Creative ways to safely spend your bank holiday weekend!
Discover creative ways to get moving, get creative, and stay safe.
While the days of brunch with your friends, afternoon shopping trips and heading to the gym to blow off Sunday AM’s cobwebs are well and truly behind us for now, it’s safe to say the endless days of lockdown can be making our weekend’s feel a little stale.
The days seem to be blurring into one and it can be hard to differentiate weekdays from the weekend, so we want to make sure you have the best bank holiday weekend you can do during these unusual times! We’ve rounded up a few ways of how to spend your weekend in lockdown to mix up the mundane...
1. Pick up a paintbrush
Painting is said to be therapeutic, which is just what we all need right now right? Get creative this weekend and put your brush to canvas (or paper if that’s all you have lying around). Or why not try your hand at painting your home and get some DIY skills under your belt!
2. Look into your ancestry
Now is the perfect time to start your family history journey by having a dig around on Ancestry.co.uk. Their records include everything from censuses, wills, birth records and even records of people’s jobs. You just enter your family’s names and dates of birth, or as much as you can, and once you start adding them, you’ll get hints for other records and people, that help show you where to look next and lead you to even more discoveries. You might even be related to the royal family without realising it!
3. Read a new book
Take some much-needed timeout from reading the mostly bleak headlines right now by escaping from reality with a book of your choice. Whether it’s one of your favourites from the past that’ll bring you those feel good vibes, or it’s that recommended book you’ve had on your reading list for a while, the time is now.
4. Have a picnic
The humble art of picnicking has been right up there with the best of ways to enjoy the sun and amp-up WFH lunches since lockdown began. And now, with new government advice stating that we can sit in parks if socially distanced from those who live in different households, picnicking outside of our own back yard can be once again enjoyed.
5. Learn to tie-dye
It's an activity that'll not only keep you occupied for the afternoon but will also encourage your creativity and leave you with a great new outfit afterwards. Unsurprisingly, Kendall Jenner - a huge fan of tie-dye - got in on the action last weekend, decorating some of her old white t-shirts with splashes of colour, as did the Beckham clan.
6. Join a Harry Potter-esque potion making class
Harry Potter mad? Hogwarts Is Here is an online social network created by fans who are now hosting live Harry Potter-esque classes. You sign up, choose your house and enrol in classes such as Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Astronomy, History of Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Herbology. Magic!
7. Learn a new skill
With all of us stuck at home, we’re seeing so many free online classes popping up on our social media feeds and this is giving us all the opportunity to learn a new skill. From online classes and workshops on improving your cooking skills to learning a new language, there’s never been a better time than now to take the plunge and learn something new!
8. Be at one with nature
As the weather is meant to be bright and sunny this bank holiday weekend, enjoy the outdoors and make the time to go for a long walk, sweaty run or bike ride with your isolation buddy! There is nothing better than starting your day with exercise, but doing it outside allows you to soak up some rays and get some well-needed Vitamin D!
9. Play with animals online
Missing your family pet? Bring a bit of excitement and joy into a shelter animal's day by playing with them online. Head to Petcube.com where you can control the toys in a shelter and play with the animals in real time from their app. You can also watch live animals in their natural habitat, which will whiz the hours away.
10. Have a virtual cook off
A fantastic way to feel close to your loved ones when we can't see them in person is FaceTime and Zoom! So why not each pick recipe and have a virtual cook-off to make you bank holiday one to remember! Pick a cuisine, find a delicious recipe, and start cooking while on camera to your family, friends and loved ones.
11. Play an at-home scavenger hunt
You may not be able to spend long enough outside to enjoy a scavenger hunt but Big Smoke Events have turned their fantastic group scavenger hunt into one you can play at home. They send you 12 challenges to develop the most creative social media posts you can with your wits and your smartphone which you share on social and they choose a weekly winner.
12. Host a BBQ at home
Hosting a BBQ with all your pals in your back garden is one of summer's greatest pastimes but just because we're in lockdown doesn't mean you can't. BBQ In A Box is a team of passionate foodies who deliver a selection of BBQ food to your front door; you literally just need to shove it on your BBQ or in your oven, pop on some tunes (they even have their own Spotify playlist) and tuck into the marinated premium cuts of meats, the freshest fish and moreish sides. Keg of beer and Hawaiian shirt optional.
We hope everyone enjoys this fantastic weather and finally getting out of the house a bit more! Happy bank holiday weekend – stay safe!