18-01-2021: 10 tips to get through the lockdown
Many people are sitting at home with this hard lockdown. Children have to do their schoolwork, you yourself are in zoom meetings all day, then you have the household... In short, it is tough. And then it's kind of extra nice when you can take a moment to relax. Or maybe in your situation everything is at a standstill and you are bored out of your mind. Whatever your situation, we give you 10 tips to get through this lockdown!
- Video chat
You probably don't see many friends and/or family at the moment. That's why it's very convenient that we live in 2021! Grab your smartphone, and start video chatting with each other! Almost everyone has WhatsApp or Messenger on their phone, which allows you to video chat. The nice thing about Messenger is that you can turn on different filters (handy if you don't want to show those bags), choose a different background (still a bit on holiday), but also play games with each other! Have fun! - Stop Motion
A really fun activity to keep the kids busy, but it is also great fun to do as an adult. Download ''Stop Motion Studio'' on your phone or tablet, grab some toys or other props and you can already get started. For the best results, make sure the camera remains stable by using a tripod, for example. Add some happy music at the end and your animation is ready! - Vlogging
No, you don't need an expensive vlog camera. Most phones these days already have such a good camera that this will work just fine too! Make sure you have a full battery, enough storage (video files are big!) and you can already start your own video diary. Show what you're up to at home, but be sure to film that nice walk in the woods you took, too. Edit your files into a nice vlog with some effects and music, and it's ready to be put on YouTube! Or just keep it to yourself 😉 - Photography
Speaking of that nice walk in the woods, this is the perfect time to explore your photography skills! Again, a smartphone will do. But if you happen to have a good camera lying around, then of course use it! Dress well and set off. What do you see? What do you find interesting to capture? Share your best pictures on social media, so others can enjoy them too! - Photoshop
If you really go for it with photography, you might want to edit your images. The best-known programme is Photoshop. Sit back and enjoy it, because it offers a lot of possibilities! There is also a free mobile version, which is ideal if you work with your smartphone. - Magic colouring pages
This is a tip for if you have small children sitting at home. Download the free app ''Quiver'' on your phone or tablet and download one of the (free) colouring pages it contains. Print these out and the colouring can begin. Most little ones often spend around 30-60 minutes doing this, leaving you at least half an hour to do your thing undisturbed. When they are completely done colouring, grab the app again and scan the colouring page. This brings the colouring page to life and allows you to perform various interactions. Fun guaranteed! - TikTok
This was of course the hype of last year, but even now it is still very entertaining for both young and old. Find the funniest dances or challenges, and then perform them yourself. Go extra crazy, because if you have your settings set to private, no one needs to see these videos. - Throwback Thursday
Or any day. It's always fun to reminisce. Facebook and Instagram have been working with this feature for a long time, allowing you to see your posts from x years ago. But even on your phone or laptop there are probably lots of photos and videos that you probably haven't seen in a while. Maybe you even have an old external hard drive, photo books or slides lying around somewhere in your house. So dust them off! - Reading
If you really want to unwind, then reading a book is always a good idea. Run out of all your books? Then just switch to digital ones. You don't need a special e-reader, you can just read on your phone or tablet. And thanks to special filters, often already built-in, you won't have to bother with blue light. That will be great sleeping. - Or...
If the above tips do not help you at all, or if you are so jaded that you simply do not have the puff for them, there is always Netflix! Or Videoland. Or Disney+. But from the comfort of a cosy, home-made blanket fortress!