What To Do While Social Distancing
Covid-19 (aka the coronavirus) is flipping our lives upside down as I write this blog post. People around the world are facing fear, frustration, and anxiety in a way that most of us have never felt before. Add to that, the fact that we’ve been asked to practice social distancing and, in many cases, self-isolation and we find ourselves swan diving into cabin-fever territory.
We’ve had to give up some of our favorite activities for the short term, but there are still plenty of ways to stay connected. With a little fancy footwork, I believe we can use these weeks as an opportunity to explore more creative options. And that, my friends, is what this blog post is all about. We’ve gathered a list of things to do during social distancing and will continue to build on this list in the coming weeks.
Before we move on, can I just say how much we love and appreciate every single one of you? We truly wish the very best for you and are sending you all the virtual hugs as we navigate this brand new reality.
Not Cancelled During Covid-19 | 19 Things To Do
Join a Bookclub (or just read)
I belong to two book clubs – both virtual. Well, one is in-person but since moving to Halifax I’ve become an honorary virtual member. The other is completely virtual. We read the book each month and then do a Facebook Live to chat about it. I’m a big fan of mixing personal development, business and fiction books into my month. If you’re looking for a little inspo:
Books I’ve already read (and loved) in the last year:
Books I’m dying to read that are on my list for this year:
Go For a Hike
Social distancing doesn’t mean you can’t go outdoors and enjoy some fresh air. I can tell you, from years of experience, you’ll rarely (if ever) find yourself in the company of others this time of year. Nova Scotia offers some incredible hiking and while we’ve certainly got our favorite trails, there are all kinds of other resources you can check.
If hiking isn’t your thing, a simple walk around your neighborhood can do wonders for the mind and soul! Implement a family walk after dinner or start your day with a stroll rather than heading to the gym.
Game Nights
We’re currently obsessed with the card game Golf – have you played? It’s basically a matching game! It’s super simple and really fun. We also love catchphrase (although not that fun with only two people), Mexican train, Euker, Dice, and Uno. Yes, Uno is a children’s game but we love it.
If we had board games, I’d be so here for that too! Remember CandyLand? Oh how I wish I still had that one! We also love scrabble & Bananagrams (which is basically scrabble without the board).
If you want to stock up, here you go!
Tackle a huge puzzle
I’ll admit, I haven’t done a puzzle in years. But, I have an aunt (thanks Aunt Pam) who adores them – she even has a puzzle table. Every time I’m over at her place I think to myself, “Man I use to love puzzles…why don’t I do them anymore?”. I’ll tell you why…TIME. Well, friends, we’ve got time now so let’s tackle a puzzle!
I recommend choosing a scene that speaks to you and going big – like 1000 pieces or more. Can you tell I love nature and landscape?
Pick Up a Hobbie
Have you been wanting to take up gardening? Maybe try your hand at woodworking? Learn how to hem your own pants (errr…Sara). Why not now?
Local Love Night
No, it’s not what you’re thinking…get your mind out of the gutter! I mean, that’s also a great way to kill some time (sorry Mom) but not what I’m talking about.
It’s more important than ever that we support our local businesses in any way we can right now. Since we’re not going out, why not take your usual “date night” to buy a gift card to your favorite restaurant for later? Or order delivery from your local pizza shop? Or put in an order with your local farm for their next CSA?
A lot of small businesses are going to struggle during the coming weeks and we’ve got to banned together to make it through.
Podcasts
Anyone else out there a podcast addict? Where do I even begin?!? OK, if you’re not a podcast fan let me first tell you that there is literally a podcast for any topic you can think of. Educational, entertainment, personal development, fiction, business – you name it and someone’s got a show on it.
Do a little research and find one you can sink your teeth into. Meantime, here are a few of my favorites:
Why Won’t You Date Me
Adulting
Joe Rogan Show
Death, Sex & Money
The Minimalists
Screw the Nine to Five
Mind Your Business Podcast
Sharpen Your Skills
Bear with me because I’m putting on my productivity coach hat for a minute! We all have certain skills that we need in our day to lives and businesses – right? Choose one that you use a lot, and get really, really good at it. Make yourself more efficient and more effective in your life by sharpening the skills you use most.
