10 Things I Want To Do After Lockdown

Lockdown has been difficult for everyone. The current world situation has been so devastating for so many people, but I’m not going to talk about that. Instead I want to acknowledge that things will eventually go back to normal, and to look forward to that day.

Over the past week I’ve compiled a list of 10 things I want to do after quarantine. Some will likely apply to everyone and some are more personal, but putting this list together was a great exercise that helped me feel more hopeful about the future.

1. Travel

Being under lockdown has reignited my desire to travel the world and I know I’m not alone. I’ve spent much of lockdown researching a few places that I’d love to visit one day, and I’m looking forward to when I can finally book an outbound ticket.

2. Teach English abroad

Before the quarantine I was considering moving to Vietnam to teach English for a year. I had invested in a TEFL certificate, had most of my necessary vaccinations and all I had left to do was book a flight.

I’m not sure when I’ll be able to leave and I’m not sure which country I’ll end up in, but teaching English abroad is a goal I want to achieve at some point in the next few years. I’ve always been passionate about education and moving abroad absolutey terrifies me, which is why I’m determined to make it happen.

3. Move into my own place

I’ve always valued my independence and so never envisioned moving back home. As much as I love living alone, I recently moved back in with my family which turned out to be a great decision for me – my tenancy was about to end and I didn’t want to go through the process of finding a new place in the middle of a pandemic. But while I’m extremely lucky not to have the added stress of paying rent, I can’t wait until I’m able to move into my own place again.

4. Get my dream job

I’m about to graduate with degree in maths and I’ve been taking this time to improve my employability and work on my coding skills. Most companies have delayed their hiring processes so I’ve been making the most of this time to make my graduate application the best it can be.

5. See friends and family

One of the hardest parts of lockdown for me has been the loneliness. I find it strange that I can’t go and visit my best friend even though we’re finally living in the same city again, and so catching up with friends and family is one of my top priorities for when the lockdown ends.

6. Get a new tattoo

Perhaps this is shallow given what’s happening in the world but recently I’ve been feeling a real urge to get inked, and I won’t apologise for it.

7. Learn to drive

I took some driving lessons a few years ago but never took my test. My driving instructor was brilliant but I struggled with driving anxiety and ended up cancelling it last minute. While the UK aren’t conducting driving tests at the moment, I plan on learning to drive as soon as I’m able to – I doubt I’ll ever own a car but I want to prove to myself that my anxiety can’t stop me from doing anything.

8. Donate unwanted clothes

I’ve been meaning to have a huge clear out for months but I always managed to put it off. Minimising my possessions helps me reduce my stress levels and I have a lot of clothes which I intend on donating as soon as the charity shops reopen.

9. Eat out

I love food. Food is the key to my heart and one of my favourite parts of exploring new cities is trying out new restaurants. While my bank balance has been thanking me for all the home cooked meals lately, I’m looking forward to being able to eat out again.

10. Relax and take a break

The quarantine has been more stressful for me than I originally anticipated. I’m lucky to be in a good situation but the air of uncertainty as well as the constant media coverage has been a huge cause of stress and anxiety.

I’ve always enjoyed taking myself on small weekend getaways when I get too overwhelmed. It’s a great way to switch off for a while and so I’m looking forward to taking myself somewhere nice and unplugging for a few days.

What’s the first thing you plan to do after lockdown?

I’d love to hear your thoughts – let me know in the comments what the first thing you want to do after the quarantine is! If you’ve enjoyed this post consider subscribing to my weekly newsletter to be the first to hear about new posts.