Louis Quayle-Guppy picked a magnificent magnolia flower while on a family walk during lockdown. Photo / Supplied
Whether we're at level 4 lockdown or alert level 3 (lockdown with takeaways) we need activities to keep boredom at bay. Reporter Jenny Ling asks fellow Northlanders for some top tips.
There's no doubt living a level 4 lockdown lifestyle can be challenging.
While some people enjoy the slower pace, others may find it difficult to fill in their days and we all have responsibilities and commitments which add to the uncertainty and stress.
So having a routine, some projects, and other time-consuming activities to lose yourself in can be really therapeutic.
Life coach Maria Quayle-Guppy, from Reset Mindset in Kerikeri, suggests drawing up a daily plan or schedule when you're in an optimistic mood.
Ideally, each day will consist of four aspects:
* Moving your body: Any form of exercise, running, walking, cycling, tai chi, etc.
* Doing something that makes you laugh: Watch stand-up comedy or a funny movie.
* Mundane tasks: Do something you have to do, such as household chores or paperwork.
* Connect: With family and friends.
"We've now started watching Michael McIntyre on YouTube in the evenings because laughter is massively important," Quayle-Guppy said.
"Schedule it in so you've got something to look forward to rather than letting it drift.
"Everyone will also have responsibilities that have to be done at the moment.
"Each day make sure you do at least one thing on your to-do list because the building pressure of expectations gets people into a flurry."
Finding projects to do, playing Uno with the kids, and getting plenty of exercise is also key, she said.
And go easy on yourselves; if you feel like having an afternoon nap with the kids, then do so.
"It's natural to worry about things like commitments and business which has now had to stop. It's worrying for anybody.
"Try to keep things as close to what a normal routine would look like. Getting up in the morning and getting out of your PJs, and have the most of a routine."
The other thing Quayle-Guppy highly recommends is writing a food list so people have a meal plan for 12 evening meals, six lunches and three breakfasts.
Keep meals realistic in order not to blow the grocery budget.
Practise mindful shopping at the supermarket; ask yourself whether items are needed or wanted before putting them in the trolley.
"Now is not the time to be jumping on the bandwagon and buying lots of beer and wine and goodies.
"Breakfasts don't have to entail bacon, pancakes and creme fresh.
"It can be normal cereal, porridge or toast.
"No one wants to look at their bank account and think I should have taken shares in New World.
"The recovery [from debt] is really hard, and will put financial pressure on you down the track. Keep it realistic and keep in on track."
Whether you've got kids or are young at heart, games are great for all ages.
Treasure hunt is fun and active and can be played indoors or outdoors, or dust off the board games like Monopoly, Connect Four, Snakes and Ladders, chess or Scrabble.
Board games are great for keeping your mind active and bringing people together through competitive and cooperative game play.
They promote laughter, which increases endorphins, the chemicals that bring up the feeling of happiness, which helps lower blood pressure and reduce stress.
They also help improve cognitive skills like problem-solving.
It's also time to break out the knuckle bones, elastics and pick-up sticks!
In many backyards across Northland right now, lemon, grapefruit and mandarin trees are producing an abundance of fruit.
Italian-born Andrea Loggia, who owns the award-winning Sovrano Limoncello said it's possible to make limoncello from home.
The popular Italian lemon liqueur can be made with vodka and lemon zest – not the juice, which can be made into granita later.
Loggia suggests peeling eight large lemons of their skin and zest, and putting this into a large clean jar. Pour over 1 litre of vodka, then cover with a tightly fitting lid and leave for two weeks, shaking the jar each day.
Add sugar to taste, and pour the liquid into a suitable bottle.
Another useful trick is to squeeze the juice into ice-cube trays and pop them in the freezer.
Once frozen, empty the citrus cubes into little plastic bags and keep them in the freezer for when you need them.
They come in handy in recipes when they're no longer in season - or simply plop a couple in a glass of water for a refreshing drink.
If you have a dog, he or she would probably love a thorough shampoo.
Just make sure you use a proper doggie wash bar or shampoo, lukewarm water and have a couple of towels handy for drying him afterwards.
Don't forget to pick a nice sunny day too.
Luanne Vacy-Lyle from Northland Petfood said lockdown was also a good opportunity to give your pet an overall health inspection.
"Look into their ears and give them a clean using a moist paper towel to wipe out ear gunk."
Vacy-Lyle said playing games with our dogs, such as teaching them "pet hide and seek" is fun for canines and humans.
Get your pet to sit and wait, then hide and call them, and give them a treat as a reward when they find you.
"This can be played inside or outside," she said.
"The name of the game is to get them to use their hearing and nose to scout you down instead of their eyes as they normally would.
"It's great for the kids and dogs because the whole family can play."
Foraging for edible wild foods is a fantastic family activity.
Kawakawa is easy to find and can be made into a tasty, healthy tea, and watercress and nasturtium leaves can be eaten in salads.
Dandelion plants are available year-round and are good for you. Add the leaves to salads, with a little lemon juice and olive oil or make dandelion tea.
Onion weed is a great alternative to chives, spring onion or garlic and can be added to sandwiches, soups, pizza or muffins.
An important rule of thumb when foraging: If in doubt don't eat it, and don't forage from roadsides or anywhere that may have been sprayed.
Zero waste advocates The Rubbish Trip has more information on foraging here: www.therubbishtrip.co.nz
You might not have any veggies to plant, what with the shops being shut and all, but you can still dig up a new plot of land or spend time digging over an existing garden.
Chuck in some compost or sheep pellets or, if rural, maybe some horse poo from the neighbours' paddock and a bit of fertiliser.
Then make a list of veggies and herbs to plant once lockdown ends so you're all prepared.
Spring veggies to plant include broad beans, parsley, leeks, lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, silverbeet and early potatoes.
Baking bread is an art and a science. It takes patience and skill.
What better time than lockdown than to try to perfect a simple loaf?
If you can find flour in your local supermarket, (which is probably going to be the hardest part of this whole exercise) then get some good quality yeast and get kneading and proofing.
There are tonnes of recipes and YouTube videos offering "easy-bake bread making".
Gather the little ones around for this fun game of rock painting and hide and seek.
First you'll need to find some smooth, small rocks, a realistic task which can be carried out in the vicinity of your neighbourhood, then create a space to paint them.
Flowers, butterflies, hearts, rainbows and inspiring phrases are popular, but you're only limited by your imagination.
Go crazy with the ladybugs, ghosts, penguins, owls, cars, fish, zombies ... anything goes.
Then get the whole family involved in rock hiding and hunting expeditions around your property, or keep them for when lockdown ends and hide them in the park for others to find.
Whether you watch them on YouTube or Netflix or any other streaming sites, Ali Wong, Trevor Noah, Michael McIntyre, Carl Barron and Jerry Seinfield are side-splittingly hilarious.
Laughter truly is the best medicine.
There are heaps more to be found via Dr Google.
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