Cocooning activities

15 activities especially for lockdown

We all dreaded the lockdown, and now it's well and truly here. And despite this difficult situation, a small part of us can't help but complain and inevitably think about our comfort. What am I going to do? Stay locked up with my family for 15 days (or more!)? We're going to kill each other.

No more cinema, no more outings, no more restaurants, no more parties, no more exhibitions, no more walks in the streets or gardens... This may seem like the end of the world for some. Come on, let's stop dramatizing. The glass half full is always better, isn't it? 

To get ahead, think differently: what if this lockdown was the perfect opportunity to take time for yourself?

To settle down a bit, to refocus on your deep values, to spend time with your loved ones... It can be an opportunity to reflect on what is truly important in the end.

Even if many of us are teleworking, remember that you save on travel time = more time for you.
Sleep in, read a good book, play with your children, give yourself that wellness break you promised yourself weeks ago, listen to that podcast that has been on your list for a long time.
All those things you want to do, but for which you never find the time, now's the time!
Embrace the slow life, take a moment. We are giving you time, learn to stop rushing and live in the present moment.

And if you're worried about not finding enough ideas to keep busy, we've put together a list of things to do to fill your free time during lockdown!

1. Play literary critic

That novel you placed on your bedside table months ago and that's just waiting for you, now's the time to devour it.
Read, re-read your favorites, discover new sagas, or cult books you never had time to start.
Proust's In Search of Lost Time in 7 volumes? The latest detective novel by your favorite author? A romance novel, a biography, a comic novel, or a self-help book, anything is possible, so treat yourself!
And why not play literary critic and annotate your favorite passages or write your review of each book?

Our tops:

Thriller/suspense:

• The Poet, Michael Connelly
• The Fox's Lair, Mary Higgins Clark
• Working Title, Pierre Lemaitre
• The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, Joël Dicker
• Lullaby, Leïla Slimani

Romance novels:

• The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks
• Happy People Read and Drink Coffee, Agnès Martin-Lugand
• The Little Bakery on the End of the World, Jenny Colgan
• PS: I Love You, Cecelia Ahern
• One Day, David Nicholls

Feel Good:

• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer
• Tomorrow I Stop!, Gilles Legardinier
• The Prawns Have Their Hearts in Their Heads, Marion Michau
• Tomorrow Is Another Day, Lori Nelson Spielman
• I Wish Someone Were Waiting for Me Somewhere, Anna Gavalda

Great Classics:

• 24 Hours in the Life of a Woman, Stefan Zweig
• The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
• To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
• The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway
• The Roots of Heaven, Romain Gary

2. Create your home spa

Take the time to pamper yourself. Bubble bath, beauty mask, cream, hair oil bath, massage... The list is almost endless.
Create moments of relaxation that are just for you.

For example, you can try this super simple blackhead scrub recipe with honey and cinnamon!  

3. Dance like no one’s watching

Put on some music and dance like you're in a Beyoncé video! It's a great way to let off steam and release endorphins, bringing you well-being and euphoria. Method tested and approved by Les Petits Prödiges.

For those who need inspiration, there are plenty of videos online to help you. We recommend CMG, which puts its Zumba classes online on Facebook (as well as other sports classes, check them out, they're great!).  

4. Binge-watching*

This is the perfect opportunity to make the most of your Netflix account! Whether you want to marathon all 16 seasons of Grey's Anatomy or refine your cinematic culture, the choice is vast: series, films, documentaries, reality TV shows... The choice is yours!

*watching several episodes of series or films in a row

5. Listen to podcasts

Spotify and Apple Podcasts are full of wonders for your ears, whether to learn, meditate, laugh, or simply have a presence for those who are alone at home.

Our favorites:

• La Poudre: discover the journeys of inspiring women, artists, activists, politicians...
• Transfert: true stories that are out of the ordinary, told by those who experienced them.
• Entre nos lèvres: intimate portraits that tell true stories about sexuality (but not only).
• L'Empreinte: about brands' commitment to CSR (psst, find our segment here!)
• InPower: passionate people with inspiring journeys to give you a dose of inspiration

6. Become a great chef

You have time, and the new season of Top Chef has started, now is the time to develop your culinary skills. Test new recipes, try your hand at pastry making, arrange beautiful plates... In short, let your creativity speak and put yourself in the shoes of a Michelin-starred chef.

Need inspiration? Check out Jordan Moilim's Instagram account and discover his delicious recipes!  

7. Develop your artistic side

Draw, write, sing, paint, play music, dance, sculpt, create your own play...You are free to do everything you have always dreamed of. Who knows, you might discover the soul of a Molière or a Picasso?

The brand Elise Chalmin has put coloring pages online, find them here!

8. Make plans

Give yourself time to reflect, for once. What will be your next trip? Do you have an idea for a career change? What would you like to learn? What experience would you like to have? Would you like to start your own business? Set goals for the future.

9. Create with your hands

Take advantage of this time to do more than just stare at a screen: explore handicrafts. You'll see how incredibly satisfying it is to create something yourself. You'll find plenty of ideas on Pinterest: how to create your bullet journal, how to transform what's lying around into DIY decor or storage items, how to transform small spaces... Become Valérie Damidot!  

10. Exercise

Yes, it's absolutely possible indoors; you don't need large spaces or special equipment to do squats and abs.
And there are plenty of apps and tutorials for those who need motivation (we recommend Pamela Reif's videos on YouTube).

11. Learn things (tutorials are great, really!)

Develop a new skill: learn to play a musical instrument or to knit, educate yourself with a MOOC*, watch a documentary on a subject that fascinates you, take a dance or yoga class...
Liven up your days and you'll feel like you've learned something by the time you go to bed.

*Massive Open Online Course: extremely numerous and varied online courses

12. Declutter: wardrobe, emails, tidying up, books...

Ah, decluttering, a somewhat thankless task that we always put off until tomorrow. Stop procrastinating! Clothes, emails, books... It's time to do a big spring cleaning and get rid of everything we don't use to keep only the essentials (our motto at Les Petits Prödiges!).
Tidier and less cluttered, your home will be all the more Feng Shui!

For those who can't bring themselves to throw things away, check out Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up on Netflix!

 13. Let the sunshine in!

Ventilate your house and try to get some sun; it's important for morale. We envy the lucky ones who have a garden or a balcony, but sticking your nose out the window to fix your vitamin D is also possible!

14. Keep calm and zen

It's easy to create your shala (yoga studio) at home. Dim lighting, a few candles, and a spiritual world opens up to you: yoga, meditation, sophrology... Give yourself this moment to listen to your body.

15. Spend time with family and friends:

Play board games, enjoy, talk, call your grandparents you always forget to call back, plan FaceTime aperitifs with your friends (Skype or the Houseparty app are great for that!)...
We are lucky to be able to stay connected even at a distance, so let's take advantage of it!

We hope we've given you enough to fill your days for the coming days! Follow our Instagram account, we create beautiful content for you in posts or stories 😊