12 Things You and Your S.O. Can Do to Sharpen Mind and Body During Lockdown
Let’s be honest, drinking was fun for all of 3 days… Here are some productive activities to do with your significant other:
Yoga or Home HIIT Workouts
Yoga together or HIIT home workouts using the Nike Fitness App can be a great way to stay motivated and fit during quarantine.
Chess
Learning to play chess is an affordable, mind sharpening alternative for combating boredom. There is also something very intimate about learning together as you go. Not only is competence in chess an excellent lifelong skill but the strategies and skills are transferable to real world life lessons.
Teach Each Other Your Favorite Skills
I am abysmal at art…my girlfriend is a talented artist. Gather supplies, or whatever necessary for the life skill or hobby and learn from one another! The cornerstone of aptitude is teaching so it’s a win-win.
Read Aloud to Each Other
This may sound silly but it is actually an extremely intimate experience which improves reading ability and active comprehension for both parties. If this is not your cup of tea, read the same book and talk about it after each chapter.
Learn to Play Poker
Perhaps consider some higher stakes poker if that’s your vibe (we don’t judge). Poker is an excellent lifeskill, requiring focus and a certain aptitude for statistics.
Cook Together
Cooking together is a win-win scenario. You get to learn and then eat your assignment! Even better, if you’re a competitive couple, have a cook off to see who can create the best course. Be sure to maintain a theme and follow up the cooking with a movie night when you can enjoy all the treats.
DIY Together
DIY is always an enjoyable pastime. With almost everything being delivered and purchased these days, there is a certain liberation and satisfaction involved with building your own projects such as hanging shelves or building a night stand.
Puzzle or Strategic Board Game
If you’ve never completed a puzzle, take it from me, they’re infatuating. Once you start, you just cannot stop. Same goes for strategic board games which are known to take hours to complete. Puzzles and board games offer a medley of benefits such as pattern recognition, decision making, and cooperation.
Learn to Dance
Learn to dance together in the comfort of your own living room. There are some excellent sources online such as youtube - you can learn everything from Zumba style cardio to ballroom and in the nonjudgmental comfort of your own living room.
Architecture Tour
Go on a self-made architecture tour around your neighborhood. While socially distancing, go find some fresh air and enjoy a stroll around your neighborhood looking at houses/buildings and speculating on their origin, and background.
Star Gazing
Find a big blanket and some snacks, go outside at night, and just look up at the night sky. If you can see the stars, look to identify constellations. If the sky is overcast, let the conversation flow and learn new things about each other’s personal experiences and aspirations. Bring wine and cheese - that always adds a bit of fun to the conversation.
Clean Your Living Space
Go full Marie Kondo and prioritize your space! Decide what brings you joy and donate the rest - this is the perfect time to declutter the mind and start fresh. You can find more on minimalism and lifestyle here.
Final Thoughts
Being stuck at home with your significant other can be an exciting experience if you decide to grow and learn together through mutually beneficial activities such as the ones listed above. Let’s conquer 2020!
