Top 7 Things To Do During Lockdown!
Mar 31, 2020
It’s April 2020, and we’re all having to stay indoors, adhere to lockdown regulations and be safe. Not quite where any of us expected to be, however, it must be our temporary state of normality for now, while we navigate and stumble our way through this next little while. We decided to go around the grounds and collate our top 7 things to do in lockdown, to try and help our beloved hospitality community get some value and joy out of this time..
1. Update Your Barcats Profile!
Now is the best time to make sure your Barcats profile is up-to-date. Whether you have lost your job and are looking for a new opportunity, or are sticking it out until the hospitality industry re-opens then your profile should be filled with as much information as possible so you have the best chance at securing work!
We have added new skills and industries that you may be interested in working in such as Retail, Farm Work and Warehouse work so add your latest transferable skills to your profile here https://www.barcats.co.nz/staff/profile/ and check out the latest jobs here!
2. Upskill or Take An Online Course!
You now have uninterupted time at home for the first time in forever, so how about taking this time to do that online course you've been meaning to do for ages? Upskill or cross skill?
When, not if, this storm is over, the hospitality industry will rebuild and enhancing your skill set will set you apart from the rest of the bunch, plus learning is fun!
Jump over to our Training page and see what online courses you can do and find out more about some of our training providers that allow you to get a Cooking Diploma from the comfort of your own home! https://www.barcats.co.nz/hospitality-training/
3. Cocktail Hour
Most of you have spent most of your time behind the bar, so being away from it for so long is probably not something you’ve encountered for a while. In lockdown? Not a problem! Why don’t you start a cocktail hour on FaceTime/Zoom/etc? Get your mates to logon at a time when you might normally meet for a social drink, and you can take turns making cocktails and enjoying each other’s (remote) company.
It’s surprising what a difference it can make to a day of isolation, and to your spirits in general, to see your friends’ faces in the evening and hear them talk and laugh.
To kick you off, here’s how to make a Tom Collins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpnTUf_E7fg (ps, there are also lots of great how to videos on our Training page from our friends at The Mix!)
4. Cooking / Baking
Get your cookbooks out, throw down the challenge to your mates, have an Instagram Live cooking party and keep those skills finely tuned, while stuck in the comfort of your own home.If you’re looking for some inspiration, see what others are doing by searching #cookinginquarantine
5. Exercise
Okay, you can stop groaning now. Yes, everyone’s doing it. Yes, its all-over social media. But just hear me out. We’re all house bound, we’re getting a little lazy and maybe not eating the best. With all those cocktails and glorious meals, you’ll be making, we don’t want to get out of lockdown 4 dress sizes bigger, unless you do, which is also fine.
I’m not saying doing some mad 800-minute workout, to be frank, I’ll be doing my 45 minutes of yoga a day and that’ll do me. I may go for a walk, as well, but it doesn’t need to be extreme.It’s good for your mind, body and spirit, the endorphins will certainly help kick us along also
6. Brainstorm & Plan
Have you had a business idea you’ve been putting off, because you’re been too busy, tired, etc?
Well… what are you waiting for? Now, is the time to think about what you want to do after the dust settles, and we get back into it. Do you have plans to be an artist? Take an online art class. Want to be a lawyer? Look up relevant degrees.
My point is, life’s too short and we should all be chasing our passion projects, to be more than that, they should be our purpose, and if possible, our source of income should bring us the joy we seek. I mean, if we’re working 40+ hours, it helps to be something you’re passionate about, right?
7. Read That Book You Started
How many books have you bought, started and never finished? I have had 7 books sitting next to my bed for at least a year, if I’m completely honest. I occasionally dust them, move them around, but sit down and finish them? Nah, I’ll do it next week.
It’s next week and we have time! Let’s go through our bookshelves, bedside tables, and anywhere else you’ve hoarded your books, and finally finish them!
If you’ve got no books to read, maybe browse through all the articles on our Community page https://www.barcats.co.nz/community/
Well, Barcats community, this is our little guide to surviving lockdown. Hoping you can use some or all these ideas. All of us here at Barcats HQ, are thinking of all of you, and we hope this list helps bring some normality while on lockdown.Let us know if you have any other ideas of things to do in lockdown!
