So we are in lockdown without a foreseeable end, and suddenly we find ourselves with all this extra time (or at least an extra hour). Should we just give in to the Netflix binge? Should we continue to scroll mindlessly on social media? Or maybe online shop everyday?

Let me what you could be doing instead. Who knows, maybe you might actually enjoy doing something different…

1. Learn to code
Nowadays computer coding is the future and is an extremely useful skill to have. Businesses, not just in the tech industry, rely on computer code. Being computer illiterate won’t get you anywhere in our technology dominated world. Being able to understand and apply coding language, places you in good stead in not only the career world but also in your personal life. For example, take this website, The Go, a platform that I have coded myself which has provided me with the opportunity to uniquely share my experiences with you. The world of coding is expansive– from website development, to robotic surgery, to phone apps, to automated cars – it lends itself to many different avenues. Learning to code is not hard but as with anything that you start doing, it takes commitment and resilience. There are plenty of free opportunities that can help you get started including YouTube and online workshops found through a Google search.

You will begin to see why coding is becoming so popular.

2. Learn a language (other than a programming language)
You know how they always go on about how someone who can speak more than one language uses their brain more effectively? Well, I absolutely agree.

The benefits of learning a language are far reaching. Developing this new skill boosts your memory, increases your perception, improves listening skills ... and I could go on for a while but I think you get the point. For me, being able to learn and speak Italian has allowed me to keep in touch with my heritage and even have sneaky chats with my Nonno (grandfather) while my Australian mum is in the same room!

Of course, if you are a traveller, having a few sentences in the local language up your sleeve will serve you well – nobody is more disliked than that arrogant white person in Italy ordering “some brewshetta and knockey” (bruschetta and gnocchi). With apps available like Duolingo, learning a language these days is as easy as ever (even as a semi-scary bird, the mascot of Duolingo, creepily tracks your progress).

3. Read
A classic and for good reason.

If you are self-proclaimed “non-reader”, I would urge you to read something different. Although there are plenty of amazing fiction books out there, try your luck with the self-help book train (I was and probably still am a self-help book junkie) or even pick up a biography and see if that tickles your fancy. You can learn so much even if you are arguing with the book the whole time you are reading it, like in my case when reading “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k” or wondering why disagreeable men may be so successful, as I was thinking reading Steve Jobs’s biography.
Regardless of what you do end up reading, you must admit that spending time with a book in hand does feel like you are spending your time usefully.

4. Exercise
These days, the advantages to exercising are very well-known and I am not going to try to up sell it because I believe society has already done that very thoroughly for me. Nevertheless, a barrier that remains for some of us is finding “our routine”. Why not spend some time trying out new exercises to see which one fits you the best? Nicknamed a “fitness fanatic” by my family, I definitely have spent my fair share of time rotating between regimes and styles until I found what worked best for me and my health goals. I hope you appreciate my intense gym semi-terrified face. I will upload my fitness routine and tricks soon so keep your eyes peeled!

5. Write a bucket list
This is a fun one. Taking the time to truly pinpoint what you want to have done in your life is valuable. How many times have you looked at what you are doing and realised it is a standard or routine? Making a list of activities you want to do in your life can lift your morale and hopefully even push you into action. Last COVID lockdown, I redid my bucket list and I put doing the splits as my number one (I could barely touch my toes then). Look at me now. If you want some inspiration on what to put on your bucket list, check out my blog about bucket lists.

6. Look into mindfulness
Mindfulness seems to be the buzzword now. I have always been one to see if the trend is truly worth it and quite frankly, I must agree with the enthusiasm here.
I am not a patient human and I do not like to waste time. That is exactly what I thought the hype was about, sitting and doing nothing and branding it as self-care. Yet when I began practicing mindfulness, I was no longer a sceptic. The modern life is so chaotically busy. Taking just 10 minutes out of the day to stop and sit with your thoughts is worthwhile. Although only just an amateur at mindfulness, my reactionary and unnecessarily fiery impulses have calmed.

I start my day with exercise followed by 10 minutes of mindful meditation and feel at ease. Just try it.

7. Use a new recipe to cook something different
Being bored with what you eat or falling into a routine with your cooking shouldn’t be high on your to-do list. Why not expand your eating habits and try something new? Maybe the traditional Cambodian dish of fried tarantulas would be the most delightful meal you have tried but you never gave yourself the chance… actually I would pass on that one. Jokes aside, cooking something new is generally fun. You can play around with it and find yourself a SOULFOOD cook, as I naïvely like to believe of myself. Or if you prefer a more comfortable and reliable method, good old recipes on the internet hardly turn out bad (unless you do not know how to read a method properly).

Check out my recipes. I challenge you to cook one recipe better than me and post it in the comments.

8. De-clutter your house/room
Something about de-cluttering the house really does wonders for the human brain. I always feel satisfied after seeing the transformation from a pigsty to an ordered cupboard. Plus, the forgotten goodies that you uncover, like that old pasta maker (did I mention that I am Italian?) can really come in handy.

