Five alternatives to a Netflix binge during lockdown

Curling up on the sofa, flicking on your favourite show and binge watching several episodes certainly has its attractions, but if you cannot find a decent series or you feel like all your free time is spent in front of the box, here are some alternatives you could try.

Take up a hobby

There is a hobby out there for everyone, so this is simply a matter of finding the one that suits you.

For creative people, there are crafts too numerous to mention but (along with eternal favourites such as knitting and crochet) some handicrafts currently having a resurgence are macramé, once a favourite among sailors, now far more at home in the hands of a hipster, and embroidery. This folk art’s return to the limelight proves that needlework is no longer just for your granny.

If you are not the crafty type, you could choose an item you have an interest in and start collecting. Stamps, cards, thimbles were always the go-to collectable items, but nowadays people are broadening their horizons with retro toys, vinyl records, even Lego.

If you have a hankering for writing, perhaps start a journal and keep a personal record of these strange days.

Some people are even turning their hobbies into a business, so you never know where it may lead.

Retro arcade games

Either take a trip down memory lane or, for the younger reader, discover the computer games where it all began.

There was something about the simple games like Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Tetris which made them utterly obsessive.

If you want lockdown over and done with, make a decision to master Frogger and it will just fly by.

The best news is you can actually buy retro arcade game machines at Home Leisure Direct, just visit homeleisuredirect.com.

So grab yourself a can of Coke and a bag full of change and relive your misspent youth rescuing Pauline from the evil clutches of Donkey Kong!

Book binge

Sometimes there is nothing better than getting stuck in an absorbing book. When you find a real page turner, it is entirely possible to whip through it in a single sitting.

It is probably best to get yourself a book stack, just so you have something to move on to when you feel that devastating loss turning the final page on a good read. They also look great on Instagram.

Maybe even get a book club going with friends to make lockdown isolation a little more social.

Music

If you have relied on the Spotify algorithms for too long and got yourself stuck in a sound loop, now is the time to expand your horizons. Find out what your friends are listening too, look at the charts, source alternative acts and make yourself some new playlists.

With Glastonbury being cancelled for the second year running and others falling by the wayside, why not recreate the festival feeling at home, minus the mud.

Take a short course

Putting your time to really good use, perhaps you might like to try taking a short course.

Improve your CV with a business certificate, get ready for when holidays are a thing again and learn a new language, or just get stuck into something you love but haven’t had time for like a drawing class or music lessons.

The possibilities are endless. The Open University have lots of ideas or try searching your local college’s website.

There are plenty of opportunities to mix things up a little bit, try something new or return to an old favourite. Whatever you choose, you can feel safe in the knowledge Netflix and your favourite show will still be waiting for you when you do feel like a bit of a binge.