ARGH! The kids are running riot, there’s already a previously white wall now filled with their creativity and glue seemingly on every surface you touch, your boss is reminding you of that deadline from two weeks ago that disappeared behind three extra loads of washing and now you’re simply asking what the hell did I do to deserve this?! Well don’t worry, we’re here to help.
We’ve collected some of the top ways to keep you busy without having to leave the house, meaning you can exercise away the stress of your little horrors before dealing with the next crisis, or you can relax your mind before the struggles of bedtime, so sit back, take a minute, and find what’s best to keep you sane during this self-isolation period.
Audiobooks
Yes, this may seem like a reasonably obvious suggestion, but audiobooks are so frequently overlooked! With everyone stuck at home, loads of celebrities have begun reading classic children's stories and sticking them online for all the world to see! Do you know what this means? Bedtime stories are no longer your job if you don’t want it to be! So instead you can sit back and enjoy a bit of ‘you’ time before getting some well-deserved kip for yourself!
The other thing to appreciate is if it doesn’t work with your kids, or you like reading them their bedtime stories, then why not give them a go for yourself? See there are millions of great reads out there that you can enjoy with a glass of red on your sofa in the evenings if you want to. So why not put the kids to bed, then give yourself some much-deserved relaxation time with a good book?
The best part about all this is that there are loads of ways of accessing audiobooks! Sites such as YouTube mean there’s always access to short stories. If you know when, Facebook live offers a great way to interact with authors and celebrities who are reading stories. There’s also the well-known audiobook site Audible which is a great option for audiobooks for both kids and adults, so why not take a look?
Family Workouts
I don’t know about you, but I honestly think I’ve never missed the outside world as much as I do at the moment, so one way I know I have tried to counter this is home workouts, and a great way to make this fun and motivational is to get the whole family involved. It doesn’t have to be anything too advanced or adventurous, but even 30 minutes twice a day can make a huge difference physically and mentally when you’re stuck indoors. If you don’t know where to start, there are loads of online videos on YouTube, as well as on more specialised sites such as Family Fit Club, Results Wellness Lifestyle and group hiit which offer more tailored and planned regimes to follow.
By doing these exercise sessions you can not only improve your physical and mental wellbeing, but you can also improve that of your kids, as well as maybe making putting them to bed that little bit easier! So in truth, it's a win-win. As I said before, you don’t need to know what you’re doing and you don’t even need to spend too long exercising, but by committing even the smallest amount of your day to some exercise you will see the benefits in the long run for both you and your kids.
Online Prenatal and Antenatal Classes
Ok so yes I appreciate this one is specifically for those of you who are expecting, if this isn’t the case for you then feel free to skip down to the next one, unless of course you want to keep yourself prenatally aware in which case read on! When you’re expecting it can be an extremely stressful time, let alone with the addition of the wonderful thing that is self-isolation. So many questions, so much time alone with your fears can leave you even more stressed than usual, which, as I’m sure you realise, is not good for you or the baby. So, why not try and keep some normality to your pregnancy.
Loads of sites are now offering prenatal classes for expectant mothers for no price at all! With loads of information and guidance, these classes provide an incredible level of knowledge and support for an online resource, and so can be a great benefit to those of you struggling with your pregnancy journey. Sites such as Pulling Curls and MotherToBaby offer both prenatal classes as well as general information and evidence about pregnancy to help comfort and guide you through these months. Also, one of our own bloggers, Louise Broadbridge, is offering some great antenatal classes on her site Let's Talk Birth and Baby. You don’t necessarily need to spend long with them, but just an occasional read when you’re feeling anxious or concerned can be a great way to put your mind at ease.
Baking
Ah yes, who doesn’t love that wonderful smell of freshly baked cookies on a warm spring afternoon, as I know I do! Baking is an easy way to deal with some of the big problems for parents during self-isolation, as it keeps the kids busy (and as messy as they need to be!) whilst also keeping their brain occupied and providing some food for when they run out of all the pasta they’ve stockpiled for the time!
Whether it’s your first time with a whisk in your hand or if you’re a seasoned veteran, you can find loads of new and interesting recipes online to try that won’t even need excessive supplies or time, and if you want to keep your kids entertained, why not keep a bottle of food colouring nearby, because what could bemuse a kid more than a green scone? If you want to take a look at some recipes, why not take a look at BBC Good Food or Trex for some great recipe ideas.
Chat to people
This sounds simple and obvious trust me I know! But it can be easily forgotten that you may have friends you won’t see now for possibly months, or family who you already haven’t seen for months but you now can’t see as you are all isolating, so why not once in a while give them a call? Or if they can’t call, drop them a text with some kind of funny image on it that might start up a bit of conversation. It can be difficult to find normality when you are stuck indoors, but by keeping up conversations it can seem as close to normality as possible. And now things like FaceTime mean we can even see our friends when they could be miles away. So why not give them a call, as even if it may not seem to help you, it could be helping them a great deal by even just seeing you or hearing your voice.
