5 feel-good things to do while indoors under Covid-19 restrictions

By Bindiya Parmar, Founder of The Mind Boss

#covid #pandemic #lockdown #cocktails #homerestaurant #fancydinner #movienight #homespa #baking #mindboss #themindboss

For those of you who, like me, miss being able to catch up with people over fancy drinks in cool bars, there are companies that deliver expertly-made cocktails right to your door. Why not order these as a treat to get the weekend off to a good start, or get your friends to subscribe with you and start a virtual cocktail club?

I subscribed to the following cocktail subscription service (which is delivering to me in London): https://www.speakeasyathome.co.uk/shop/subscriptions

Here are some pics of the first package I received and the first cocktail I made from it. The package included the cocktails, garnishes and coasters, making it feel like a proper cocktail experience. The first cocktail did not disappoint!

We’ve gone from being able to dine out to ordering Deliveroo, which means we’ve lost the experience of dressing up for dinner, being served at a restaurant and the enjoyment that comes with that experience. Whilst we can’t be served at home, we can definitely decide to have one formal dinner a week, dress up for it, and eat food that is distinct from what we eat during the rest of the week. This might mean cooking a new recipe, ordering a new takeaway, or ordering a fine-dining experience if you’re looking to do something special. And if you’re living alone, why not do a virtual fancy dinner with a friend?

I recently tried the Royal Tasting Menu & Accompanying Cocktail Flight from Jamavar in London, which was delivered impeccably with the food being delicious. It was my birthday so my partner also went the extra mile to make it feel like we were in a restaurant by re-arranging our lounge, ordering a white tablecloth and new crockery & cutlery, and setting the table up restaurant-style. This totally transformed our dining experience and it genuinely felt like a normal date night (without the hassle of having to get an Uber back home)! Here are some pics for some inspo:

Pick a good movie you’ve not watched before (yes, there must be some left even with all the Netflix you’ve been watching!), prepare the snacks you like to eat at the cinema (popcorn, nachos, ice cream, sweets), pick your drink of choice, dim the lights, and watch away!

If you want to make it extra special, make a mini-dessert platter to add something different to the mix.

In the absence of being able to escape to a spa for a break, try creating a spa at home. Buy new bath bombs, a bath pillow, scented candles and a bath tray (if you fancy some wine, reading a book or watching stuff on a tablet). Set it all up and play spa music from your phone, light the candles and turn off the light. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and be mindful of the warm embrace of your bath, the pleasant scent from the candles and the calmness of the room.

If you like meditating, you can even do a little 10 minute meditation at the start of your bath to centre yourself and come out feeling truly relaxed. I have been switching between the Balance and Calm apps for my meditation.

Here are some pics of my last home spa to give you some ideas!

(Note the candles around the bath were electric to avoid any hazards, but I had real ones by the sink)

There is something very satisfying about baking and decorating a cake. It’s not something we do all the time so it provides us with variety, it’s different to the usual desserts we eat so it’s a treat and most importantly, the decorating part is fun!

Here is a lemon and blueberry cake I whipped up for my partner's birthday. Safe to say it is the yummiest cake I’ve made to date and I would highly recommend the recipe (note I decided to only make one layer for ease and decorated it differently): https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/lemon-blueberry-layer-cake/

We hope the above has given you some inspiration! If the monotony of living under COVID-19 restrictions is getting to you, book a free clarity session with The Mind Boss to see how we can bring some joy back into your life.