Checking In
Keep your bodies and minds in motion when you find yourself in need of something fresh with hobbies both newfound and old
Just some things you can do to keep boredom at bay while nourishing your mind, body and soul
WEEKLY WELLNESS CHECK-INS
Call it cliché, but it doesn’t hurt to remind ourselves that getting our bodies to move does in fact help with our physical and mental health. While it’s not to say that you need to start ‘insert-fitness-goal-of-choice’ in two weeks, light, low-intensity exercises like yoga as well as pilates are just as effective to getting your blood flowing. For besties who would like to take a class or two together, places such as The Flow Studio offer yoga as well as dynamic reformer Pilates classes online, where you can either attend a livestream or get a 28-day video-on-demand package.
That said, it’s also vital to take stock of our emotional wellbeing because all work and no play, believe it or not, can dull one’s motivation to do anything. So, to keep your sanity in check, here are some things you can try: plan a social media cleanse (or go mobile-free entirely) to avoid anxiety; try a five-minute meditation whenever is most convenient for you, and make it a habit rather than a chore by setting up a specific space with the intent to meditate.
Look out for:
The Flow Studio, Ommosapiens, Omology Yoga
TABLETOP GAMES
For some, it’s a desperate measure done only in dire circumstances, but really, who doesn’t love the nostalgia of decimating the opposition via dominating the real estate game of Monopoly or chess?
Standard fare aside, if you’re looking for something a little more colourful and challenging, boardgame cafes such as the Kohii Boardgame store in Penang not only deliver all over Malaysia, but offer a wide range of game genres. Want strategy with a dash of thriller for horror nights? Try Pandemic, an award-winning cafe classic. Or Exploding Kittens, a card game for, and we quote: “people who are into kittens and explosions and laser beams and sometimes goats”, should you want to share a good long giggle with friends and family (despite the title, it’s recommended for ages seven and up).
Look out for:
Kohii Boardgame Store, boardgamecafe.biz, meeples.com.my
COOK-ALONGS (OR EAT-ALONGS)
Look, there’s more to it than just dalgona coffee, sourdough and Greek yoghurt Diys—not that they aren’t fun to do, by the way. But to quote a certain English bard, the world is your oyster, especially when it comes to the realm of cuisine. And be it the foodie who prefers the less laborious route or the home-cook looking to expand their horizons, there are plenty of recipes and platforms to choose from like SSAYANG, a budding plant-based recipe developer on Instagram that offers healthier, pre-mixed ingredients such as their coconut-and-rice-flour pancake mix (which are vegan and gluten-free too). Additionally, some even have ready-made cooking kits available to save you the hassle of grocery shopping—sedaptv’s easy Meal Kit will have you making dinner in a jiffy as the ingredients for well-loved Malaysian recipes are already preportioned for you. But if the hunt for ingredients floats your boat, explore Southeast Asian flavours at local websites such as Periuk, which was launched last year and had hosted virtual classes that involved cooking, pantry organisation as well as non-fiction food narratives to raise funds for Sabah’s Covid-19 crisis. However, if you’re in the thick of work as well as caring for your families with little to no time to cook but crave something hearty and homey, Pichaeats offers ready-to-heat meals as well as family sets that are perfect for any occasion.
Look out for:
Periuk, Pichaeats, ABC Cooking Studio Malaysia, Sedaptv
VIRTUAL ARTS AND CRAFTS STUDIOS
While the internet has become commonplace for gatherings, workshops and even online workout sessions, there’s something to be said about the relaxing simplicity of revisiting childhood classics with a group of likeminded individuals. From bookbinding, journaling, origami, creating collages, embroidery and even gesture drawings streamed online, you’d be surprised at how many of these activities are out in the wild! Better still, they usually don’t break the bank and are simply hosted by a community who simply want to connect with others over hobbies, such as Our Virtual Studio on Instagram, where they host art events over Zoom and Discord while building a network of creatives that reside in the Asia Pacific. But if you prefer the solace of your own space and time, there are one-on-one classes as well as various tutorials online for you to choose from.
Look out for:
Malaysia Origami Academy, Our Virtual Studio, The Craftcrowd