If you still need some extra encouragement, make it a competition and challenge your family/housemates to a tidy-off and whoever can create the least clutter, doesn’t have to do dishes for a week. Oh boy did I enjoy my week off!

9. Sell your clothes
On the topic of de-cluttering, it's probably a good idea to look at your wardrobe. When was the last time you wore those jeans that are 2 sizes too small for you? Selling your clothes on platforms such as Depop, is an excellent way to recycle your clothes cleanly with an added bonus of extra $$. Check out my Depop. There’s no point to letting clothes that don’t fit you or that your Grandma gave you that you never liked in the first place (sorry G ma) collect dust in your dresser. Just take some snaps and upload them with a few simple clicks and they could have a new loving family in no time. Clothes deserve love too!

10. Up-cycle your existing clothes
You can test your creativity to refashion/ up-cycle what you have. Not only is it better for your wallet, but the environment too. Recently I stumbled across an article on how to turn jeans into a skirt (see exhibit A above, showing step 1 of the process). I got out my pair of jeans that way back when, used to have fashionable minor knee slits and chopped the legs off. The denim skirt I made using them is cute and chic and now nobody can ask me how my holes in my jeans got so big.

Check out UpCycleThat for some more ideas and inspiration on up-cycling your clothes or accessories.

11. Listen to a podcast
These days, podcasts are super accessible and there is a podcast series on anything you wish to hear about from learning new skills, getting some entertainment or even news broadcasts. What is even better is that you can be exercising and listening which is a two birds with one stone situation. I used to be a big fan of the true crime podcasts which were such thrillers. Recently, I have gotten more interested in science vs podcasts which has inspired my weed vs alcohol article. The topic is up to you and I do recommend that you explore.

12. Take a course
You should capitalize on what is on offer on the internet and what you can do from the comfort of your own home. Plenty of sites like UDEMY, ED X and General Assembly have collated plenty of courses on a very diverse range of topics that are self-paced and cater to your busy lifestyle. Many of them are free and there is so much more to gain than lose in doing them. It was by completing the coding course with Dash academy and bootstrapping course on UDEMY that I was able to design this website in a week. There are thousands of courses that you can start now. To me doing these courses are a no-brainer.

13. Message someone in a genuine way that you haven’t in a while
Being restricted to in-person socialization only with your immediate circle is a little tricky, particularly for extroverts like myself. I urge you to take the time to reach out and connect with someone you haven’t messaged in a while. Or even better, I suggest that you give that someone a call. For humans, social interaction is essential to every aspect of our health. If you make a genuine effort to bond with someone, both of you will benefit. It is the good intent that really matters here. You never could realize how large an impact your thoughtful message can have on someone’s day.

14. Sew
The skill of sewing is surprisingly useful. Even more surprising is how simple the skill is to do. Find your old sewing machine and become re-acquainted or buy one from Ebay for a low price. I got mine for $55 and it came in two days. It was a purchase I nor my family, have not regretted. I hadn’t used a sewing machine since year 8 textiles and I felt like a rookie. Yet in no time I have managed to sew two face masks (see example below), mended a few jeans and refashioned a skirt. It is not only a great skill, but sewing lends itself to many creative projects that you can jump right into if it is what you choose to do with your time.

15. Journal and re-evaluate your life goals
Writing in a journal is an underrated activity. A chance to be completely honest with yourself and just you is fundamental to self-improvement. Take the opportunity to reflect and evaluate your life, your goals and your hopes. I am not supporting the idea of writing about how great your life is but instead I am pushing you to recognize your life for what it is. It may seem ironic but it is only through becoming aware of both the ups and downs of your own life, can you really be happy. Engaging in a self-assessment activity that we find via journaling can allow us to refine our focus and re-direct our efforts in a rewarding way. Sometimes you are unhappy doing a job but you keep doing it. If you write about it, you may give yourself the chance to realise that you don’t have to be unhappy.

16. Research something you have always wondered about
We are constantly at battle with ideas in our lives and everybody seems to have an opinion about everything. We have always been told that the only opinion that should matter is your own – so why not back it up with research and facts? I would describe myself as a bit of a curious monkey. I never really grew out of that childhood phase of asking a million questions and wanting to touch everything. For this reason, writing research papers and articles has always been up my alley, check out my gender inequality in Australia article.

It is shocking to think of how many things we could be doing in this extra time given to us. There is plenty of opportunity for us to enhance our skills, develop our relationships and positively reshape the way we interact with our world. The saddest part of this though, is that it had to take a pandemic to get us to stop and reassess how we are living our lives, to want to make these changes.

I hope at least one of these activities has prompted your interest and I would be interested to hear about what you did differently in your free time. Don’t forget to comment below or share on Instagram and tag me!