How to keep occupied during lockdown.

I've run out of crafts to do that I am still interested in and like many have found this latest lockdown very difficult.
A friend suggested I visit Ruby Wax's Frazzled Cafe site as they do lots of Zoom meetings on there and I have found them so helpful and even though it's not therapy I've found it's really helped me to learn mindfulness and I have always loved Ruby Wax and find just listening to her and also to the other people who talk at the meetings to be so helpful.

I'm sorry you are feeling depressed and anxious. I think it's completely normal, in this situation.
I have bought a keyboard and a piano book for beginners, and also joined Anna Mason's online art school. The paints needn't be too expensive, and there are step by step videos of how to do the paintings.
Good luck

The WI’s “Denman at Home” courses and lectures are excellent. These are available to anyone, not just members. They cost £5 an hour and range from cookery to a lecture on London’s Gin lane. Have a look.
I took up patchwork, which had terrified me for many years, encouraged by a WI course and have made 5 quilts since lockdown!
Good luck...

I am a craft enthusiast so I contacted our local nursing home to ask permission and then I made a greeting card for each resident. They all had a different design, verse, joke or saying. Apart from a very productive use of time, I'm sure I had as much pleasure in making them as the residents had in receiving a greeting from an anonymous friend.

Dear Children2, I find that when I am knitting or crocheting, peace & calm descends on me like a lovey dream: my thoughts slow down, they become flowing & take me back to happy places (they were few & far between in my entire life, but nevertheless I count them out like precious pebbles), while I listen to the classical music that brings a new dimension to the room. Other times, I travel through the galleries of the world - via virtual tours & look at the painting & learn about their history & that of their creators. Last year, we signed up to an email from the company selling bird feed, & they started a webcam from Holland, watching birds laying eggs, sitting on them, & hatching the chicks. It's engrossing, life-affirming (with an occasional heart-break of losing a chick) viewing tracking the progress of their growth. You start rooting for some of the birds, the others become your favourite & the third always makes you laugh. I will provide the link to the bird feed company's website: do sign up, they have already told us that the webcams will be set up soon. Have a lovely time! www.birdfood.co.uk/newsletter

I spend my time sewing, card making or gardening. I really must start to do more walking!

A walk every day - I do have to force myself sometimes - loads of knitting, reading - books and my Kindle - TV usually only after dinner. The word puzzles in the paper. A lot of time (too much!) online.
Not much housework!

I’m going to join Ancestry when their next special offer comes up and get down to some family history research. Dh spends so many hours doing his - it’s evidently a very absorbing way of passing the time.

Sort your photos. I'm making photo albums for five DGC. It reminds me of all the happy times we've shared, and will remind them of me when I'm no longer here. I'm also knitting and reading, walking, and occasionally doing some housework.

I am researching my family tree, knit and sew mainly for grandchildren and am teaching myself to do encaustic art. I read alot and intend trying my hand at crochet too which I have always struggled with. There are some great, friendly and helpful groups on Facebook. We do walk every day too which makes such a difference to how we feel. Television is an escape too, especially older comedies such as As Time Goes by. We use Zoom, Whatsapp and Messenger to keep in touch I also use the Calm app which has been a tremendous help. I do hope you begin to feel better very soon as we get closer to being able to meet up. Please take good care of yourself. ?

Household chores count for a lot, at least getting the laundry started in one good reason to get moving early in the morning. The main meal of day needs a bit of planning too so decision c midday and that might lead to need to get some shopping done but really once a week is enough. I am not a great walker without a destination but have app on phone and listen to podcasts and that helps. Lots of choice from comedy to drama etc. Not much on telly these days so netflix or iplayer is a slot for late evening. Look out for repeat of 'Yes Minister' and 'Reggie Perrin' on BBC4 on Tuesday evenings! Youtube is a great resource for helping out 'how to' do things like a new recipe or sewing project.

I'm finding this lockdown much harder than the last, think its because weather has stopped me getting out and about. But rescued my old Wi and been doing a lot of exercising on that love the boxing helps with mu frustration. Do a lot of crosswords sudko also been doing some paid surveys about products for 2 companies which is different and interesting

You are not alone CHILDREN2 this lockdown is much harder than the last two. As it's coming up to the anniversary of the first one that is depressing in itself.
All the above suggestions are excellent but I also believe in colour therapy to lift your mood - ie something bright and cheerful in your line of vision. In my case that's usually a nice bunch of flowers. As daffs are just £1 a bunch in most supermarkets now they are ideal. Simple, but it does help.

Children2
Read up on exercise ( that doesn’t have to Jane fonder type of exercise ?) and the affect of dopamine on the brain.
Any moving weather it be walking, housework etc produces dopamine. Low levels of dopamine can cause depression.

I walk the dogs, knit, sew cook, bake, make cards , write letters to elderly friends in nursing homes or living alone.

I have been doing a great deal of knitting, crochet and felting cards for people's birthdays, I get out and walk my daughters dog whenever I can... I try not to watch anything negative on the telly which is not easy with the present climate but try and watch normal sometimes mundane programmes such as our Yorkshire farm and the great pottery throw down.

