16 things to do during lockdown

Life is on hold, but you don’t have to be 

 

Stuck indoors and looking to relieve the lockdown boredom? If you’re struggling to find a series on Netflix you haven’t watched, it’s time to think outside the box. Staying in doesn’t have to be a waste of time – why not discover a new skill or hobby? Not only will lockdown fly by, but you’ll come out of it as a new and improved version of yourself – win, win! 

Train your pooch! 

Give your pup some love this lockdown by giving them some behaviour training. Whether it’s combatting aggressive behaviour or teaching them basic obedience commands, dog training can lead to your pup living a longer and happier life. If you’re not sure, hire an online dog trainer and learn the most effective tips and tricks.

Learn a new language

Being stuck indoors is the perfect opportunity to brush up on your language skills. Long gone are the days of dusty old language books – there are now endless ways to learn a language online. Whether it’s watching foreign language shows on Netflix (with subtitles, of course!) or listening to podcasts, language learning doesn’t have to be boring anymore. 

If you’re serious about improving your language skills, hiring an online tutor is a perfect way to add some structure to your learning. They’ll also hold you accountable on the days where vegging out on the sofa is much more tempting! 

Set goals

If you enjoy living life in the fast-lane, lockdown might feel like it’s been put on pause. But having the time to slow down and reflect can be really helpful when it comes to understanding where you are in life and where you want to be. 

Whether it’s working towards financial independence or trying to live a healthier lifestyle, setting goals and breaking them into small daily tasks will help you to feel focused and productive. If your goals seem unattainable or you don’t know where to begin, why not hire an online life coach? As long as you’ve got a strong internet connection you can have consultations via video call, or over the telephone. 

Try a healthy new diet

One of the upsides of lockdown is that you can spend more time in the kitchen, try out new recipes, and kick-start healthy eating habits. If you have difficult dietary requirements or need help controlling your calorie intake, start your journey the right way by getting a nutritionist or dietitian.

Balance the books 

Okay, so not very exciting – but hear us out! Lockdown is the perfect time to get on top of those boring financial tasks. If your business has been affected by Covid-19, it might be time to reassess your financial situation. If you need some help getting your affairs in order, an online financial advisor will be able to help you manage a number of tasks, including cash-flows and reassessing your budget. 

Get the boring stuff out of the way so you can free up time for what’s important when lockdown ends! 

Kick bad habits 

Did you know it takes 21 days to break a bad habit? Lockdown is an ideal time to say goodbye to bad habits and form some healthy ones! The first step is identifying what you want to change and what your triggers are. 

Once you’ve figured that out, there are lots of exercises to help you combat a bad habit. A tried and tested one is replacing a bad behaviour with a good one – if you find yourself regularly reaching for the cookie jar, why not replace it with some dried fruit? Alternatively, you could hire an online hypnotherapist to help you with the legwork. 

Learn to code 

Coding is an incredibly sought after skill in our digital world, so why not give yourself a head start and give it a go? There are tonnes of online coding courses out there, or if you’re looking for more personal support, you can find an online coding tutor. 

Learn a new instrument 

Ever committed to taking up piano or the guitar only to find that you simply don’t have the time to practice every day? With so much time on your hands, lockdown is the ideal opportunity to get your daily practice in. Struggling to find your inner Beethoven? Find an online music tutor. 

Revamp your living space 

If you’re sick and tired of being stuck at home, maybe all you need is to give it a new look! Interior designers are now providing their services online – designing a ‘virtual’ room and filling it with real-life items available to purchase – pretty cool right?

Learn to draw 

Okay, so you may not be the next Picasso, but drawing is a great way to pass the time, and has been proven to help with anxiety and stress. If you’re serious about improving your sketching skills, it’s worth hiring an online drawing tutor to help you hone your craft. 

Give your website a face lift 

If your business has had to come up with new ways to connect with customers remotely this year, then having a great website should be at the top of your priorities. Whether it’s improving user experience (UX) or refreshing your content, investing time into your website will help to attract and retain new customers. But it can be a tricky task – especially if you don’t know the basics of web design. Hire a web designer to ensure your website gets the high-quality finish it deserves. 

Get fit 

With an abundance of online fitness classes to choose from, there’s no reason you can’t get fit from the comfort of your own home! Grab some household objects as weights and get moving! Getting an online personal trainer is a great way to add structure to your workouts and help you to achieve your fitness goals. 

Get party planning! 

