What activities can you do to stay sane during these times – and how can you talk about these activities naturally?
Here are six things that you can do to stay calm, focussed and productive while you’re in lockdown, or quarantine. Check out the phrasal verbs for these activities as well – when you use them, you’ll sound more natural in English!
All the phrasal verbs are written in bold.
Plan your day
It’s true that structure and routine help us feel more in control. Make a list of things that you want to do each day, and then write them down – either on post-it notes (small sticky pieces of paper you can attach to your PC) or on a to-do list. (To-do list = list of things to do)
Divide up your day into periods of time, and get some variety into your days.
Do some spring-cleaning
This is the ideal time to get round to (= finally make time for) all those little jobs that you have put off (= postponed). Each day you can set aside (= allocate) some time to tackle (attack) the problem spots in your house or garden. Even better if you can involve your children and get them to help!
Here are some ideas:
– clean behind furniture and the “hard-to-reach” spots like ceiling fans
– wash down (= thoroughly wash from the top to the bottom) the walls and window sills before touching up the paint (painting small areas to make it look perfect)
– clean the windows, wash the curtains and scrub the floors
– polish your furniture
– sort out (= organise) your wardrobe
– declutter your belongings
– mow the lawn (cut the grass) and weed the garden (pull out all the weeds)
– cut back trees and bushes (= reduce their size so they take less room in your garden)
Get some exercise
Exercising is a great way to stay healthy, boost your immune system, and to destress. Being in nature helps you to slow down (= take everything slowly) and to breathe more deeply.
You can also work out (= do physical exercises) at home to stay in shape.
Volunteer and help your community
Lots of small groups are springing up (= starting) to help local communities. What can you do?
– keep in touch with your neighbours
– catch up with (= get in contact to hear the news) old friends and relatives
– offer to do the shopping or to pick up (go and get) medication for people who can’t go out
– start up (= start) one of your own groups to help
Learn a new skill
If you have lots of free time, this is a great opportunity to pick up (= learn) a new skill.
– Join one of the courses on Udemy, Skillshare or Masterclass
– Brush up on (= review) a subject you learnt at school, or improve your English! (Join my English Fluency Club at a very special price!)
– Dig out (= find) your old craft manuals and supplies and make your own face mask, service your car, do some essential DIY (little renovation jobs) around the house
– Go on a virtual tour of a museum
– Learn to cook from scratch, (= prepare the complete meal from the beginning) or by using the ingredients in your kitchen cupboard.
Keep it in perspective
Yes, it is a very worrying time. But there are things that will help you worry less and feel more in control over your day-to-day life.
– Limit your news intake.
– Don’t veg out (= sit like a vegetable – ie without moving!) in front of the TV all day!
– Don’t pass on (= retweet / repost) conspiracy theories. There’s a lot of fake news out there.
– Meditate to find calm
– Check if you’re entitled to any financial help from the government
– Support local businesses. Perhaps you can order takeaway food from your local restaurants.
Learn phrasal verbs easily!
Phrasal verbs are really common in English.
We use them all the time in conversations – but also in newspaper articles and stories. When YOU understand and use them, you’ll sound more natural, you’ll be able to understand conversations, and it will be easier and quicker for you to understand when you read English.
Master more than 1000 of the most common phrasal verbs in the Phrasal Verbs Masterclass. I’ll show you exactly how you can understand them quickly and easily with my “Particles Guide” – the world’s first spreadsheet of phrasal verb meanings.