Miss traveling? Bored at home? Many of us are in the same boat during the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus has forced a lot of us to stay home, not being able to go out and see friends due to social distancing.
We can still be productive – and have some fun! Look at this from a positive perspective, we now have some extra time to do a few things we wouldn’t normally do.
Let’s check out some amazing things you can do to keep yourself entertained during the lock down period.
For some links to free virtual tours of museums and zoos – click here to jump further down the page!
1 – Reconnect with old friends
You might have some old friends you only get around to calling or messaging once every couple of months, or years!
As you are a caring person – just like me of course – you will want to know they are safe and check in with them during the lock down. This is the perfect time to reconnect.
Grab your phone and open up your contact list, scroll up to someone and give them a quick call to say hello – hopefully it will put a smile on their face!
Some of them may even live overseas, so you can also make travel plans for when the pandemic has passed.
To see how you can connect with new people overseas, check out this article which shows you how to get started on Couchsurfing!
2 – Upgrade your skills!
Why not learn a new language, maybe for your next trip overseas? There are many apps available to help you learn new languages, like Duolinggo and Babel.
Or, why not check out the Tandem Language Exchange app where you can practice a new language by connecting with native speakers.
If you’re a singleton, make learning a new language even more exciting. Take advantage of Tinder activating the passport function for all its users for free. This means you can search for any city worldwide and swipe away!
We are all eating at home more now, so why not improve your cooking skills? If you’re not very confident in the kitchen, start with some simple recipes. A great excuse to use all of those ingredients tucked away in your kitchen. This could even be the start of a healthier lifestyle!
3 – Have a night out – from your couch!
Since we can’t meet our buddies in person, why not set up an online meeting with them and do something special.
There are lots of meeting platforms you can use for free – like Zoom, Skype and Google Hangouts, and some great interactive apps too – like House Party and Gartic.io.
All you need to do then is pick a night and set an event or activity – maybe a quiz or some party games!
For the ladies – why not get dressed up and put on some make-up like you would if you were going out. Just don’t forget the prosecco or wine!
4 – Create a journal and make a plan
This time gives you the opportunity to jot down your dreams, ambitions and targets. If your dream list usually relates to travel plans, you might have to postpone them until next year – or sooner, I hope!
List down everything you want to do, then set a plan to achieve it.
For now, you could create some new habits and routines in your everyday life to continue after lock down. How about developing a healthy eating plan or committing to that workout plan you’ve been skipping.
Ps. It’s not all bad, staying home will also save you some money for when you do travel next!
5 – Take some virtual tours!
Make staying at home more fun and join some virtual tours!
Many museums, zoos, and research centres now provide free virtual tours so you can explore the world without leaving your couch.
You can walk through the famous Louvre in France, then jump straight in to a NASA exploration – all from your own home!
Above of all, there is no queuing up and no tickets, doesn’t it sound like an amazing way to travel and explore?
Here are some links to get you started:
Museums:
The Louvre – explore the world’s largest art museum in Paris. The Louvre has free virtual tours for a number of exhibits in the museum.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History – move at your own pace and enjoy a 360-degree room-by-room tour of every exhibit in the museum with their virtual tour.
The Vatican Museum – you can take a 360-degree tour of The Sistine Chapel and Raphael’s Room, plus many more areas with the Vatican’s virtual tour.
NASA – free online tours are available for both Virginia’s Langley Research Center and NASA Glenn Research Centre. Or download The Space Center Houston’s app and take some interactive tours from your mobile!
Zoos:
Zoo Atlanta – access the live Panda Cam at the zoo to watch them eat, play, and eat some more.
Taronga Zoo Sydney – take a look at the 24/7 live-streaming cameras here and check in on your favorite animals any time of day or night.
Monterey Bay Aquarium – watch live footage of the Monterey Bay’s Habitat and check out everything from turtles to sharks.
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Or maybe doing some remote freelance!
Great shout Eliel!!