Were you even in ISO if you didn't...

During ISO, there were so many hobbies you’d slip yourself into because well, there was nothing better to do under the COVID-19 restrictions. When your home becomes the one stop shop of work and play, you were bound to do one of the following:

1) Become a plant enthusiast

(Image: @lauranola)

Before COVID-19 I never understood the plant craze. I recall going to this massive plant sale with my sister and watching her splurge on so many plants. She would even talk to them as if they had a soul. Just before the lockdown had started, my dear friend rocked up to my house with a veggie patch tin. We took a trip to bunnings, bought soil, fertiliser and seeds. We set the veggie patch up in less than an hour. I found myself watering these bad boys every night. I realised how purposeful I felt tending to living things that relied on me to live. My best friend found an ad on Facebook marketplace with cheap house plants. She brought a few home and I loved the look of them. Here I am confined by the walls of my house, I realised how bland my house was. I felt it needed something - and oh boy it needed plants!

I started off with a fig tree, and then a peace lily, and now I’ve turned it into a wannabe Bretman Rock greenhouse. Plants are definitely not cheap, so my friend and I looked everywhere for some good finds. We found a local house in Doonside across Featherdale that sold $10-$15 house plants, and scored a few good finds. But there is one I will disclose and I swear it has been the cheapest and most affordable by far! Google Sydney’s Plant Market in Annangrove. Hands down the best find (thanks to my friend Ryan). Further down the road is also another cute green house with a cafe on the side not as cheap but worth a visit! I bought a few cute pots from there. 

2) Become a baker

(Image: @lauranola)

My sister and cousin are insane bakers. I honestly admire them for it. My lack of attention to detail restricted me from baking. When macarons were a thing, I attempted to make them and they just turned out to be cookies. Working from home set a new standard of socialising and team building, and my company thought of this brilliant idea of cooking together via the internet. I thought to myself ‘Why the hell not! I have nothing better to do so I may as well jump back on the horse of baking!’.

The first thing I attempted to bake were cinnamon scrolls. I realised how much I hated kneading dough, but also how much I loved creating things from scratch! Especially if it's jam packed with sugar. I was honestly so proud of myself, I attempted to bake more and more. I ended up perfecting a moist carrot cake which everyone so far has loved!

3) Become an artist

(Image: @lauranola)

Seriously, I went to Bunnings and bought myself some wood and spray paint. I made a few artworks based on my obsession with apples. I painted a bunch of apples and still have them sitting in my house. It was fun while it lasted. Also found myself learning how to DJ - I bought a controller and tried to make my own mixes - but this fizzled out. I had also picked up some poetry which I enjoyed.

In saying this, the pandemic at first honestly had a massive impact on my mental health. Being at home allowed me to express and experiment with a few things I always wish I had time for. I've now found myself in a routine enjoying all these things. Being at home is not so bad after all.