Roles have been lost or changed - for me I've lost the physical contact of individual clients and corporate training and will be using these hours to step back into my keyworker role on the bank for the NHS. Plans have been cancelled... For me that's my honeymoon, four comedy shows and a cookery class. I was looking for something to do online that would feel like a treat. If you live in a relatively suburban area there are plenty of food deliveries, and whilst our local businesses are doing an amazing job there's nothing that really feels like a treat. I then stumbled across Kiri Pritchard et al doing a comedy show Live at the Covid Arms . Stand-up comedy is an incredibly important part of my life and I donate to Trussell Trust on a weekly basis so it felt fitting that this could be my inexpensive treat to look forward to. I took me time to find what I wanted and I'm aware some of you don't have the luxury of being able to sit down quietly to find new meaningful activities so I have decided to list as many as I can find.
Volunteering:
For those of you that feel the need to be active and have the privilege of being fit and well explore volunteering, locally many areas have organised informal groups of volunteers, Mutual aid provides advice to these groups and has a postcode finder to see if there is already one in your area and NAVCA also has a database of local action groups
You can look at local roles needed within the NHS here. through
Exercise
Joe Wicks is doing a PE session every day and it doesn't take long to find a physical activity of your choosing through social media. Old School Fitness has got a WhatsApp group where all its trainers and participants are keeping each other motivated and setting, again free to anyone who wants to participate.
Well I've got to plug my own service in my blog. I am offering free online sessions through zoom. All I ask is if you are in a position of being able to afford it to buy me a none caffeinated version of a coffee at the end.
Related Blog: How to exercise at home and stay active
Theatre & Music:
A free full length national theatre play every Thursday at 7pm
Free Shakespeare from the Globe or the Royal Shakespeare Company.
There's a list of live classical concerts here
The Berlin Philharmoniker and Seattle Symphony offering free access to past recordings and live streams.
Explore art Galleries
Opera from The Met
Performing:
Join a virtual Choir
Find a music lesson
Write poetry
Science and Nature:
If you enjoy old achieves and database you can help record achieved rainfall documents to help with future weather research
Have a look around Mars
Through Google you can explore world famous museums and art galleries
Geography
Explore the world through cameras
Virtually explore America's national parks or the Empire state building
Learning
Hobbies
Play a board game
Scrapbooking
Puzzles
Book Club
Bake
Garden
I'm waiting on Mr Moodlifter to give me the list of free gaming and sports activities he enjoys, I suspect it will be links to the Football ramble podcast and football manager but he may surprise me.
Art & Craft
If you want to feel part of a community and enjoy colouring in Origin Bespoke is emailing out a free colouring in page every Sunday then on a Monday hosting a session were you print off your own copy and everyone joins in with colouring the same artwork.
Revisit an old craft hobby
Home
Declutter and organise (Get all Mrs Hinch or Marie Kondo)
Finish those DIY projects
Look up a new recipe each week to work out what you can make from your cupboard
For ideas on managing your wellbeing: Managing wellbeing at times of uncertainty
I've posted this in a rush so will be updating it as more things come on my radar. If there is anything you would like adding contact me.
Sarah is an Occupational Therapist and personal trainer who is passionate about helping people flourish @MoodLifterPT She is always happy to be contacted if you want to find out more.