To paint you a picture, I’ll give you some examples from my own life in hopes it will help you see what I mean. Here are some skills I use just about daily:
Photo Editing
Video Editing
SEO & Keyword Research
Copywriting
Social Media (Marketing, Strategy, etc)
Sales
Each one of those are vital skills in my life (and business). You can make the same kind of list, then choose one to get better at. Head to YouTube or Google, do a quick search, and you’ll find all kinds of resources. You could even take it one step further and invest in an online course to improve one of your skills.
Happy Hour at Home
When’s the last time you made a new cocktail at home? Do you own a cocktail set? Or, do you do what most people do and drink the same variety of wine or the same beer every time? Experimenting with new drinks can be a ton of fun! Truth: sometimes it goes really well and sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s always a blast.
Dig out your cocktail essentials (or order them on Amazon) and see what ingredients are in your liquor cabinet. Once again, head back to google and find a recipe to try!
Dinner Date Night
In the same vein, it’s also really easy to get complacent with our meals. We tend to eat the same things over and over. Fun fact: did you know that most people eat the same 30 foods…and that’s it. We love the idea of hauling out one of our favorite cookbooks, buying (or ordering) the ingredients we need and cooking a new meal together.
Make it special by setting the table, pouring some nice wine, turning on the music (“hey google, play Etta James”) and lighting some candles. We try and turn our dining room into a restaurant – it’s fun!
Movie Night
Movie nights are pretty standard…but we can make them extra special. Don’t judge me on this but, does anyone else still make cushion forte’s in their living room? No? Just me? Picture this: a cozy, cushion based bed in the middle of the living room with pillow and blankets and candles and wine and popcorn. Doesn’t that sound way better than sitting on the coach? Yeah, it does! Trust me!
Virtual Parties
Skype, Zoom, Facetime, Facebook Live’s… we’ve got all kinds of creative ways we can get together with loved ones when we can’t actually get together. Create a zoom call with your book club or share dinner over skype. Video chat is a great alternative to in-person face time.
As I’m writing this article, an invite came in for a virtual St. Paddy’s day party – and I accepted!
Staycation Planning
We’re not going to be stuck in the house forever! And, when the smoke clears, we’ll be raring to go out and explore. Start planning your next vacation or staycation now. You can do plenty of research, put your itinerary together and create something to look forward to.
If you need inspiration, here in Nova Scotia, we’ve got you covered:
Beach Retreat on Nova Scotia’s North Shore
Luxury Nova Scotia Staycation at Fox Harb’r Resort
Life Planning
Taking some time to plan some important aspects of your life can be a great way to use up some extra hours you may be sitting on. Tackle your taxes, review your insurance, visit your finances. We love taking downtime to also review our annual goals and see where we’re at and what we can do to move forward with more intention.
Spring Cleaning & Organization
You knew this one was coming, right? It’s spring, after all! We’ve all got areas in our home that need a good gut. I suggest starting with ONE (not the entire house) and getting it 100% done. Even if it’s something as simple as finally tackling your junk drawer or your coat closet. You’ll feel so much better!
If you’re ready to start moving towards a more minimalistic life, you should check out our blog on “how to clean out your closet”. Then, click over to “how to build a capsule wardrobe”. Before you know it, you’ll be living that sweet capsule wardrobe life with us!
Take a Course
Another great way to be productive with downtime is to invest in yourself. Maybe you’ve been feeling anxious & overwhelmed (hey, who could blame you) – perhaps a meditation course or online yoga class would help. This might also be a great time to finally start learning a new language or building your business by investing in a biz course. Shameless plug – we have a business membership site called “The Hive” where we teach social media & content marketing. It’s awesome.
Virtual Museum Tours
Did you know that museums around the world offer virtual tours? There’s a growing database of virtual tours you can take from the comfort of your own home. The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and the Guggenheim are just two of them. You can search for others here in the Google Arts & Museums database.
At-Home Workouts
Don’t get me wrong here – I ADORE the gym we go to. And, I miss it dearly (and it’s only been closed for one day). That said, we still need to exercise. Aside from being good for our bodies (duh), it’s great for our brains. Regular exercise is crucial for stress management, depression & anxiety and many other feelings we’re all feeling right now.
With programs like Beachbody On Demand available for super low prices, there’s really no excuse. Wanna know a secret? I use to have an online fitness business (like, ‘fo real) and those videos are still alive and well on the internet. If you’re looking for at-home workouts that don’t require any equipment – check these out (but DO NOT laugh at me).
