We are currently facing unprecedented circumstances– one of the most extreme experiences to affect all levels of society during peacetime. As we protect ourselves and others during self-isolation, we’re gathering together some ideas and resources to help you through.

To do or not to do

It may be all too tempting to sit back and relax with Netflix, but now’s a good time to crack on with those to do lists that are ever-growing. Whether it’s chores or DIY, staying active and being productive will surely feel a rewarding use of your time. You can even redecorate without all the paint and wallpaper by moving furniture around– it’s amazing what small shifts can do to make your surroundings feel fresher.

Bucket list goals

If you don’t have one yet, this is the perfect time to create a list of things you’d like to achieve once this all passes. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make a start now; if you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, try your hand at knitting or write a novel, there’s no time like the present. We recommend trying one new thing each day to keep things interesting.

Family fun

In the normal race of everyday life we often don’t have sufficient opportunity to appreciate our time together. Now is a good opportunity to do just that and strengthen bonds. As a family, we can do activities together, such as board games or arts and crafts sessions (not just for the little ones!) – have a go at painting, embroidery or scrapbooking... the world is your oyster using whatever you already have in your home.

Get your Einstein or Darwin groove on

As schools close, many parents will be faced with staying at home and keeping their children occupied for extended periods, so turning to eLearning could be a good place to start. There are lots of resources out there for all age levels, including BBC Bitesize (primary school to post-GCSE) and FutureLearn which covers topics on the environment, healthcare, psychology, science, business, history and creative arts. 

Banish boredom with board games

Board games are often reserved for Christmas time, but now more than ever we need to bring them out and lose ourselves in friendly family rivalry. From jigsaws to classics like Monopoly and card games, there’s something for everyone to while away the hours, not to mention getting creative and making up your own.

Gym over gin

Gyms may be a no-no right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay active. Many are offering online workouts, which can be tailored to use items in our homes, and normal subscription-based apps are giving free access – we love the ladies at Tone It Up for their boundless enthusiasm and aesthetic. 

There’s also plenty of free videos online, such as the ever-popular and funny yoga sessions with the delightful Adriene. If dancing is more your thing and you’ve always fancied a boogie on Strictly Come Dancing, well now you can give it a go as professional dancer Gorka Marquez is offering short dance lessons over on his Instagram.

Glow through what you go through

With a never-ending supply of inspiration on Instagram and tutorials on YouTube, why not take time to work through your make-up collection and try out some new looks to bring out when social gatherings return. If you’re isolating with family, you could even have a glam session of makeovers and a mini photoshoot in your home.

Pamper party

If you’ve got everything you need for a spa day at home, then relax with some “me-time” or get those you live with to join in. Pop on some music and sip a beverage of your choice. Make it a girls night by FaceTime-ing your friends and having a pamper session together that way.

Fashion on fleek

A good clear-out does wonders for the soul, so an overhaul of your wardrobe could be a good place to start. Whilst you’re there, you could experiment with some new outfits and create a look-book so when we’re finally all through this you’ve got some fresh style ideas. You’ll be sure to find an item you’d completely forgotten about which might just work really well with that recently-purchased piece.

Bookworms galore

Libraries may be closed but there are plenty of books to read online. Search Amazon’s online store for Kindle, where there is a large selection of free books, as well as discovering unpublished stories on Wattpad. If audiobooks are more your thing, then Audible offers a 30-day free trial which you can now get stuck into. Sit back with a cuppa, put your feet up and relax with your choice of escapism.

Power to the podcasts

Increasing in popularity, these are now a great way to delve into a plethora of topics, from true crime and chatty pieces on everyday experiences, to comedy on platforms such as Acast, iTunes and Spotify. In times like these, we’re all in need of some light entertainment, so if it’s your thing, we can recommend My Dad Wrote A Porno, which is full of bonkers hilarity (although be warned it has a lot of strong language and adult themes, as you’d expect from the title).

Culture fix

You may not be able to go out to the theatre, but you can bring it into your living room as WhatsOnStage have a list of free theatre shows and musicals available online – some are old live streams, whilst others are newly released archive footage of recorded shows. This is a great way to while away your evening as a culture fix alternative to Netflix. 

Get band ready

If you’ve got an instrument at home and don’t find the time to play it (sorry to my guitar sitting in the corner) then maybe now’s the time to dust it off. You can use plenty of tutorials online to get you started such as JustinGuitar, and even if you don’t have an instrument you can become a virtual pianist. Similarly, there’s nothing to stop you getting household items and putting on your own little impromptu concert or karaoke session.

Learn the lingo

Maybe you’ve always wanted to speak the local language when you travel on holiday but have never had the time to commit to it. Well, why not give DuoLingo a try? Learn one (or more!) of 35 languages from across the world in this free app (there’s even a course on Game of Thrones’ High Valyrian), following easy steps in quizzes, speaking practice and written exercises for all ability levels. 

Budgeting 101

At this time of heightened uncertainty we know this may be more difficult than normal due to the unknowns regarding income, which makes it even more important to sit down and plan for a worse-case scenario. There are numerous resources online to help you with this and we highly recommend Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert for guidance on finances at this time.

Enjoy the great outdoors

You may not roam far, it may just be in your back garden, but getting outside and breathing some fresh air will give you a boost from feeling confined in the same four walls.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

We may be in self-isolation but that doesn’t mean we need to be in social isolation. Keep in touch with loved ones, especially those who are elderly, vulnerable or alone to help alleviate this. If you can help them by collecting supplies if they’re not able to, it makes a real difference.

Even though we might be isolated, we are all in this together. From all of us at City Girl Network, we wish you and your families strength and love during this time – remember you can use your city’s networks to support each other.

“Strength grows in the moments when you think you can’t go on but you keep going anyway.”

Written by Hannah Bird