Whether it’s a birthday, wedding, or anniversary, lockdown is a perfect time to start planning your next event. Yes, the world seems uncertain, but there’s no harm in giving yourself a headstart for when normality resumes. If you need a helping hand, why not hire an online event and party plannerFrom scoping out the best venue to finding decorations, it’s easy for them to tick off their to-do list from home. 

Update your CV 

Smash the job market as soon as you get out of lockdown by updating and refreshing your CV. Not sure how to make the most of your CV? Online CV writers are on hand to ensure your CV is perfected and polished – highlighting your best bits!

Write a novel (or a blog) 

There’s no better time than during lockdown to get those creative juices flowing. Pick up a piece of paper and a pen (or your laptop) and start working on that novel you’ve been meaning to write for the last five years. Or if you don’t fancy yourself as the next William Shakespeare just yet, maybe ease yourself in with a blog post. 500 words are very different from 500 pages, after all! If you need a polished blog for your business, you can find online blog writers to do the hard work for you. 

Try out yoga 

Lockdown is the ideal opportunity to find your inner zen. Whether you’re an experienced yoga-lover or a complete beginner, there will be something online for your age and capability. All it takes is a quick two minute Google search. Alternatively, you could hire an online yoga instructor – they’ll be able to ensure your form and techniques are spot on, saving you nasty injuries later down the line. 

The biggest remote services on Bark – 2021

Who would’ve guessed that more people would be working from home than from the office in 2021? With Covid-19 forcing businesses big and small to close their doors for months on end, many companies have had no other option but to shift their services online. 

With Covid-19 fast-tracking the movement to remote working, we’ve seen a huge number of services transitioning online on Bark, from counselling to personal training and even hypnotherapy. 

If you’re wondering which remote services are leading the way in the current Covid-19 crisis, here’s the lowdown on the biggest remote services that aren’t just surviving, but thriving on Bark. 

Dog Training 

With lockdown leaving us with more time to care for our canine friends, the demand for online dog training services has skyrocketed. Whether it’s Zoom-led group classes or individual sessions, online dog training services cover everything from behaviour and positive reinforcement to health and fitness – all you need is a strong internet connection and you’re good to go! 

Many customers are even finding that online dog training is preferable for all sorts of reasons, especially for those of us with busy schedules or furry-friends with a serious case of car travel sickness! 

If you’re in need of some new training techniques for your furry friend, find a local Dog Trainer on Bark.

Personal Training 

With gyms being amongst the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, personal trainers have had to come up with creative new ways to work online. And with exercise being the number one means to fight the boredom of lockdown for so many of us, there’s been no shortage of demand for remote personal training services – we’ve seen online PT requests skyrocket since the pandemic emerged earlier this year. 

Many fitness professionals have seen huge success in operating their business remotely through Bark. So much so, that some have decided to move their services entirely online. The beauty of remote personal training is the convenience – with just the aid of a tablet or laptop, you can pretty much hold a training session from your living room, garden, or wherever you like!

Boost your fitness from home with a Personal Trainer on Bark.

Counselling and Therapy 

It’s no surprise that coronavirus has impacted our mental wellbeing in lots of ways. Everything from supermarkets, to social gatherings and education have been affected by the pandemic, leaving many of us feeling a little unbalanced, to say the least. In a year that’s been like no other, counsellors and therapists have been able to provide vital support from afar while keeping their business afloat through remote services. 

Online counselling and therapy are becoming increasingly popular, as it gives people the option to carry out the session from the comfort of their own home if they’d prefer. Being able to speak to someone without having to meet them in person has also been incredibly helpful during times of lockdown and social distancing. 

To get the support you need regardless of your location, search for online Health and Wellness professionals on Bark.

Tutoring 

The flexibility of online tutoring makes it ideal for those of us who are stuck inside and looking to learn a new skill. From business and career coaching to maths tutoring and guitar lessons, when it comes to the options available for online tutoring the sky really is the limit! 

If you’re asking yourself whether online tutoring is worth it in comparison to in-person tutoring, the answer is absolutely! As long as you have a strong internet connection, it’s just as effective as in-person tutoring, and can even be better as many students feel more confident carrying out the session from the comfort of their own home. 

Online tutoring also means that professionals are able to teach twice as many students, as they don’t have to worry about travel time cutting into their precious teaching hours! 

We’ve got hundreds of professionals providing their services online. So whether it’s learning guitar or turning your living room into your very own fitness studio, if you’re looking to make the most out of your time at home, find what you’re looking for on Bark. 