Start Journalling
There’s a lot going on right now. I want to tell you all of my coping mechanisms and strategies I’ve developed over the years but that’s another full blog post. So let’s just start simple. Journalling is one of the single most critical skills I’ve learned in my adult life. It lets you get the ideas, thoughts, worries, anxieties, insights and (sometimes) bitchy mean girl out of your head and onto paper. And, it’s life-changing.
I urge you to give it a try! I suggest stream of consciousness writing. That just means you sit somewhere quiet, with no interruptions, and write whatever pops into your head for 3 pages. Then close the book and move on with your day. Trust me.
I truly hope this post finds you well and is a helpful reminder that we can still enjoy life and connect with one another. We’re all in this together, and if you need to chat please reach out to us.
Took your advice and I am doing a free online course!
Amazing! What course?
Wow, those are some great tips! I’m super happy that your exercise videos are still available! I will be checking those out tomorrow.
haha, they’re still there… have fun!
Going to do lots of spring cleaning and tons of organizing!
Also love the idea of enjoying some podcasts!
I love listening to podcasts WHILE I clean!
Hiking the former logging trails out here and working on outdoor yard projects have definitely helped transition to this way of being. I’m looking forward to cafes and people watching once we get through this necessary isolation though!
Agree – we’re missing out hikes now that the trails have been closed and really looking forward to the re-open soon (I hope)
Great ideas to cure the some of the boredom and not knowing what to do
Great Ideas! thank you for your thoughtful content
Yes! I needed a good list for ideas. Wrapping up school work and setting some isolation goals. Can’t wait for the weather to get better for deck drinks while I THINK about those free fitness programs..
Deck weather will be awesome! We can’t wait either!
With little ones at home we’ve been pretty busy but we’ve enjoyed some time outside, board games, organizing, and movie days. There are some other great ideas here!
So many great ideas here! We have already done many of these and we have a while to go yet!
Great book & podcast suggestions!! Also ordering a puzzle tonight, even though one if my teenagers HATES puzzles :):) all the more reason 😂
Haha, only one of us likes puzzles as well…but too bad!
Adding some of these ideas to my list! The spring cleaning probably needs to be at the top, but I keep bumping it. 😉
Thanks for all the suggestions! I’ve definitely been taking advantage of the time to catch up on my ever growing pile of books 📚
A group of friends did a Facebook Messenger video party last night to celebrate a birthday. We all had our wine and had so many laughs. It was great because one of our girlfriends now lives in Calgary so we were all able to be together.
Love the ideas and more specifically the book list. Thanks! You guys rock!
Great suggestions. I love to hike
I’m sure you know thAt provincial trails and parks as well as municipal ones are closed
What a fantastic “ go to” in this strange time. Recent surgery for breast cancer and awaiting chemo in very near future has kept me home and safe in these turbulent times. Your list has given me some very positive and fun suggestions. With our chadult just “”returned upstairs from our basement” after 2 weeks isolation( Mexico travel) things are even more fun. ( I baked him a welcome upstairs cake😜)The three of us played cards for so long last evening that we didn’t even have our planned barbecue! Walking, games, reading, socializing, the days are never long enough. Thank you for all your wonderful suggestions. Be safe and well.
Great ideas! I’ve done the taxes, some minimal spring cleaning & worked on a favourite hobby of mine, scrapbooking. I clicked on your workout ideas too, but I’m not quite motivated yet. Thanks:)
Great suggestions ! I’m actually doing the middle puzzle you posted – It’s a fun distraction. I listen to podcasts in the background (“Conan O’Brien needs a friend“ is a current favourite).
Yeah? How awesome!
These are great ideas. We’ve already promised to workout each day (and I can’t believe I’ve stuck to it haha). Definitely will start some staycation ideas too…and maybe I’ll try a podcast or two. What are your favs?
Thanks for the ideas. I’ve been using my new found creative skills to make Easter cards for my grandkids.
Love these suggestions, and have already been trying some of them!
Puzzles ✔️
Card and boated games ✔️
Happy hour at home ✔️
Movie nights✔️
Spring cleaning ✔️
Finding a good book is a great idea! And defiantly need To get back into the workouts!
There are so many fun places to travel in NS! We’re planning a few staycations this summer. We’re hoping a few friends will be visiting in July so we’re looking at a few really great places!
Super ideas. You guys rock. Thanks.
