Corona Time: Things you can do during social distancing
Alright, so as most of you know, there is a pandemic going around the earth by the name of the “coronavirus”. Due to the virus and attempts to contain the spread, people have been practicing this strange new thing called “Social Distancing.” Now, this doesn’t sound like your average try to stay away from your weird friend.
So what is it? Well, social distancing is where you stay at home, going for the occasional walk, to contain the spread of the virus. Social distancing may sound like a free ticket for “screen time”, but overall, this should not be the case.
There are many challenges people are facing. These include not being to see your friends in person, not being able to travel, being forced to stay inside your house for longer periods of time. However, we can overcome these challenges. You can have a virtual playdate with your friend(see below).
You can watch movies with your family, play board games, or read books. There are many museums that offer virtual tours, which kind of makes up for traveling. There are a lot of things you can do to keep yourself awake and positive, but you should try your best to stay off your screen. Maybe even enjoy some bed jumping.
I understand from this information you probably will just end up wandering around aimlessly with no purpose of what to do, or how to do it, so below I have contracted a list of stuff that me and my friends, and family would like to do stay away from screens (for the most part) and keep us happy and positive.
1. Read a Book:
Most of you probably have at least 5 or 10 books sitting on your shelf, but chances are, you’ve probably read all of them. This is when screens are sorta kinda okay. There are many online book platforms, such as Hoopla or Libby, or Simply E. I personally love to check out books, from online platforms such as Libby and Kindle and go on a reading spree. You might find the same fun to do.
2. Play a Board Game:
Chances are, you probably have siblings that are as bored as you. These are board games that come in. Playing board games is a fun way to interact with your siblings or parents. Multiple platforms allow you to play online versions of your favorite games with your friend, but this should be a last resort. There are some games that even let you play by yourself if you do not have any siblings or your parents are busy. Some suggestions of games you can play Monopoly, Clue, Suspicion, or IQ puzzles.
3. Take a walk/ ride a bike:
This one is pretty self-explanatory. In some states, you are still allowed to get out and walk as long as you keep 6 feet away at all times. Ride a bike if you have one, and get fresh air. It’s best that you do something like this at least once or twice a week to get off your screens.
4. Have virtual playdates:
Another good use of your remaining screen time. Even if you did see your friend during school, it might be a good idea to talk to them. Multiple online games, such as Minecraft or Roblox, will allow you to play with friends, which is significantly better than playing by yourself. If you manage to get a group of 4, 5 or more people, you can play other games, such as Skribbl.io, which I and my classmates are crazy for.
5. Learn a new hobby:
If you need something away from a screen, I would highly recommend learning to draw, or learning a new instrument, learning how to skateboard, bike, scooter, or hoverboard. There are a lot of different things you can try without being around too many people. I like drawing Disney characters. How about you?
6. Make a song parody:
This might sound like learning a new hobby, but trust me, this is a hobby on a whole new level. If you want inspiration, go to youtube. This is an extremely fun thing to do. Maybe you can be the next person who makes a parody of Billie Eilish’s “Bath Guy” or Ariana Grande’s “7 Wipes”(Can someone do that? That would be super cool).
7. Family Time:
This one is obvious. Family is probably one of the most efficient strategies for keeping positive. This can range to family game night, to binge-watching all Marvel Movies. There are so many options out there. You can play online games with your cousins(Minecraft or Roblox), Have movie night(Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.), or even just settle down for an old fashioned board gameDuring a time of crisis, it is crucial to keep stimulated a positive. Try one of the things above, or make your own list of movies you've been meaning to watch, or games you want to play. But no matter what, keep positive