How to Level-Up Your Lockdown in 2021

It’s time to take things up a notch.

Unfortunately, it looks like lockdown’s here for the long-run for many of you, so it’s time to take things up a notch. Forget the jigsaw puzzles and sourdough, we’ve compiled a list that’ll well and truly transcend your four walls.

Whether it’s growing your own herb garden (it’s easier than you think!) or doing your best Bob Ross impression, we have plenty of rewarding activities to beef-out your agenda while you bunker down.

And remember, it’s absolutely OK to do nothing at all. Allow yourself a lot of literal and figurative breathing room during this period – not everyone has to start a podcast or adopt a dog!

Get Your Bob Ross On
There’s nothing like the ambient tenor of Bob Ross to soothe the cacophony of thoughts bouncing around your cranium during lockdown.

Thankfully, there are literally hundreds of episodes of Bob Ross on YouTube, and experimenting with your own variety of paints can be one of the most therapeutic and rewarding experiences you can have at home.

Still-life, surrealist, abstract or even a ‘draw me like one of your French girls’ life-drawing with your partner and/or housemate will no doubt create an interesting atmosphere – just make sure you take some artistic license for everybody’s sake. ‘Tiny’ is small in any aesthetic language.

Grow your Own Herbs (No, Not That Kind)
Ever dreamt of making aglio e olio with home-grown coriander? How about sinking mojitos with your very own mint? Growing your own herbs is surprisingly straight-forward, with plenty of nurseries across Australia still open for click-and-collect or delivery.

No backyard? No worries. Durable herbs like coriander, mint and chives perform very well indoors – while other herbs like basil and rosemary quickly take on a life of their own – so living in an apartment is no excuse.

Just make sure you find a spot with plenty of natural light for optimal growth, and don’t be shy about taking them out now and then for a burst of direct sunlight.

If you want to take it up a notch and you have the yard for it, consider planting some tasty tomatoes – September and early October are ideal conditions for growing! You’ll be luring people over the fence with your gnocchi puttanesca in no time!

@eklektyczna.kamienica

Learn an Instrument
There are some things that will always transcend the notion of ‘cool’, and playing an instrument is one of them.

It really is incredible how much you can learn online these days, and there’s plenty of YouTube tutorials to get you started. Whether it’s percussion, piano, guitar or vocals, it’s time to get your creative juices flowing.

There’s even some great mixing software like Ableton Live available. You’ll be cooking like Certified Lover Boy (AKA Drake) in no time.

Transcendental Meditation
If it’s good enough for David Lynch, it’s good enough for anyone. Yes, lord of surrealist cinema Lynch recently extolled the virtues of transcendental meditation, urging everyone struggling creatively or mentally to give it a try.

It’s a tough nut to crack, but the reward is well worth it.

Candle Making
Candles can pay dividends for your ‘feng shui’. Unfortunately, they can also burn a hole in your wallet, so investing some time into making your own is both meditative and cost-effective – once you absorb the initial costs to get started.

There’s plenty of customisation and creativity involved (although please don’t try and emulate Gwyneth Paltrow’s recent line), so it feels like less of a chore and more of a hobby.

Don’t be overwhelmed, just keep the three main components in mind: wax, a wick, and a container. After all, global pandemic or not, a bath, book and candle will always be god-level relaxation.

Need some fresh gear to help you bunker-down?

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