This is so awesome. Some great ideas I hadn’t thought of
I have always been a reader, and I recently fell down the “Tiger King” rabbit hole… I work in healthcare, so I am still hitting the grind daily. However, these are some great ideas! Thank you for the podcasts, I’m interested in checking them out!
You may also like the book American Dirt, I’m really enjoying it.
I’ll check it out for sure, thanks!
I bought a bunch of new board games for the kids and play a new one every week. They’re loving it!
These are all fantastic ideas except for the take a hike suggestion since we cannot drive and park at trails. Good list though to look into once this pause is over!
Another one of my fave activities to do is give your pets lots of love and attention. Also DIYing toys and play things for them.
Diamond paintings are also a good way occupy your time. I work in the food industry and am considered essential, so I’m not home much. And when I am I watch tv it play games on my phone. I will however try out some of the suggestions above. I hope everyone is saf
What’s a diamond painting? Tell me more!
Great suggestions! 🙂
Getting to do some things I’ve been putting off for a long time, like connecting with friends from away. I’m going to use this time to see how I can make these calls more regularly going forward, not just in a time of crisis or lockdown.
Loving these ideas! Definitely going to learn some new card games and attempt to learn a new language with all this down time!
Thanks for the ideas!! ♥️
Such great ideas!! It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut these days so I will definitely try some of these.
These are great ideas!!! I ‘ve heard rumours there are some online (think a virtual zoom party with friends and family) old school board games – have you stumbled on any that work well? I did some lazy research…but haven’t gotten far…that’s a tomorrow plan 🙂
Oooh I haven’t seen them but I’m sure they exist and I bet they’d be really fun! My cousins and I all downloaded the “Bad Apples” app and it’s pretty fun to play!
I am catching up on the little things that you put off because “it’s only a little chore, I will get to it soon”…cleaning and painting…early spring cleaning.
Some really great ideas on here i did the Smithsonian tour with my daughter we both really enjoyed it , definitely love the ideas and the positive vibes. Keep them coming guys.
You’ve got some great ideas here. Besides reading and playing games, I’ve been feeling particularly unmotivated. I think it’s the anxiety. Hoping to get my butt in gear and maybe do an online class.
Thanks for sharing. Love the ideas surrounding podcasts, updating skills and taking a course. Will definitely put some of those into my new routine
All good ideas…
Thank you I love these ideS, and with spring arriving , yard work , herb gardens or flower pots are a great new venture to try your luck at too. I installed 3 bird feeders which I hadn’t done in a decade, and today I had a red cardinal visit. I’ve never seen one in my patio before. What a joy watching the birds. ( you can search and see how many different types arrive to pass the time too.
Love these! I want to start reading more. But I have gotten a lot of yard work done, walking a lot and started working out at home again! Oh how I missed the feeling after a workout!
Thanks for giving me the idea of date night. Might just have to order pickup at a local restaurant to enjoy! Cooking is not fun anymore.
It really does just take a little creativity… it’s SO easy to fall into a rut!
Thank you for all the wonderful ideas and I am going to look at doing an online course. Love you guys
Thank you for the great ideas! I have already tried some but will be trying some of your suggestions. I just ordered a couple of books I’ve been wanting to read but have put off so I am looking forward to catching up on my reading list. On the weekend I had drinks and played Scattegories through FaceTime with some friends. FaceTime definitely makes social distancing easier for those who like to hang out with friends.
I’m surprised how much I’ve enjoyed “reading” audiobooks have been one of my favorite things to do, while cleaning, cooking, cardio!
Ahhh this blog is everything I need and more right now! Lol I’m definitely a home-body and always looking for ways to entertain at home!
Oh I’m so glad!
Thanks for the great ideas! We will definitely be using a lot, if not all, of these suggestions! We love hiking with our pup!
Loved all your suggestions, especially your book list….may I throw another one at you…”Where the Crawdad’s Sing”, think you’ll like it! Also think you’d love a new Canadian writer Amy Stuart (Still Water, Still Mine, and third book due out soon). Cheers!
Lots of great ideas!! I read and do jigsaw puzzles. Keeps the mind sharp in our golden years!!
