Like many countries around the globe, you may have found yourself having to hibernate inside for a few weeks, if not a month. It can be a tough time for many of us, so we’ve compiled some of our favourite ideas to get you through, and hopefully, bring a smile to your face. Staying active Staying active is even more important now that we’re lessening our movements. Your step count won’t be the same without your daily commute to work, coffee runs or gym sessions. But just because you’re in hibernation doesn’t mean you can’t keep up your fitness, in fact, it’s been highly recommended by the WHO to get some form of exercise in once a day. Outdoors If you’re lucky enough to be able to go for a short walk and spread your legs out in nature, please, please do it – your days and weeks will be so much better because of it. Research shows a strong link between contact with nature and good positive health. I’ve lived in the same neighbourhood now for two years and in the past few weeks, I’ve discovered so many new walking routes which I’ve been missing out on! Check google for walks or parks that are in walking distance to your home. Of course, please practice social distancing and good hygiene practices. Why not spend some time working in your garden? Set up a veggie patch or tick off those gardening jobs you’ve been putting off for a while. Now’s the time! Indoors If you can’t get outdoors, try out some stretches or yoga that you can do inside instead. Yoga with Adrienne does an amazing 30-day yoga challenge which is suitable for all levels. Or, Youtube “home-workout no equipment” and all the fitness youtubers will have you covered! Let’s get social Just because you’re hibernating, doesn’t mean you can’t still have a social life! Google hangouts, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Facebook, WhatsApp, Facetime and so much more – whichever app you’re using (of which there are many, thanks to technology!), make it a priority to check in on your friends and family regularly. As the weeks swing by, staying in touch with people outside of your bubble will become so important for you, and for them. Virtual Social Activities If you’re wanting to step things up a notch, here are some of our favourite virtual social activities: Host virtual dinner parties, wine and cheese sessions or coffee catch ups over video! Virtual Brunch! Games you can play virtually: Heads Up – all you need is your phone and some great acting skills! This has just recently become free on the App Store so make the most of it. Charades Settlers of Catan – PSI there’s a free online version here. Scrabble – Scrabble Go or Words with Friends are some apps I’ve used before (yep, I have not one, but TWO scrabble apps on the go at once…). Virtual Book club – Set a book you will read for the week and host a call on the weekends to go over the book or just to have a catch up! E-books are a great way to access books while your favourite bookshops or libraries are closed! ‘Libby’ is an app that allows you to place holds on e-books and read them on your device, at no cost – all you need is your library card. Netflix Party – why not watch a movie with all your friends and chat about it too? Netflix Party allows you to do just that, from various locations all over the globe! Learn something new Utilize this extra time to learn a new skill, a new language (Duolingo is great for this), watch documentaries, read new books or browse the more educational side of Youtube. Here are some of our favourites to get you started: Any books or videos with Mark Miodownik. Planet Earth – David Attenborough <3 Learn a new recipe – baking bread or making your own oat milk are simple ways to not only minimize the amount of waste you use but also a great way to try something new. Learn a new dance – Tik Tok, anyone? Skillshare – another great app to learn something new, and they have a free trial too. “Home-away Meals” If you’re like me and are a passionate café hopper and bruncher or simply just struggle with the option now being taken away from you (I feel you!), behold, “Home-away meals”! Every weekend, my flatmates and I get together and plan what meals we’re going to have for the weekend. Anything goes, so long as it feels a bit more of a treat than your usual weekday meals. The more complicated, the better! After all, now’s the time to give things a go and to make as much of it from scratch as you can, you’ve got plenty of time on your hands. Here are some of our favourites: Gnocchi Pizzas – homemade dough, of course. Peep the cute photo above that my flat mates and I took this weekend with our candlelit dinner (#EarthHour2020). Here’s the recipe we used for our base. Nachos Anything Indian cuisine! Also, can we have a moment to appreciate roti bread? Bao buns Dumplings Sunday roasts – here’s the vegan, lentil nut meatloaf I’ll be making next weekend. Homemade spaghetti - if you’re struggling to get pasta, this is the perfect recipe for you. All you need is flour and water. Themed weekend days Weekends have previously meant spending time at home to relax and catch up on the list of chores that have been piling up but now that we’re spending all of our time at home, it can be tricky to break up your weekend days from the other five of the week. Aside from making funkier foods that require a few extra ingredients and skyping your friends and family, here are some ideas to reach level 100 of hibernation! Weekend ideas for your bubble: Movie marathon day – LOTR anyone? Spa Day – self-care is more important now that ever. Pop on a face mask, hair mask, scrub or even a bath. Get your flat mates or whole family involved. Board game day – dust off those old boardgames and get some friendly competitiveness going. Bake Off – teams competing against each other, a race against time, making do with limited ingredients – sounds just like the Great British Bake off – household edition. Winner gets a night off doing the dishes? Chefs Table – (firstly, if you haven’t watched Chef’s Table, add it to your hibernation Netflix list!) Run a competition for meals with flat mates/ family members for breakfast, lunch and dinner and similar to the Great British Bake off – household edition, add in a prize for the winning team. Cultural day - there are so many beautiful cultures you can share with each other – whether it’s part of your ethnic background or simply a country you have visited and have loved, get thinking of what you loved most about that culture. My Filipino cultural day at my flat for example, would include teaching phrases, fun facts about the country, maybe teaching a dance, cooking lesson and of course, showing photos. A Filipino drama might be the movie choice of the day too! Get creative and really use this as an opportunity to explore a culture or proudly showcase your own. Arts and crafts day Marie Kondo (but make it sustainable) – clear out your wardrobe, take your time to organize and make sure you set aside what you can give away, sell and recycle. Music day! – if you can play an instrument or sing, even better but if not, your Tik Tok career is just one dance or lip-synch away. Take care Phew! What a list of goodies. We hope some of these have stood out to you and bring a smile to your face during an otherwise difficult time for many around the globe. It’s an unprecedented time in history and we know it can be overwhelming, so please take care of yourself, reach out to your loved ones and we hope that your next few weeks in hibernation are just that little bit brighter. Take care, team Ethique xx