In 2019, we were carefree. We hugged one another with reckless abandon. We shook hands, had brunch out and even congregated in groups of three or more. Now that we’re all in various states of self-isolation, it’s normal to miss that connection.
Luckily, the internet has come through with a smorgasbord of activities like you’ve never seen before. (Can you imagine doing this 15 years ago?!)
Catch up on Zoom
Overnight, half of the Australian population became Zoomers. We learned how to upload a virtual background, battle through unstable internet and turn off the video function while we snacked. But it’s not just for meetings-that-could-have-been-emails. Zoom – and apps like it – are great ways to connect to friends and family, too. Host a virtual birthday party, do the newspaper quiz with your dad, or ‘accidentally’ let your cat walk in when the conversation lags. As always, you should always keep in mind what information your share on any platform, and Zoom is no different.
Houseparty also connects you to multiple friends at once for hangs, chats and games, and since you’re already at home you can leave whenever you want. Phantom exits have never been easier.
Wave to others while you’re jogging
At the time of writing, you’re still allowed to get outside as long as you’re exercising at a distance from others. Head to your local running track, squint to see the person on the other side of the oval, and give them a wave. And if you’ve got any exercise from home tips, post them on the socials to share with others.
Settle in for a Netflix watch party
To support us while we Netflix-and-avoid-chill, the streaming service released a browser extension called Netflix Party. It synchronises video playback, so everyone can join and watch exactly the same movie or show simultaneously. It even has a little chat window, so you can share conspiracy theories about The Tiger King.
Enjoy more entertainment than ever before
With festivals, concerts, theatres, zoos and parks closed, they’re all coming to your living room instead. There’s an incredible volume of stuff to watch, listen to and interact with.
See Broadway shows. Visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Stream world-famous operas direct from The Met. Check out artists like Sarah Blasko and Kingswood at Isol-Aid Festival. Take virtual tours of the National Gallery of Victoria. Watch live cams of the animals at San Diego Zoo. And when you’ve done all of that, every Friday night (UK time), you can curl up with one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s plays . Plus, with all the cancelled concerts, more and more artists are doing free online gigs – Google your fave and see what they’re doing.
Write a letter
Go old-school and put pen to paper. Record your thoughts. Share your fears. Who knows – a hundred years from now, maybe historians will use your letter to understand what happened in 2020.
Take up a new hobby
There are more virtual classes, courses and how-tos online than there have ever been before. Don’t pressure yourself to learn a whole language during shutdown, but you might explore a new skill or find a way to relax. Lots of these streams are bringing people together. A group set up by Jamila Rizvi and Clare Bowditch is hosting singalongs and cooking demonstrations. Thousands of viewers are stretching and centring through Yoga with Adriene. Join dozens of authors for Quarantine Book Club. If structured hobbies are too much, just open up YouTube, type in literally anything you’ve ever wanted to learn, and press play.
Talk to the group chat about all the weird celebrity live streams
We have to ask: are celebrities okay? Without red carpets to walk, these attention-hungry extroverts have started beaming themselves directly into our faces. Look, some are more successful than others. Jake Gyllenhaal doing shirtless handstands? Yes. Robbie Williams’ absolutely mad live concerts from his house? Definitely. From Chrissy Teigen and Justin Bieber to Larry David and Miley Cyrus, Instagram Live is positively brimming with famous faces looking for an outlet for their creative energy.
Call your mum. Or your dad. Your bestie. Just maybe not the ex.
This is an uncertain time. Remember to check in with the people you love.
This article is prepared based on general information. It does not take into account individual financial objectives or needs and is not financial product advice.