Great ideas! Expanding on your book club idea, why not read all the books in the “Canada Reads” list while waiting for the show to (finally) be broadcast? I just finished Tyler Leblanc’s novel “Acadian Driftwood”, he’s Nova Scotian, he’s Acadian, and his book is a new twist on an old story. Trouble is, being Canada Reads the books aren’t exactly uplifting, particularly Cory Doctorow’s book “Radicalized” with the final story in his 4 short stories dealing with a pandemic. Still, I’m finally reading all the books offered by a Canada Reads panel before the broadcast and this time I can make an educated decision about which book is best (though I’m leaning towards the Nova Scotian, naturally). Keep up the good work!
That’s a great idea!
Great ideas – I’m also using all my time to clean and organize my home!
Puzzles and podcasts have saved me! Books have been a great distraction also! Glass castle and Educated were 2 of my faves! Darling Days is another really good autobiography.
Some great ideas! Breaking out a puzzle tonight.
Think I’m going to try the virtual museum tours. Get to see something I may never get to see in person…and for free!! 🙂
So many great ideas!! Took some notes for next week when I’m wondering what to do! I have been trying to teach myself to knit.
These are awesome ideas! I’ve been doing a lot of them for sure but hopefully I’ll find it in me to step it up this week and add a few more. My husband and I have been binge watching Mad Men (I know so late to the party)! We are loving it 🙂
Great ideas!
There’s lots of great ideas on here for keeping busy and using your “spare” time wisely! ☺️ I am presently doing an online fitness class! It’s been wonderful!👊 Love your blogs…keep on being yourselves!🤗
Thank you for the suggestions, I’m going to look up some podcast.
Great list. There are so many free online resources, it’s a great way to keep oneself entertained.
Love the ideas! I think that it’s important to have something to look forward to and focus on (in a positive way) during these times…and the ideas you have suggested definitely encourage that! I’ve really been into the whole date night at home thing, although, I haven’t thought of having a love local based date night! It’s something different, new and can help to support small businesses during these tough times. Thanks for the idea😊🥂
Some great suggestions guys. I’ve even tackled a few of them. I am doing a puzzle for the first time in many, many years, going for walks and crocheting a whole bunch. Thanks to Covid19 and my hubby, I have my house cleaning done which is a great thing. Too bad nobody can see it :-). Thanks for all the great info. Take care and be safe.
Great suggestions! I would also suggest grab a lawn chair on a nice day and take your book outside! Also try growing herbs on your window sill and get a bird feeder.
Great list! I’m still working full time (healthcare) but we started a big puzzle and I’ve been doing more reading! Keep doing what you’re doing 🙂
I’ve been dying for a big puzzle to work on!
Thank you for some of these ideas! It is getting harder and harder to get off the couch lately that’s for sure!!
Great time to get a lot off the “to-do” list. 😉
It’s funny – you would think with all this “at home” time we’d be super productive but many of our business clients are reporting the exact opposite! How are you making out?
Great list! My absolute favourite podcast is Reply All. Equal parts hilarious and thought-provoking and it’s the perfect distraction right now. Highly recommend!
We’ve recently done virtual games nights with friends playing Balderdash and Trivial Pursuit. Takes a little coordination to set up but so much fun!
Love these ideas! Thanks so much!
Thanks for all the lovely ideas – game night and puzzles are always a win in my books! 😉
Great ideas! I’ve already been doing a few and made a list of the ones I want to start. I started a gratitude journal a while back after reading 1000 Gifts; loved local by placing an order from Kare Kombucha and Aroma Maya; and am full-on spring cleaning and organizing after our kitchen reno (it just got finished last week)…all the windows are washed. I figured I’ll be looking out the windows for a while so they might as well be clean. 😁 Stay well. Stay home. 😊
Love podcasts ! I’ll defiantly be checking them out !
Great ideas. I need to get off Social media and Read more!
Great tips! I tried to order a puzzle with no luck on Amazon as they are all sold out.
I’m hoping to read more. Thankfully, I have a couple books that I had bought before Christmas and haven’t had time to read (until now!).
These ideas are great. Most of them I’ve wanted to do at one time or another. Lately I’ve been doing word puzzles. I also enjoy podcasts.
Love these ideas!!! Thank you for sharing! Reading lots and going for walks as much as possible!
Lots of great ideas! We currently have a 1000 piece puzzle on the go. I have recently fallen in love with podcasts, I find they help to keep my mind from wandering to all of the things we can’t control these days 🙂
Thank you for these great ideas! I’ve taken advantage of free shipping from Indigo and received a few books already but I’m thinking about a ordering puzzle, it’s been years since I’ve done one!