Coronavirus Lockdown: 10 Ways To Beat Boredom

By Funmilola Olukomaiya
Getting bored during a lockdown could be real torture especially with people who are used to
having hectic schedules. In this light, it is kind of important to keep busy so as not to feel the state of boredom as it does kill happiness.
When boredom sets in, it becomes really tough to kill time, as it will seem that it has stopped. It
is pertinent to know that you cannot sleep all the time nor can you scroll #Instagram feed
which has people supposedly “enjoying” their life and not being bored.
But then, learning to kill time depends on your interests and what you really enjoy doing while
bored.
That said, it is already day 3 of the 14-day lockdown ordered by the Nigerian government in some states of the nation and it won’t be
wrong to say some of us are already going bananas and are already getting bored out of
our minds!
So while we all get to observe the compulsory stay-at-home order, here are 10 ways to beat
boredom, number 10 will amaze you.
1. Exercise
Provided you are prepared to put a little time and effort into your workout at home, it can be just as effective as a gym workout. At a time like this, the prospect of going into a gym is daunting and therefore exercising in the comfort
of their own home is much more appealing.
Since you are likely to do a lot more of eating and sitting around, a lot of exercises may be crucial as you need to stay fit and healthy.
2. Read a book
When was the last time you read a book? Now
is a good time to revive your reading culture, at
least, for leisure. It is often said that there is no
better friend than a book. Truth is a lot of us
aren’t book lovers, but since we’re about killing
boredom, you can try page by page reading on
topics that interest you. The internet has also
made e-books available to us, therefore, it won’t
hurt to look out for books on topics that interest
you. Besides, it is always good to gain
knowledge especially when you have nothing
else to do.
3. Learn something new
Because lockdown isn’t a vacay, you should
work at adding value to yourself at this time.
Learn a new skill or add to you your existing
knowledge by taking a new course online. It
won’t hurt to try one of the many online or self-
study options. Many are even free, so there’s no
excuse for not broadening your horizons. There
are tons of online courses you can take from
and get certification for at the end of your
learning process. Remember, it’s all about adding
value to yourself while you can.
4. Watch Movies
Of course, Netflix is the only thing popular than
Coronavirus right now and catching up with
your favourite movies, series or soap operas
wouldn’t be a bad idea. When you’re glued to
watching an array of interesting movies, several
hours would be passed just like that and you
wouldn’t know it. Just make sure to have some
snacks handy by the side.
5.Play Games
It might have been years since you last played
a video game, they can be addictive but it is a
great way to definitely kill time. When power
fails, you can help yourself with other indoor
games – ludo board game, chess, scrabble, your
card games, etc. It is worthy to keep in mind
that you do not start doing it all the time, every
day.
6. Cook a new recipe
To keep bored at bay during this lockdown,
improving your culinary skills will be an
interesting activity to engage in. If you have
been the busy type whose work schedule
wouldn’t allow to try basic new things, now is
the time to explore. For ideas, you can look on
the internet and learn how to prepare what you
have been craving for or that special cuisine
that tickles your fancy. It might not be as tasty
in your first try, but you will be proud enough
with a new skill in your hand.
7. Dance
Boredom can be exhausting and when you’re at
loss for what to do, dancing is an easy way out
as it is a fantastic mood elevator. You can
decide to learn a few steps online and dance to
the beats of your favourite music. While at it,
sing along too, this will keep your mind
refreshed as the happiness that comes with it
cannot be explained.
8. Meditate
Do you know that meditation is one of the most
common ways to reduce stress? Many of us are
not just not sold to the whole “Mind-Body-Spirit”
thing. When you meditate, it gives room for
fresh ideas and rejuvenates your mind. You are
better focused as your being is involved in
mindfulness and you are able to focus your
mind on a particular object, thought, or activity –
like starting a new business, improving your
relationships and other positive things. It’s not
like you’re doing anything right now anyway, so
what have you got to lose?
9. Clean up
At this time, you can kill time by cleaning up.
This could be your closet, garden, kitchen or the
whole house. Yes, it can be overwhelming, but
since you have so much time on your hands,
you can make a roaster that will help you
achieve your goal. Another good thing is you
don’t have to do it alone (for those who are
married or have children or wards staying with
them). Trust me children love to work and they
will willingly help you out while making it a fun
time as well. You will feel much happier and
prouder after completing the task. However you
see it, cleaning almost always results in finding
things you have forgotten about, and while you
are at it, you will most definitely find a few
forgotten treasures.
10. Have plenty of sex
Sounds funny right? but then this cannot be
overemphasized. The lockdown has provided a
lot of time for us to bond as couples/families. It’s
not unlikely that before now, a lot of couples
have had serious marital issue, and this time
seems the best time for them to sort out their
differences. So once the issues are sorted out,
please feel free to explore all you want. And
really, can you think of a better way to occupy
your free time?

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