Social distancing is still going strong, and we’ve got new ideas for you to stay busy! First things first, like in Part 1, it is important to stay informed during the pandemic, so make sure to check out our COVID-19 resources first!
As you probably know at this point, social distancing, or the deliberate act of increasing physical space (professionals advise at least 6ft) to avoid spreading infectious disease, has been recommended by several health organizations as one of the best ways to maintain the health of ourselves, loved ones, and healthcare workers.
Here are our favorite sources we continue to reference as this pandemic unfolds.
Helpful COVID-19 Resources:
We especially like their helpful guide on how to create face coverings
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Social Distancing Ideas (Part 2)!
1. Spruce up your work from home area
Still working from a tiny laptop screen? If you haven’t already, improve your home office by adding a second screen. If you don’t want to leave the couch and you have a smart TV, simply connect via bluetooth, or check out one of these portable monitors that easily plugs in to your laptop and doubles your visual real estate. Already have a monitor? Consider adding a docking station that makes it a breeze to transition from the couch to the desk for video calls. If you want to avoid more tech, focus on becoming zen with a decorative baby cacti, cute organizers, or this adorable ceramic pineapple essential oil diffuser and humidifier. Settle in with your coffee and you are bound to have a productive day!
2. Make Sourdough Bread
Growing sourdough bread is one of those strangely rewarding activities. Every day, you get to feed your little bubbling jar of happiness, eventually you’ll get to eat it, and one day, after social distancing, you can gift part of your sourdough to friends to get them started! Check out these recipes that you can make with or without yeast, or you can buy a sourdough starter if you want to kickstart the process!
3. Visit National Parks (Virtually)
Set up your extra monitor or cast to your TV and go on a virtual journey through some of the national parks! Some parks, including Crater Lake and the Virgin Islands National Park offer virtual tours, and others, such as the cherry-blossom filled National Mall and Yellowstone offer live webcams. You can even watch the underwater world at Channel Islands National Park on their live ocean webcam or the live bear webcam at Katmai National Park.
4. Enjoy a home spa day
Jazz up your Saturday with a stay-in spa day. Start with a long soak in a bath-bomb filled tub, give those pearly whites some love, and try a new mud mask. Do you need to do some at-home versions of your favorite cosmetic treatments? Try this at-home manicure in this spring color, and this at-home wax kit. If you’re feeling ambitious, bring in the family/roommates/partner for an at-home haircut. Not feeling daring when it comes to DIY hair? Try this temporary color or gray cover up touch-up option instead.
5. Explore Disney World (Virtually)
Skip the crowds, and explore Disney World from your couch. Disney fans have recorded their explorations of the parks for years, and you can watch the best clips here. The virtual tours include Disney’s nature park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT at night, The Magic Kingdom, Disney California Adventure, and Disneyland. Want to amp up the magic for your kids? Take them on a laundry basket rollercoaster simulation like this cool dad (we’ve only watched this video 20 times, no judgement)!
6. Watch your favorite artists perform online
Turn down the lights, break out your best speakers, and get ready to sing! Artists around the world are offering live streamed performances that you can watch from the comfort of your living room. Want to make it a little more special? Break out the cocktail bar set you never opened from the holidays, open up this Fancy AF Cocktail recipe book, and invite your friends to do a Zoom watch/dance party with you! Not drinking? Try this non-alcoholic option.
7. Learn how to knit or crochet
There isn’t a better activity to do in your pajamas! Learn to crochet the cutest cacti or the most adorable giraffe you’ve ever seen. Also, once you become a pro knitter it’s easy to do while watching a show or catching up with someone…multi-tasking for the win. Some of our go-to knitting tutorials are:
8. Try out your art skills
Let your creative juices flow! Try a paint by number kit of your pet, meditate with an adult coloring book, or try your hand at watercolor. If you discover a new talent, show off to family and friends via social media, and if you don’t, well, we won’t tell!
9. Practice gratitude and explore happiness with the Happiness Lab
“You might think more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations would make you happy. You’re dead wrong. In "The Happiness Lab" podcast, Yale professor Dr Laurie Santos will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will forever alter the way you think about happiness.”
The Happiness Lab podcast is worth diving into, and they have recently released content specific to COVID-19. If you’d rather write than listen, try using a daily gratitude journal, one of your Healthcare Hustler’s favorite practices.
10. Early release movies
Several movie studios are releasing theater movies early, so now you can stream them at home! Amazon has a growing list that we’ve been using! Some of our recent favorites...
Pixar’s Onward
Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker - did one of us already see this in theaters, and then watch it again at home...100% yes
1917 - some of us are still playing catch-up from the Oscar
Do you have other ideas? Drop them in the comments below!