With Larimer County’s stay-at-home order in effect through April 26th, many folks are wondering “What the heck am I supposed to do until then?” If that sounds familiar, welcome to the club. While those of us who are able to stay home are grateful (and even more grateful for the brave frontline workers in healthcare, janitorial, transportation, food, utilities, and other essential jobs), it’s still daunting to think about going that long without in-person social contact.
Fortunately, there’s never been a better technological age to be stuck at home. While you can’t go to the gym, meet your friends for dinner, or hang out with extended family, you can still connect with the people and activities you miss! Check out these social distancing tips to keep your spirits up during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order.
Stay active with virtual fitness classes, right in your living room.
There are tons of options for online fitness classes, from yoga and pilates to weight training and HIIT (high intensity interval training). If you have workout equipment like a stationary bike, stair climber, or treadmill, you can get that bump of class motivation by downloading an app like CycleCast or one of these treadmill workout apps.
No equipment? No problem! There are tons of ways to get a good workout in, from bodyweight exercises to cardio, and you can do them with minimal or no equipment. Some paid fitness content services are even offering access for free for a limited time, like Nike’s NTC Premium.
And because we all need some chill vibes right about now, be sure to center yourself with some YouTube yoga classes. There’s a ton of fantastic yoga content on YouTube, but some popular channels include Yoga for Every Body, Yoga with Adriene, and Curvy Yoga.
Stay connected with friends and family.
Thanks to smartphones, computers, tablets, and even video games, it’s never been easier to stay connected when you’re physically apart. Try some or all of these ideas to help you stay sane until it’s safe to get some actual face time.
Video Conferencing
There are too many options to list, but Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype, and GoToMeeting are some popular picks. Pick a different friend or family member to video chat with every day, or set up a standing hangout session with your whole friend group every week.
Watch Parties
Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon, and other streaming services are launching virtual watch party functionality left and right. Check out this guide to learn how to set up your own screening.
Social Gaming
MMOs (massive multiplayer online games) have been around for years, but these days, you don’t have to be a hardcore gamer to get in on the fun. Just look at the popularity of Animal Crossing and you’ll see that more and more people are getting their socializing in while staying home.
Old-Fashioned Communication
While technology is a boon at the moment, don’t forget about the good, old-fashioned communication options from yesteryear. Pick a friend you haven’t talked to in a while and give them a call. Write a letter—yes, on an actual piece of paper—and send it via snail mail. Sit on your porch with a cup of tea and say hello to your neighbors. And most importantly, remember that you’re not alone, even when you’re by yourself.
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