99 things to do during a lockdown

Posted on by Parul Thakur

We are in a lockdown.

2020 will go down as an year we will all remember. The world around us changed in a matter of weeks and before we could grasp what was happening, we were all a part of it.

People began working from homes, flights were cancelled and countries sealed their borders. Retail outlets other than groceries and essentials were closed and the four walls of our house became our world.

I have been working from home now for over 15 days and there are another 27 to go. Things could change but for now this is what I know. When I started first, there was no lockdown. Just the ask to stay at home and maintain social distance. Then in a week, things started getting tighter and I gave time off to my helps. I was then on my own. In the last two weeks or more, I have had good days and not-so-good days. I am good staying at home but I miss seeing people or going for a walk.

There are also days I get lost in the ‘what if?’. When that happens, I talk to loved ones and absorb myself in household chores. I have a new-found interest in cleaning. Cooking is still a chore but I am managing it.

So today, I want to share a list with you. The list of 99 things to do during a lock down.

  1. Stay locked down
  2. Follow rules
  3. Maintain social distance
  4. Keep up with good hygienic habits
  5. Be patient
  6. Set a routine
  7. Get up on time and sleep on time
  8. Take breaks to walk in the house. Get some steps
  9. Share authentic news and information
  10. Don’t spread rumors
  11. Don’t believe everything unless it comes from an authorized source
  12. Clean the clutter
  13. Add books to your TBR
  14. Eat healthy and on time
  15. Keep yourself hydrated
  16. Meditate
  17. Practice mindfulness
  18. Work out (indoors) atleast 30 mins every day
  19. Maintain a habit tracker and track your work out goals
  20. Learn something new and if possible every week
  21. Finish that book
  22. Start a new book
  23. Clean the refrigerator
  24. Click a picture
  25. Look into your photo archives and indulge in some golden memories
  26. Don’t over indulge in social media
  27. Avoid negativity and negative people
  28. Don’t be negative
  29. Accept the diversity of thoughts that surround us
  30. Ask people how they are?
  31. Borrow good ideas and implement
  32. Fix something that is broken
  33. Call friends who are serving others at this time and thank them
  34. Stay strong
  35. Clean the wardrobe
  36. Organize that drawer
  37. Clean up that filing cabinet
  38. Sort clothes that you don’t wear and pack it. Give it away to someone who needs later
  39. Tend to your plants
  40. Water plants everyday
  41. Take a break from work (even if you are a homemaker, take a break)
  42. Organize the kitchen
  43. Start a daily journal
  44. Start your day with a list of things to do
  45. Write a gratitude list every day
  46. Enjoy the quiet
  47. Call friends/family
  48. Make a video call – have you tried zoom?
  49. Call those long lost friends
  50. Check in on an elderly relative (over a video call)
  51. Send voice notes to loved ones
  52. Try games to train your brain
  53. Read online articles
  54. Smile
  55. Laugh at those COVID 19 Memes
  56. Inspire someone who is feeling low
  57. Be kind
  58. Pay your help(s) even when they cannot come for work
  59. Share your number with them so in need they can call you
  60. Shop for groceries online
  61. Bank online
  62. Cut down processed food and sugar
  63. Get comfortable with the new normal
  64. Start your car once a week but don’t take it out.
  65. Watch the Sun set
  66. Bake a cake or cookies or a bread
  67. Try a new recipe
  68. Introspect
  69. Reflect
  70. Make your travel bucket list
  71. Make an un-bucket list
  72. Listen to chirping of birds
  73. Watch a TV show
  74. Binge watch a show that you always wanted to
  75. Crack a silly joke
  76. Make a list of things you will do when the lockdown is over
  77. Watch a movie
  78. Reread a book
  79. Watch a movie again
  80. Play a board game
  81. Learn to dance
  82. Honor your work deliverable
  83. Lead by example
  84. Spend time with people around
  85. Talk and laugh together
  86. Clean up your computer – sort files and folders
  87. Delete unnecessary stuff from your computer
  88. Clean up personal emails
  89. Paint/doodle/sketch/color something
  90. Pick up an old/long lost interest and rekindle it
  91. Walk while you talk on phone
  92. Play music
  93. Have hope
  94. Have faith
  95. Take it easy
  96. Don’t complain
  97. Stay safe
  98. Look up
  99. Remember – This too shall pass

What will you add to my list? And tell me how are you doing?

99 things to do in a lockdown

23 thoughts on “99 things to do during a lockdown”

  2. That’s a long list ! But mostly I do, I spend more time with blogging and read posts, it’s so interesting to know how people over the world live this unique catastrophe ! It’s the first time that we are all concerned the whole world withoug weapons and not local disasters but a little vicious virus ! I do the most on your list. Except household scores my cleaning lady still comes once a week. She is allowed to come if we both agree because I am a senior. The only thing to do is being patient and hope that it will end quickly. It must be very difficult in your country to keep all people inside when lots of them don’t even have a home. In Belgium there is now a shelter where the homeless are living, they can’t stay on the street !

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    1. Thanks for sharing how it is in Belgium. You are right. A lot of people who work as cleaners and cooks have no where to go work. And not everyone will still pay for no working. So that’s hard. It’s true how a virus has changed the world and I also hope that things gets back to being better very soon. You take care, Gattina!

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  4. You seem to have covered everything! Working out is one thing I was sorely missing as I love the gym. I have started running again, of course a smaller track within the society but makes me feel very positive. Take care and stay safe

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    1. Thank you, Akshatha! I follow workout videos at home and try to stick to my morning fitness routine. It’s working so far and working out at home is something I’d never even thought I would be comfortable. But here I’m. You also take care and stay safe. Thank you for following happiness and food. I hope to see you around. 😊

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  5. That’s a long list! And you’ve covered almost everything. Yes for learning new things and also for connecting deeper with a hobby! May we all emerge from this stronger, wiser, and with more empathy and compassion for one another.

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  6. That is a nice list of things to do! I was cooking my meals earlier but now I have to cook more! I feel grateful for all the things and facilities that I have. I plan to try doing something new, but I just don’t seem to find the time. Hope things get better soon! Take care!

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  7. Everything you have shared on your list is on mine, too. Except for a few, like watering the plants (don’t have any), paying the house help (don’t have any), and a couple more, I follow all of these. 😛

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  9. Wow what a list and top of the things from this for me is – avoid negativity and write Gratitude. I have been missing out on writing it down and am on it from today again. I also used ZOOM for the first time today on a meditation session- will be including this daily in my day. Thanks for pointing out some of the most obvious stuff here that needed to be said as I have been certainly skipping them. Getting back to a routine is now foremost on my list.

    Glad to see you are doing good and I am loving the pics you have been sharing – they brighten up my day. Thank you for doing 365 days on Insta Parul – stay safe and stay well!! hugs

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  12. Thanks for sharing a long list, even to keep oneself occupied and could go on with these things for an extended lock down too.. am doing most of the things mentioned, only must cut down on sugar 🙂 tendency to make sweet after meals… and i must learn to manage my time.. sometimes get caught up with one activity for a long time. I do tele counseling whenever a student calls, writing the A-Z April challenge posts, solve some puzzles, connect with friends and stay in touch. I must start the car without driving sometimes, which i have not done… my bike too is dusty…

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