Use the Internet to “Stay at Home” in Style

The best thing we can do right now to protect ourselves and our community is to stay at home, but let’s face it – even the best apartment can get boring after a month. You can still explore the world and stay connected (without resorting to social media) on your computer or smart device. There are so many resources to keep you entertained, sane, and engaged! Below are a few of our favorite distractions to keep you healthy in mind and body:

Workout at home. The community gym may be closed, but you can still stay in shape or start a healthy exercise program. Experts say that staying active can help boost your immunity and help you to stay well mentally and physically. Go for a walk or a run, or try a new workout with an online video! Try one of these three great options:

Low Impact Workout for Beginners
High-Intensity Interval Training
Barre Body Sculpting Workout

Explore your kitchen. Eating healthy is another important part of boosting your immunity and improving your attitude. If you are new to cooking at home, let Gordon Ramsey teach you the basics, or brush up on your knife skills with Jamie Oliver. If you are already an experienced cook, try something new, like learning how to make complex pastries or discovering the nuances of Chinese cuisine.

Open your mind. Now is the perfect time to learn a new skill or hobby. You and your family can learn a new language together with great online resources like Rosetta Stone or Babbel. There are also classes on everything from knitting to music online – get started with SkillShare.

Make plans for your escape. Lift your spirits while you wait to travel again by planning a destination vacation. For your older children, you can start to look at potential colleges and take a virtual tour as you narrow down the institutions you want to visit or look forward to a Disney vacation while you and the kids take a virtual ride on a Disney ride at any Disney location worldwide.

Expand your knowledge. Although you may be stuck at home, there are countless ways to explore the world and learn new things with your family. Learn more about your family’s origins together with Ancestry.com. Go on a virtual safari via webcam, or try visiting a museum or national park on your smart TV. You can visit great venues right from your sofa including:

Stay connected. You can use your PC and smart devices to stay in touch with family and friends. You can even meet new people and stay current with online resources. Join a book club to find new friends who can read and discuss current releases with you, or talk music about over 70,000 topics with music lovers. Some sites will allow you to meditate with thousands of people worldwide, and you can even benefit from forums that discuss how hard it is to homeschool your children.

Have fun. Sometimes you need to step away from the devices for a fun distraction. If you’ve run out of fun things to do with the kids, try these great crafts and activities and take some time to enjoy the people you live with every day in a new, fun way.

While COVID-19 may present challenges to our families and communities, we are also being offered unique opportunities: to learn new things, reach out to our loved ones, and look beyond our daily routine for a new perspective. Stay safe, stay connected – we can not only survive, but we can also improve!