Nirvana Unplugged, Radiohead’s Glastonbury set in 1997, or Portishead accompanied by an orchestra and enjoy your own personalised lineup.
8. Have a work out
Keeping active will make a big difference to how you feel during lockdown – physical activity should help you sleep better and lift your mood, even if you’re stuck in the same room for most of the day.
You don’t need any equipment for a good workout, and there are plenty of free online videos to take you through a routine. Check out Joe Wickes’ 7 Days of Sweat to get started.
9. Meditate
Meditation and mindfulness doesn’t just help people stay calm – practitioners around the world rely on it to help them focus, remain present, and appreciate what they have.
It’s a simple concept that can be hard to master, but you can start now, at home, and see if it works for you.
10. Spires Online!
Find out more about virtual learning with Spires Online. Practice you English, improve your grades or get advice on applying to a UK school or university.
Get in touch to find out more about how you can keep learning from your sofa or your bedroom with Spires Online.