I’ve been seeing all sorts of amazing resources for entertainment and socializing during this quarantine, so I thought I’d collect them all in one place for my friends to find! So here are a few of the ways I’m staying sane as an extravert in social isolation:
How to Socialize in Social Isolation
Online Gaming
Gamers, we’ve been preparing for this! Now is the time for the non-gamers to realize what they’re missing out on ;) There are so many social online games out there, and many of them are free or have free versions! I personally really enjoy Albion, League of Legends, and Teamfight Tactics.
Oh, and millennials: did you know Neopets is still a thing? Maybe you should go feed your pet who has been starving for over a decade! Whoops!
While gaming with our long-distance friends, my hubby and I like to use Discord to communicate during the game. It’s a gaming staple ;)
“Skype” Dates
I’ve talked to my best friend from college more since the quarantine started than I did for months beforehand! It’s been great just to sit and chat with her! So maybe now is the time to reach out to those long distance friends and see how they’re holding up.
Another great option is the Marco Polo video messaging app, which I use regularly to maintain contact with my Wisconsin friends.
Netflix and Chill
Yes, you can do this long distance! When I was away at college, my mom and I used to skype and watch “How I Met Your Mother” together. We would count down and try to start our shows at the same time. But now, Chrome has an extension you can use to create a synced playback along with a group chat for watching Netflix together! You can install the free Chrome extension “Netflix Party” here.
Livestream Church Services
For Christians, church and church activities are our regular social events. Not being able to have that is hard! Many churches are streaming their services live on Facebook or Youtube, but if yours isn’t there are tons that are!
Our church, the Bridge Christian Fellowship livestreams services Wednesdays at 6:30pm and Sundays at 10:00am if you’re looking for somewhere to “attend”. You can see the livestreams on their YouTube channel.
Productivity Tips
You’re stuck at home all day. You can’t go to work. Now is the perfect time to get on all those projects you’ve been putting off, or even form new habits and routines! Here are a few ideas to help you get started:
- Create a Quarantine Projects List
Time to get caught up! My list includes everything from catching up on laundry to reworking our budget to painting our bedroom! Whatever you need to get done, write it all down on a master list and then prioritize where you want to start! - Get in Shape
You may not be able to go to the gym, but there are tons of workout programs on YouTube or Amazon Prime. There are also tons of great fitness entrepreneurs on Instagram who could really use your support at this time! My personal favorite is Positive Fit Mama, who is offering her Fit Mama Club for free through April 15 to help support those in social isolation with keeping up their fitness routines! - Take a New Course
Maybe you were laid off, or maybe you’ve been wanting to leave your 9 to 5 for a while. There are so many great online courses for everything from how to start a blog to building an online brand.
Through the rest of March, Brit + Co. is offering all of their courses for free! They even have more artistic courses, like calligraphy or watercolor painting! Just use the code SELFCARE at checkout.
Classes bought with this code will only be available through 3/31
For the Kids…
Need a way to entertain your kids during this quarantine? Here are some ideas!
#GadBookClub
Josh Gad, the voice behind Olaf, is reading books via Twitter and Instagram livestreams every afternoon! Follow him on one of these platforms to find out when the next #GadBookClub will be! Usually it’s around 4:30pm PST daily.
ABC, Jesus Loves Me
ABC, Jesus Loves Me is a free homeschool curriculum I’m preparing to use next week with my oldest. It has lots of free worksheets and suggestions for creating a very simple homeschool curriculum to keep your little one engaged during this season! They have curriculums for ages 1-5.
Family Time!
Your kids are probably loving this! They get to spend much more time with you than usual, so enjoy it and try to spend quality time with them doing the things they love! Let them pick the activities you do once in a while - it will help them to have a better sense of control over the situation and will help you to understand what they enjoy.
How are you filling the days in social isolation? What resources have you found?