What a weird time it is right now for most of the world. Things have changed quite significantly in how we go about our day to day life and this whole Coronavirus is making us a bit anxious and in a weird state of confusion and uncertainty, and we guess you are feeling the same. At the moment, none of us know what it is really going to be like in the coming months, but for now our government is telling us to stay safe by staying at home.
For us, being travel bloggers, it is a funny time as we don't want to post about our travel experiences, also some places we have content for are currently closed. We have holidays booked this year and like many these have been cancelled so we won't have the normal content.
This post is for you. Everyone that is currently at home, wondering when and where their next holiday will be, wondering what to be doing in their homes to pass the time.
Here are some suggestions that we have and will be doing over the coming weeks / months :
Colouring Books
As well as occupying our time, colouring books for adults are a great way to relax and are good for our mental health, which is something we all need to look after right now. I have a Japanese Art colouring book but there are so many to choose from, including some great Scottish books that I will try to source when I have finished this one
Board Games
I mean, it goes without saying that board games are a great way to occupy our time, our favourite is Monopoly and we switch it up by playing either our 'Glasgow' or 'Guernsey' version
Read A Book
We always love to read books both fiction and non-fiction which focus around a good location. We also do love to browse through our collection of travel books. If travel is not what you want to read then we highly recommend the Harry Potter novels
Europe
The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
The Tattooist Of Auschwitz - Heather Morris
Cilka's Journey - Heather Morris
The Diary Of A Young Girl - Anne Frank
One Christmas Kiss In Notting Hill - Mandy Baggot
Africa
The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
Asia
First They Killed My Father - Loung Ung
And The Mountains Echoed - Khaled Hosseini
When Heaven And Earth Changed Places - Le Ly Hayslip
The Amazing Story Of The Man Who Cycled From India To Europe For Love - Per J Andersson
I Am Malala - Malala Yousafzi
Before The Rains - Dinah Jefferies
The Separation - Dinah Jefferies
The Tea Planter's Wife - Dinah Jefferies
The Silk Merchant's Daughter - Dinah Jefferies
The Sea Sisters - Lucy Clarke
Watch Travel Related TV Shows
Our top TV shows right now are Outlander *read all our Outlander blog posts here* and 'Race Across The World' which is currently airing on BBC1 on Sundays and also find it on the BBC iPlayer. If you need a little laughter during this time then be sure to watch 'An Idiot Abroad'. A feel good TV show for us, is Blue Planet
Get Crafty
Have you always been into your crafts but don't get the time to showcase your flair? Then now is the time. I have recently got into Calligraphy, making occasion cards mainly, and now I am looking forward to planning the whole years cards, not only will I be organised but I know everyone who receives a card will be delighted. This is also the time that I can make cards for my family to cheer them up whilst they are in lockdown. Calligraphy is a skill, and the best way to learn is to practise and watch lots of youTube videos, my favourite is 'The Happy Ever Crafter'. You can buy pens on Amazon and my favourites are TomBow both the coloured packs and black writing pens.
Create A Travel Scrapbook
Another way to be crafty is to create a travel scrapbook. We have done this ever since our first trip away together. We collect everything from train and plane tickets, flyers from tours, maps, money and even beer bottle labels. You too may have subconsciously collected some items and along with photographs you had printed and didn't know what to do with, compile them all in a scrapbook
Organise Your Photos
Now, you could put printed photos into a scrapbook as mentioned above, but if you, like most people nowadays just have your images on your phone, then why now take the time to arrange your images into different folders to make them easier to view and reflect on the good times. You could also back-up your images now so you don't ever accidentally lose them
Create A Travel Bucket List
Sadly, we will probably be missing out on our Summer holidays this year but lets use this time to create a travel bucket list. We may be stuck indoors but we do still have the internet. Research is at your fingertips, read travel blogs, check out sites like Lonely Planet and get planning destinations you can put on your travel bucket list. Something we personally realised is that life is short, so we need to make the most of it. When the world is healed of this virus, then don't make excuses not to visit places and countries, lets make the most of the short time we have on this earth
Scratch Map / Map Get yourself a scratch map and scratch out all the countries you have already visited, or get a world map and pin all the places you want to visit when we can finally get back out into the world
Cook Foreign Dishes
Whilst we understand that currently in the UK, heading to the supermarket is an essential activity and one where we go to stock up on essential items, but why not get creative in the kitchen and try to vary up your meals by cooking foreign dishes. Try Mexican Fajitas (vegetarian if you cannot source meat), Shish Kabab Chicken (found in Aldi), Japanese Ramen (try Yogi Yo in Tesco), Spaghetti Bolognaise (although pasta seems scarce at the moment). Or try making your own dishes such as banana fritters or Indian vegetable pakora. We have a Polish friend who creates both Polish dishes and healthy and vegan cakes and dishes on her Instagram page
(take a look at her page below)
Drink & Be Merry
Staying in is the new going out. So why not make the most of staying in by working your way through your favourite tipple. I love Gin and am more than happy to try all the local Scottish Gins as well as sample by collection from Guernsey and Spain. Shannon has a new found love for Craft Beer and every time we head to Aldi to stock up on our bread and milk he sneaks a few craft beers in the basket
Missing Your Local Cafe?
