How to kill boredom at home during lockdown

We are now well into the national lockdown and needless to say, cabin fever has kicked in says Mike Greeff, CEO of Greeff Christie's International Real Estate. If you have already spring cleaned, rearranged your furniture and finished all the must-reads on your bedside table, what else is there to do? You can only do so many home workouts, self-care regiments and DIY projects before you start feeling cooped up. For parents, having the kids at home 24/7 is no easy feat and keeping the little ones entertained can be a challenge - especially if you don't want them getting Netflix-brain by watching TV all the time.

Below are a few ways on how you and your family can kill the boredom at home. We hope that this brings you fun, joy and laughter until the lockdown is lifted.

For those without kids

1. Organise and minimise your inbox. Since you're working from home, you probably have your inbox open all day, right? Greeff advises that you spend 15 minutes deleting and filing emails. You'll be amazed at how much you can lighten your inbox in a short amount of time. For extra efficiency, do this clean-up every day for a full week. You will feel more productive and more encouraged to get things done.
2. Clean your car. If you have a car, now is the perfect time to clean it. The added bonus of this is that you get to be outside for some part of the day and get in your much-needed dose of Vitamin D. Start by taking everything out of your car, and then wipe down the surfaces and vacuum the floors and seats. Finish it off by cleaning the windows inside and out.
3. Have a dance party in your lounge. It doesn't matter whether you enjoy weekly dance classes or if you only dance at weddings, create a playlist with your favourite tunes, press play and get your body moving. Dancing releases endorphins that will make you feel happy and is a great workout too - killing two birds with one stone. With time to spare, you could even learn whole dance routines to show off at the next celebration!
4. Learn a language. Now is your chance to add a new language to your skillset. Of course, you won't be entirely fluent by the time lockdown ends but you would have learnt just enough to get by. Start by learning 5 new words and 5 new phrases everyday - it could add up to a generous vocabulary by the time the lockdown is over.
5. Have a wine tasting party (works with non-alcoholic wines too, of course). Open all of those bottles and half bottles of wine that you have stored in your cupboard and pour just a tot or two into a series of glasses and host your very own tasting party. Find out more about the wines you're drinking online or, if you want to make it even more fun, make up elaborate stories about their origin and have a good laugh about it.

For those with kids

1. Play a few rounds of tin can bowling. If you have an excess of tinned food in your cupboard, this is the perfect game for the entire family, says Greeff. With just 10 tins (if you're sticking to the conventional ten-pin bowling) and a soccer ball, you will have your very own bowling alley in no time! Start a tournament with your family and unleash your competitive side - it will be some of the best fun you've had in a while!
2. Let go with Lego. Most children under the age of 12 love Lego so giving them daily building challenges are a great way to keep them not only entertained but mentally stimulated too. This is also the ideal way to keep them busy if you need to finish some work during ''office hours''. Some examples of daily challenges could include asking them to build a playground, or a space rocket or even what they think their dream home should look like - do not underestimate the power of imagination.
3. Host a tea party. Being indoors, there is no real desire or need to dress up so staying in your PJ's/workout gear all day is usually the status-quo. Getting dressed up every once in a while, can be good for you and your mental health. As an encouragement to do so, host a fancy tea party for your family. Everyone should wear their Sunday best, gather around in the garden and enjoy miniature cakes and savouries. This will not only boost everyone's mood, but it will be a memory you will all treasure.
4. Have a fashion show. Many of us are guilty of having a wardrobe full of clothes that we never wear so why not take this time to clear out a few items. This is the ideal time to shop your very own closet, try on clothes that you had forgotten about and host a fashion show for your family. Getting your kids involved is a bonus because it's an easy way for you to sort out and organize their wardrobes too - again, killing two birds with one stone. Another reason to do this is winter is coming and there are many people out there who won't have clothes. While going through your closet, sort out the items you know you will no longer wear and once the lockdown is over, go to your nearest shelter and donate it to the under privileged.
5. Visit museums virtually. There are many museum sites you can visit that'll offer you the best virtual experience using Google Arts and Culture. This is a great way to see the world without even leaving your home, suggests Greeff. Your kids will also have an educational and cultural experience that will definitely broaden their horizons and pique their curiosity.

Google Arts & Culture also offers you a chance to explore famous historic and cultural heritage sites - this will certainly make for a fun day indoors.

A list of just some of the museums that are hosting virtual tours:

• British Museum - London
• Guggenheim Museum - New York
• National Gallery of Art - Washington, D.C.
• Musée d'Orsay - Paris
• National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art - Seoul
• Pergamon Museum - Berlin
• Rijks Museum - Amsterdam
• Van Gogh Museum - Amsterdam
• The J. Paul Getty Museum - Los Angeles
• Uffizi Gallery - Florence
• MASP - São Paulo
• National Museum of Anthropology - Mexico City

Many of us have wished for more time at home to get things done and now we have it. See this as an opportunity to spend more quality time with your family, focus on you and your wellbeing well and get in that much-needed R&R you so desperately crave. Use the next 14 days to accomplish something you couldn't before and see this time as a blessing. Before you know it, the lockdown will be lifted, and it will be business as usual.