How to Spend Your Summer During Lockdown

Lockdown might be easing, but it's still having an impact on what our summer holidays look like. For starters, you weren't at school when the term ended, so it might not even feel like the holidays! Here are my tips for how to beat holiday boredom without breaking social distancing rules:

1. Explore your local area.
   While your plans for a trip abroad might have been axed, you can still get out and about in your neighbourhood. Document your journey with photos or drawings, or just walk around and enjoy the moment. It's a great way to stay healthy and get some time to yourself.

2. Set yourself a challenge.
   A challenge is an easy way to give yourself something to do that's fun. If you're not sure what you would enjoy, a 14 or 30 day challenge is a great place to start as there's a definite end date. There are plenty of social media challenges out there, so there's bound to be one that suits you. Try searching for hashtags like #30DayDrawingChallenge or #30DayYogaChallange to get an idea for what's out there.

3. Get a job.
   This is understandably going to be a tricky one. With many shops, cafes and restaurants closed, the typical summer job options might not be available. Fortunately, there are still plenty of ways to earn some pocket money! Why not ask your neighbours if they need any help with things like cleaning or gardening. Do you speak a second language? Perhaps you could tutor people over video call! You could even go to your local supermarket and ask if they're hiring right now, they might say yes!

4. Relax.
   It is your holiday after all! You may not have been physically going into school but you still need time to rest and recharge. This has been a stressful time for everyone and you deserve some time off! While I don't recommend you spend the entire summer in bed, it's ok to have the occasional lie-in and pyjama day. You've earned it!

This summer might not be the one you have imagined, but that's not to say it can't be fun! Consider your options, do what speaks to you and, most importantly, enjoy your time off!