Feeling stressed? Try these cool Covid-19 hacks to keep you on top of your game

1. DO THE DISHES, NO, REALLY

Lockdown had probably seen those of us privileged enough to have domestic assistance doing our own daily cleaning. Research at Florida State University has shown that tasks like washing dishes encourage mindfulness, so scrubbing that pasta pot from last night is almost like meditation. Almost. Use scented dishwashing liquid to elevate the experience. We love the basil-and-lime-infused Jewel dishwashing liquid. 

2. ORDER IN JOBURG

I’ve long been a fan of Oregano Catering and Patisserie, tucked away on 7th Street in Linden. They do pasteis de nata to die for, and have really upped their home-delivery game for lockdown. Order a few slabs of The Chocolatiers mouthwatering chocolate, or their dinky baby-veg boxes. Don’t forget to add a loaf of sourdough to your online cart. Trust me, it’s worth it. 

3. PLAY YOUR PART

The guys over at Virtual Bucketlist.Guru have negotiated special deals, available to book now, with some of our country’s most beautiful hotels and lodges. The best part is you only pay when you travel. It’s a small way we can keep our tourism and hospitality industry alive and well until we can all leave our homes again. 

4. NO GYM? NO PROBLEM

Does your trusty Samsonite backpack remind you of all the globetrotting you used to do, every time you open your wardrobe? Put it to work. Pack it with a few Encyclopedia Britannicas, load it onto your back and get those squats and lunges in.

5. LOOK AND LISTEN

Artthrob is asking local artists, curators, and writers to send a sampling of music from their Spotify lists for us to listen to. Called Music to Social Distance To, this is getting me up and going in the morning.

HBO’s Succession follows the darkly dysfunctional machinations of the Roy family. It is epic in scale and infinitely watchable, the perfect distraction from any lockdown blues. I signed up for a Showmax trial just for this. 

WATCH | Succession: Season 1 trailer: 

6. NATURE’S WAY

I’ve noticed that, along with hand sanitiser and masks, vitamin C was the first thing to disappear off pharmacy shelves when we went into lockdown. A Vogel’s Echinaforce tablets or drops provide all-natural immune-system support against common colds, flu, and respiratory-tract infections. 

7. ORDER IN CAPE TOWN

Granadilla Veggie Box is an online food delivery service that only sources from local, small-scale farmers. It’s like a farmer’s market at your fingertips, and there’s never been a more important time to support the small guys. Pick up all-time favourites like Honest Chocolate and ButtaNutt almond- and macadamia-nut butter. 

• From the May issue of Wanted 2020.