Can we share ideas to make the best of the next couple of months?

[Whataloadofshit]

I was going to post on the Covid board, but it's overrun with school threads every day.

January and February can be gloomy months as it is. Cold, grey, damp. Often skint, dieting, not much going on.

With all of the Covid restrictions they're likely to be even tougher this year. We are in tier 4 so it is going to be utter shite, none of the dcs hobbies will be running again.

Has anyone got any plans/ideas/projects to get through it?

I'm hoping to have a bit of a health kick, lots of exercise and healthy food. Watch lots of films, start a new book, play more with the dc hopefully lots of games and puzzles and may set eldest a reading challenge.

@Whataloadofshit

I was going to post on the Covid board, but it's overrun with school threads every day.

January and February can be gloomy months as it is. Cold, grey, damp. Often skint, dieting, not much going on.

With all of the Covid restrictions they're likely to be even tougher this year. We are in tier 4 so it is going to be utter shite, none of the dcs hobbies will be running again.

Has anyone got any plans/ideas/projects to get through it?

I'm hoping to have a bit of a health kick, lots of exercise and healthy food. Watch lots of films, start a new book, play more with the dc hopefully lots of games and puzzles and may set eldest a reading challenge.

Get your seed potatoes chitting for March!

Plan out some beds, even a little tiny one divided up in to square feet (square foot gardening in Google will find you loads) will produce a lot.

Pick seeds and prep a little potting area or propagation spot.

Great thread idea! I am tracking a load of hobbies like Duolingo, reading, even a lot of TV series and anime that I want to watch because otherwise I tend to just stick the same old stuff on over and over again.

I’m also doing my second free course with the local adult education people

I’m a classical music lover but tend to stay in my comfort zone.
This book was recommended on MN with a piece of Classical or 20th Century music plus some interesting background facts every day. I got the Kindle version and can just copy and paste the title into YouTube.
It’s usually less than half an hour, so a coffee break activity just for myself.

I also bought a paint-by-numbers canvas, but it came from China and Lockdown 1 was over by the time it arrived. Now, I wonder where I put it!

Oh I should look at that book thanks, I want a structured way of covering music properly with DS (home ed) thank you!

I finally replaced my old piano and received the new one yesterday, will just do whatever while getting used to a digital (owned my upright for 24 years) but then I might set myself some particular pieces to really work on as something productive to do!

Placemarking. I've ordered a poster of British garden birds to mark off which ones we see. Urm, that's it. Will be pinching loads of these ideas though, so thank you!

If you are watching for birds put out fat balls. It's a bird crack😂

@SchrodingersImmigrant we put out fat balls once and we watched in fascination as birds of different varieties formed an actual queue for them. Amazing.

Yup. Bird crack. Though starlings are way to invested in it and fight their way in😂

I'm doing 3 online bootcamps a week and planning to up it to 4. They really do keep me sane. A walk outdoors everyday - boring, I know, but I am going to try and focus on the changing seasons rather than stomp around thinking 'done this walk a hundred times already this year.)

DTeens have proposed that we have a fun night once a week- film night with home made pizzas and popcorn, or poker night etc.

I'm trying to achieve small victories like Dry Jan, losing another stone in weight etc and trying to take on new challenges. This week I have to run a big international conference on Zoom, and give a lecture at it. I do small groups on Zoom but never anything of this size, so that will be an experiment.

If you fancy a boogie at home on a Saturday night, check out Discos for Grownups on FB. He's a lovely guy and did a weekly disco during the first lockdown and has started doing them again. Very uplifting nd and good fun!

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=848882752557898&id=321236861989159

London Buddhist centre is also holding a free meditation challenge this month.

Last one!
I highly recommend this audio book by Sophie Sabbage. She's a very experienced trainer and has also written a highly regarded book about cancer having suffered from a brain tumour herself. This audio book is actually more like listening to a workshop as you hear Sophie support people with their emotion arising from the challenges coronavirus has thrown them. It's very powerful and hopefully helpful to people.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08G1RF86T/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

I'm a newly converted cook with my youngest and going to plant vegetables like I did last year just from seed this year not buying seedlings etc. Currently growing bulbs in pots indoors.

There are some lovely ideas on here, thank you OP for starting this thread.

Trying to tame the local crows. I doubt even this lockdown will be long enough, so it's a long term project :)

Dc have decorated the kitchen for winter, so we have lots of glittery snowflakes hanging everywhere, and some jolly snowmen made out of cotton wool. It has brightened up the place no end. The fairy lights too make it look lovely and twinkly and cheerful.

We made scented candles yesterday (they are older) and will save them for later in the month, and will make some more for gifts for Easter.

I can't face walking again, but I found a cycle hire place that is still running and we are cycling regularly on car free tracks. It is freezing so don't forget to put the kids into ski wear and bring gloves.

I am doing the family photo albums whilst dc homeschool.

Sorting through the attic at the weekends. Skip is waiting!

Thanks for super thread!

A health and fitness competition

Points for every minute of exercises/ walking
Minus points for chocolate, crisps, alcohol.

A weekly tot up, winner will get a fiver off of the other two when we decide the time period is over, it’s all a matter of pride really.

Making a picture out of broken costume jewellery.

Aiming for one completely ridiculous moment a day. It might be being chased around the house by your DCs with shaving foam, or just laughing hysterically at a stupid comedy if you live alone.

@LakieLady I found myself unable to read at one point in March but found I was still able to read poetry which was suprisingly soothing. Then I built up slowly to short stories and then longer but undemanding books (like Agatha Christies, Jeeves and Wooster etc). Audio books are good too - and radio four agatha christies and comedies.
And

Just placemarking. Great thread OP, thank you for starting it.

Not sure if it’s been mentioned but I’m enjoying yoga with adriene 30 days challenge

Agreed with the silly moment once a day with the family , we had a dance around the kitchen today doing lots of fortnite emotes