Indulge in a little R&R
Self-care is soooo important during self isolation. Though the term means different things to different people – it could be taking a long candlelit bath, binging your favourite shows, diving into a new book, or just practising some mindfulness. In essence, it means taking time to take care of you. If an at-home spa day is on the cards (cucumber eye mask and all), then we have the perfect recipe to get you started – this DIY coffee scrub. So save the coffee grounds from your morning brew (something we’re going through a lot of right now) and mix them with some, sugar/salt and coconut oil – then you just lather up and get ready to enjoy exfoliated, moisturised skin. Plus, this sustainable scrub prevents unnecessary coffee grounds from going to waste and saves you a few extra dollars that would be spent on skincare. Keen to craft your way to soft, smooth skin? Check out the full DIY coffee scrub recipe here.
Get those endorphins pumping
It’s more important now than ever to make sure we are getting daily physical exercise – not just for our bodies, but for our minds too. If you’re keen to move your body and get some fresh air, Brisbane has got some of the best spots for outdoor activities – whether you enjoy a leisurely stroll amongst nature or a high-speed bike ride through the city. From Kangaroo Point Bikeway to the Brisbane River loop, Brisbane’s bike paths are just waiting for people keen to put their pedal to the metal. Don’t worry if you’re an easy rider, there are plenty of cycling routes for you to check out too – make tracks here to find your best path. If walking is more your thing, then we suggest putting on your hiking shoes and checking out Brisbane’s best bush walks and hikes – just remember to practise social distancing and, if it looks too crowded, wait until you are able to maintain your distance.
Become a sustainable MasterChef
Even though a lot of us have limited our shopping trips to once a week, food wastage still haunts us in the form of brown overripe bananas and crusty loaves of sourdough. Look, sometimes we just accidentally forget about that week-old yoghurt or neglect the produce that’s looking a little worse for wear in the bottom drawer of the fridge. Now, however, is the perfect time to start being mindful of our food waste – because it isn’t doing any favours for the environment, let alone our wallets. To help you use all of the ingredients that you’ve got in the kitchen, it’s time to fire up the oven and have a go at sustainable quarantine cooking. The top three foods usually wasted in the kitchen – bread, bananas and broccoli – are finally having their time in the spotlight and ending up in bellies instead of bins. Hurrah! So you can become a sustainable MasterChef, check out this selection of no-waste recipes – from maple syrup-topped French toast to potato and veggie hash cakes and the quarantine baked-goods champion – sweet, sweet banana bread.
Invite a celebrity to your home
While some of our favourite celebs on Instagram are dealing with quarantine a lot like us (complete with burnt banana bread and the occasional breakdown), we sure do like to keep their company to help maintain some normalcy in our lives. If you’re a fan of the soothing sounds of Stephen Fry’s voice, or you like to treat your ears to the slight Southern-drawl of America’s sweetheart Reese Witherspoon, you’ll be pleased to hear that you can tune into celeb-narrated audiobooks – and better yet, for free! There are 41,673 audiobooks waiting for you in Brisbane City Council’s digital library collection and all you have to do to get started is become a Council Library member then download BorrowBox, RBDigital or Overdrive to your device. Just like that, you’ll be able to take Michelle Obama on your daily stroll! If you’re struggling to find the perfect movie on Netflix or you just want to jam out to some classic hits in the comfort of your lounge room, visit Council’s online library catalogue and delve into its huge offering of books, music, magazines, movies and more. Psst … if you don’t have a library membership, no worries! Brisbane residents are able to sign up for a temporary digital membership, so you’ll be able to access this goldmine in no time.
Keep your indoor jungle thriving
With more time spent indoors, we don’t really have an excuse anymore for being neglectful plant parents. This is the prime time to give some proper TLC to your houseplants – after all, they only live once. Thankfully, Council (with help from Dale Arvidsson, curator of Brisbane’s botanic gardens) has put together its top tips for a thriving indoor jungle, turning that limp lily lush in no time. Whether you’re a fiddle-leaf fig fanatic or prefer low-maintenance greenery, these plant-care tips will turn even the most negligent thumb green. Plus, there’s even recommendations for the best indoor plants for your home, from succulents to the hard-to-kill Zanzibar Gem, you’ll soon be able to greenify your space with some beauties (that hopefully will stand the test of time). Leaf through Dale’s suggestions here.
The article was created in partnership with our friends at Brisbane City Council. To check out the best things to do in and around Brisbane, visit Brisbane City Council’s digital neighbourhood website.