I also struggle but make myself have a walk every day, or a cycle ride (electric bike!). In December I had a bit of a lightbulb moment and started to look at painting by numbers kits. I am not a bit creative, but am much happier following recipes, or actual patterns for my knitting. Colouring is fine but for me I soon get bored wondering which colour to do next. Painting by numbers is something I did as a young teen and I was surprised to see them advertised on Amazon, so I bought one. It’s a lovely Mediterranean scene, lots of colour , and is not too difficult to do. The actual size is 16 x 20 inches. I enjoyed it so much I have since painted another 2 and am just about to start another. You can dip in and out, and I have also discovered listening to an audio book at the same time makes a couple of hours fly past. Just search for Painting by numbers for adults.

I walk the beach with the dog every morning for at least an hour (doubt I'd get up otherwise). I did brief family histories for a couple of other people, and am desperately waiting for 1921 census to come out (next January) for my family history. I'm a crafter, with enough resources for 7 or 8 different crafts, but I've found myself very unmotivated without bring able to go to groups or meet up with others. My Audible gets me to bed.
Recently spent a couple of days physically sorting tiny outdoor space, again motivated by other people.

I have several games on my tablet that have a daily event, solitaire, marjong and puzzle page which I try to do while having breakfast. Itry to get out for a short round the local park most mornings and then come back and do any chores that need doing. Afternoons are mostly spent knitting/crocheting while watching tv or films on my tablet, or reading on my kindle.

During the first lockdown I redecorated my kitchen, repainted the units and laid a new floor. Then I redecorated my hall stairs and landing. I have now renovated my bathroom with panels and it looks like a posh hotel! I am delighted every time I go in there for a wee! I have planted primroses in the garden and they are just delightful. I am just about to run out of ways to tickle up my home. So tonight I might just follow my original instincts, run a bubble bath in my posh new bathroom, take in a bottle of fizz to celebrate, and get drunk as a lord. Hope this gives you some inspiration xx

I watch far too much TV, including catching up on recordings. I'm usually doing other things at the same time though, pottering on the computer or sewing. In the first lockdown I did a bit of gardening as the weather was so much better and I'm looking forward to being able to do that again as the weather improves. I've made a lot of cards and small gifts for friends and family as I couldn't go shopping for them. I also went out blackberry picking and sloe picking in the late summer and autumn. I made spiced blackberry gin, which is delicious, and sloe gin, which is nice too. I've given some away as gifts and need to make more of the blackberry gin as there isn't much left now. Fortunately I froze lots of blackberries, so enough for another batch. Obviously it's the wrong season for picking at the moment but you could plan ahead especially if you know somewhere to pick them. As I live alone I only buy wine in the little individual bottles to discourage overindulging, and with labels removed they are perfect for refilling with the fruity gin for gifts. A few of us had a gin tasting evening on zoom which was fun.
Personally I love meeting up with friends on zoom, and have 3 regular zooms each week as well as the odd meetings also on zoom. I retired in October and no-longer have work zooms, so zoom is now more pleasurable. My daughter is fed up of zoom as she is on it all day for work meetings!
I also volunteer for a couple of hours at the local food bank most weeks. Volunteering is great for meeting like-minded people who just want to do some good in the community. I was intending to do more volunteering after retirement but some of the things I'd planned aren't happening at present, but when they do I'm probably going to struggle to fit everything in!

I read in a book by MichaelNeill about the Comfy Chair exercise. Sit in a comfortable chair and let thoughts drift through and ONLY get up IF you rally WANT to do something. If you feel you OUGHT TO or SHOULD do something, don't give in! If you fall asleep that is fine as you probably needed a rest. It is amazing how long I can sit there until I bounce up and get on with something I have the urge to do - go for a walk, potter in the garden, sort a drawer or bake a cake. This exercise helps you to recognise the urge itself, and respond to what is in your heart and not your head. Don't be too hard on yourself, we have all given up a little over the last year and aren't all busy-bees. Good luck with all the great suggestions on Gransnet, we are all waiting to hear about what you get up to, even if it is just a good nap!

We too have returned to family history after many, many years. Wondering though which site you use or you would recommend if you don’t mind. Looked at the 2 biggest plus some smaller and trying to make up our mind!

I too have lots of crafting interests - sewing, quilting, cardmaking etc. I treated myself to an embroidery/quilting machine which I'm still learning to use, currently embroidering designs for Easter cards. I'm also helping DH build me a sewing cabinet for the machine - bit of a challenge. I also like to read, do jigsaws, draw and paint and I've been experimenting with cutting toys and jigsaws on DH's new scroll saw. Although I really used to enjoy walking exercise doesn't feature much in my life now because of a health issue, but I do spend time in the garden pruning, digging and planting. Housework, cleaning and tidying gets done (occasionally) when I feel in the mood or I am shamed into it. Cooking and baking is just not on my agenda, ever !

How about finding a free online language course and learning a new language or more of one you already know.

I’m like FarNorth & JillyBird. I used to think that I was good at keeping my own company but now I realise I’m not. I used to make lists, but not anymore.
Does anyone remember an advert where the bank manager jumped out of a cupboard? I could really do with that man. Just someone to tell that I’ve added another couple of pieces to the jigsaw, that I finally put away the pile of neatly folded jumpers which have been in the bedroom for a couple of weeks. Just someone to share things with. I’d even keep his cupboard nice and clean and tidy, because he would definitely have to go back in there-particularly when the news came on!