Are you missing your local cafe for a caffeine fix? Then make your own. We have a Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine and a milk frother. We have watched some youTube tutorials and now think we are experts ;) A great way to support your local cafes and restuarants is to purchase gift vouchers now, which you can use when they re-open
Work Out
That summer body can be put off for another year now, but it is important for yourself and your mental health to keep fit and work out during lockdown. Joe Wicks has launched 'P.E with Joe' on youTube, which is designed for kids but lets be fair, it is great for adults too, and he isn't bad to look at either. Otherwise in your house, you can use items such as soup tins to do weights, and there is no excuse for not doing some sit ups and squats. Keep your phone with you and add up your step count each day, don't let your steps slip, keep walking around your house!
Self Care
Just because you aren't going out doesn't mean you can't treat and pamper yourself. Take time out of your day to have a relaxing bath, light candles throughout your house and treat your self with a face mask and make sure to keep moisturising your body, paying particular care to your hands which are probably getting quite dry with all that extra washing and sanitising
Treat Your Loved One To A Massage - & Hopefully Get One In Return
All this working from home, sat on a seat that is perhaps not right for our posture will cause us to be dreaming of a soothing Swedish massage or maybe even a vigorous Thai or Balinese massage, then treat your loved one to a massage at the end of a long day working from home, and maybe you'll get one in return.
Change Up Your Wardrobe
As the seasons change we like to swap our wardrobe around from winter to summer clothes. Use the time in doors to pack away the last seasons wares and get ready for the coming one. Also now is a good time to organise the clothes you wish to donate to local charity shops
Call Your Family
Now that we cannot socialise with anyone outside of our household, then get on the phone to your family and friends, Skype them, or download the 'House Party' app and all get together
Read (Our) Travel Blogs Or Create Your Own Blog Or YouTube Channel
I mean, totally read loads of blogs, but also read ours for inspiration and ideas for your future travels. Also, use this time to create your own blog, be it for travel or home renovations or a hobby you would like share. We are also going to spend time working on publishing content for our youTube channel, we have so much footage but never get round to it in normal life
Get Outdoors
Currently we are only allowed outside for excercise once a day. Use this time to go for a walk or run but also if you are lucky enough to have a garden, remember you can also be out there for as much as possible. Enjoy the flowers which are starting to bloom, soak up the sunshine, or even the just the fresh air. We are lucky we are heading into spring, we can spend our time in the garden, pottering and pruning. Also in your garden you can excercise for as long as you wish. > Read a very funny meme which said 'see this daily exercise... it's not compulsory is it'? Haha
Carry On Camping
Camping?! Well if you have a garden, then what is stopping you getting out there and popping up a tent? Spend a night out of the house under the stars, or even just spend the day out there, reading and enjoying the fresh air- you can always come back in and go to bed
Give Blood
Classed as an essential activity, during lockdown you can still give blood. There are blood donor centres across the UK and they still require blood donations, as ever there is a high demand for emergency surgery, cardiac surgery, medical conditions, cancer, after childbirth and blood disorders
Whatever you get up to during your time in lockdown, relax and enjoy your time, take it easy, don't put any pressure on yourself, enjoy your time at home.
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