Posts Tagged with Lockdown

Our country, and the globe at large is dealing with a pandemic that has forced world leaders to implement unprecedented measures in the fight against the COVID-19 virus. On Monday, 23 March 2020, South Africans all tuned in as President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the country to announce a 21-day national lockdown, which has subsequently been extended for a further two weeks. Everyone, with the exception of essential service providers, has been ordered to stay indoors for their safety and the safety of others.

Unfortunately, the lockdown also means that any of our plans to travel, locally and internationally, have been brought to a screeching halt – well temporarily so, as we all wait in the hope that things will return to normal sooner rather than later. 35 days is a very long time to be cooped up indoors, and whether you will be spending this time alone or with family, the days can feel like an eternity as you yearn to be out and about doing your favourite things. Here are a few Mabalingwe-inspired tips to keep yourself busy with during the lockdown:

DIY sugar scrub treatment

Do not neglect your body’s largest organ during the lockdown. You may not be able to book a Mbali Day Spa treatment at the moment, but you can still treat your skin to some tender-loving-care with a refreshing home-made scrub. Gently exfoliate your face and body with an easy-to-make scrub you can make with ingredients you can find in your kitchen!

You will need:

• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup oil of your choice (coconut, jojoba, olive or grapeseed)
• essential oil (optional)
• spoons for mixing
• mixing bowl
• measuring spoons or cups
• sealable container to store excess scrub

Directions:
Pour all of the ingredients into the mixing bowl and mix to desired consistency. Apply the scrub to the desired skin area and gently massage into the skin. (Please note: it is advised that you only exfoliate once a week to avoid over-exfoliating and irritating your skin.)

Delicious home-made flapjacks 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day – even if your mornings are starting a little later than usual. The Belgium waffles we serve at the Boeretroos coffee shop are a real treat, but for a home-made treat, try making some scrumptious and quick-to-make flapjacks to enjoy at home.

You will need:

• 1 cup of flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 30 mil oil
• 1 ¼ cup of milk
• 1 tsp of vanilla essence
• 1 egg
• honey
• yoghurt
• fruit of your choice

Directions:
Mix together milk, egg and oil, then add that to the dry ingredients: flour, sugar and baking powder. Mix until batter is silky smooth. Prepare your non-stick pan over a medium heat. Add a teaspoon of oil to coat the pan. Pour out a round spoonful of the batter onto the pan – once you see bubbles on the top of the round batter, flip it around. Remove from the pan once both sides are golden brown. Repeat this until your batter is finished. Serve with some honey, plain yoghurt and your choice of fruit.

Energising home exercise

Exercise has amazing benefits for your physical and mental well-being, such as:

• Regular exercise is a mood booster and can reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
• Exercise is crucial to supporting a fast metabolism and burning calories and also helps you maintain your muscle mass and weight loss.
• Exercising regularly can increase your energy levels.
• Exercise improves skin health by inducing skin cell adaptations and promoting blood flow, which can protect your skin and delay signs of ageing.
• Physical activity helps you build muscles and develop strong bones

During the lockdown period, access to your regular gym facilities is prohibited, and sadly, so is your usual run around the block. You will probably also miss out on a guided walking trail where you could have taken in the tranquil surrounds and spotted a few fascinating animal and birdlife at our nature reserve. However, what you can look into in the meantime is exercising at home. Try taking your work-outs outside in your yard, or balcony for those who live in apartments, and appreciate some fresh air as you work up a sweat. Create your own personalised work-out programme to challenge yourself with during the lockdown.

Games night

For those of you who are with their loved ones during the lockdown, this is absolutely a great time to create awesome memories you can cherish for a lifetime! Unplug from technology and log out of the internet for a while to enjoy some “digital-free” entertainment. Turn the living room into your own games room for a change and bring out the board games, that 1000 piece puzzle that you haven’t been able to complete or the deck of cards you haven’t used in a while! You will be surprised at how much good ol’ fun you and your loved one’s can have with some retro and modern games.

“There’s only one thing more precious than our time and that’s who we spend it on.”

– Leo Christopher

We all need to do our part and abide by the rules set out by the government during this time – but there is no harm in making the time indoors enjoyable and meaningful. We hope these tips will bring you some much-needed light to your home in these trying times.

Your next amazing post-Covid vacation at Mabalingwe will be waiting for you. Explore our website on https://www.mabalingwe.co.za/ for more information.