And if you’re thinking of moving your business from the physical to the digital, we can help. With the demand for remote services soaring on Bark, there’s plenty of customers to connect you with. But don’t just take our word for it – sign up as a professional today. 

How much does a personal trainer cost in the UK? 2022

Personal trainer with a client

Updated: Read our latest 2022 Personal Trainer price guide.

Average price of a personal trainer in the UK

£30 – £60 per hour

What can I expect to pay for a personal trainer?

Want to hire a personal trainer but not sure of the cost? Don’t sweat it! Read our handy guide to find out how much your fitness expert will charge for 1-2-1 sessions, group classes, Crossfit training, and more.

What is a Personal Trainer?

We all want to be the best versions of ourselves, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin. With so many workout plans and exercise classes out there, finding a fitness routine that works for you can be daunting.

Whether it’s reaching your fitness goals, training for a marathon, or improving your technique, Bark can help you to find a personal trainer to give you the push you need to get there. A PT can support you through the hard days and celebrate the good ones, so what’s not to love?

How much does a personal trainer cost in the UK?

Achieving your fitness goals doesn’t happen overnight, so it’s essential to know how much hiring a personal trainer will cost. To give you an idea of how much people pay for a personal trainer, we’ve put together a handy breakdown of average costs based on the prices of local UK professionals:

Average Cost (per session) £50
Minimum Cost (per session) £30
Maximum Cost (per session) £60

What changes the price of hiring a personal trainer?

The cost of a personal trainer can vary depending on a number of factors. These include:

  • The professional’s education and experience
  • One-to-one vs. group training sessions
  • Price per session – hourly rates or package deals
  • Type of training
  • Location

The personal trainer’s education and experience

When choosing a personal trainer it’s important to consider the level of their education and experience. In the UK, the Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification equips a personal trainer to work one-to-one with clients. Beyond this, their experience can range anywhere from having a degree in human anatomy and wellness to being a professional athlete. In a nutshell, the more experience your pro has, the more you pay.

An experienced or specialised trainer could charge up to £80 per hour – this can increase if you’re in a big city like London, so be prepared to spend big bucks if you’re looking to hire the creme de la creme in the capital.

One-to-one vs. group training sessions

Most professional trainers offer group and one-to-one training sessions. One-to-one classes are tailored to your individual needs, which is why they are more expensive than group sessions. Most group sessions are small, so while you might not get as much one-on-one attention, your personal trainer will still have plenty of time to tend to your needs. Working out with friends also lowers the cost per person, so it’s a win-win.

Price per session (hourly rate or package deals)

Personal trainers usually offer discounts on packages of multiple sessions which reduces the hourly rate. As most people want to hire a personal trainer over a longer period of time instead of for a one-time session, it’s a no brainer that paying for multiple sessions is the better option. Here’s a breakdown of common discounts offered by personal trainers, but don’t be afraid to haggle if you want a better deal.

  • Block of 10 Personal Training Sessions – 10% discount (on average)
  • Block of 20 Personal Training Sessions – 20% discount (on average)

Type of personal training

The cost per session can vary depending on the type of training. If you’re opting for Boxing or Crossfit, expect to pay more as personal trainers need advanced skills to teach these classes. To give you a better idea, we’ve put together a summary of common personal training types and their average costs:

Type of workout (per session) Average cost
Strength training £35
Boxing lessons £50
CrossFit £50
Circuit training £30
High Intensity Interval (HIIT) £50
Body sculpting £30

If you want a tailor-made nutrition plan alongside your workouts, be prepared to pay more.

Location of your personal trainer

It’s no surprise that big cities have big prices. If you live somewhere like London, you could spend nearly double what you would elsewhere for a professional trainer with the same qualifications and experience.

Remember, prices in London can jump to around £80 – £120 if you are looking to hire a super-specialised or experienced instructor.

Here’s a rough breakdown of costs per location:

Location Maximum Cost (per session) Minimum Cost (per session) Average Cost (per session)
Outside London £40 £20 £30
Inside London £120 £30 £50

Find a personal trainer

Is hiring a personal trainer worth the cost?

With a personal trainer, you can set realistic, achievable goals tailored to your fitness ability and training needs. While it comes at a cost, having a healthier body and mind will be well worth the investment. A personal trainer also means you don’t need to fork out for monthly gym membership fees!

Your body is a temple, so give it the love and attention it deserves by hiring a personal trainer with Bark.

Find a Personal Trainer on Bark.com