Keeping Yourself Entertained on Lockdown | MarkMeets | Entertainment, Music, Movie, TV & London Film Premiere News

The recent coronavirus outbreak has created many challenges for each and every one of us. Many of us have seen our income reduced by a minimum of 20%. Not to mention those of us who have been unceremoniously let go from our jobs or self-employed folks whose income has dried up. Couple this with self-isolation and social distancing and it’s easy to see why we as a nation are suffering from low morale. Art and entertainment are more important to us now than ever. Our entertainment has become more than just a means of passing the time. More, even, than providing us with the means of escape from a scary, challenging and unprecedented state of affairs.

While many of this year’s most prestigious blockbusters have been put on hold until later this year or even next year there’s plenty to keep us entertained at home in lieu of the theatrical experience. Still, there’s more to keeping ourselves entertained in this difficult time than selecting a streaming service and bingeing until our eyes are sore. That can actually create more mental health problems than it solves. Here are some steps to keeping yourself entertained and in good spirits while in lockdown while also protecting your mental health.

Master your moods through music

Music has an impressive way of tapping into our unconscious minds better than virtually any other artform. The right music can elevate your mood, help you bring more vigour to a home workout, or allow you the catharsis of a good cry after which you come out feeling more positive. Identify some favourite tracks to help you through mood slumps.

Now might just be the perfect time to grab a bargain

Shopping is a leisure activity that has seen many of us while away a rainy Saturday afternoon. And who can deny the thrill of finding a perfectly placed bargain? While chasing the endorphin high of a great find may not be viable on the hight street, now is the perfect time to find bargains. Check out voucher sites regularly to get the latest deals like this I Saw It First Sale. While money might not be great right now, there’s plenty of scope to find great deals on goodies that you’ll still treasure long after this is all over.

Conserve bandwidth: Support physical media

Aside from the mental health implications of streaming and bingeing, it can also seriously eat into your bandwidth allocation. Many film and TV fans, especially AV snobs, benefit from relying more heavily on physical media which provides better picture and sound than streaming services while also helping you to conserve bandwidth. Moreover, physical media from 4K UHD blu rays to vinyl LPs, brings the sense of occasion back to consuming media rather than reducing it to a steady stream of white noise in the background.

Challenge yourself and step outside your comfort zone

Finally, use this as an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself by reading new books, watching new movies and listening to new music genres. This will help you to round out your tastes and give you potential new acts to follow when things return to something resembling normality.