33 Adult Activities while Social Distancing for COVID-19
Hello, and happy social distancing. Getting bored yet? We’ve already shared our kids home activities post, but we of course had to create one for the adults too. And if you don’t feel like reading, just skip to number 33.
1. Make a Custom Hand Washing Poster
Don’t feel like singing Happy Birthday twice each time you’re at the sink? Head to Wash Your Lyrics to select your preferred song (and soap type), then generate your very own printable poster.
2. A Night In at the Opera
In case you haven’t heard by now, The Met is streaming nightly operas.
3. Get Fit
Planet Fitness is offering free at-home workouts, no membership required. Or try Peleton’s 90-day free trial (no bike needed). If you do have a stationary bike, try searching for a POV video on YouTube that you can peddle along to. And here’s a more comprehensive list of free streaming workouts.
4. Brush Up on Your Academics
It’s never too late to learn something new. Try MIT Open Courseware or any of these 450 Ivy League courses.
Photo by Dan Gold
5. Learn a New Language
Venture out of your comfort zone and try a different language. Search for free tutorials on YouTube, or opt for services with paid and trial options such as DuoLingo and Rosetta Stone.
6. Go to a Virtual Art Show
New York galleries, including David Zwirner, JTT, Ortuzer Projects and Spencer Brownstone, are currently offering virtual viewings.
7. Be a Tourist In Your Town
The NY Landmarks Conservancy has a cool video series that introduces you to numerous historical sites around the city.
8. Get the Netflix Party Extension
Sync your Netflix with your friends—and group chat as you watch.
9. Host a Virtual Dinner Party or Happy Hour
Coordinate a time to eat or have some wine with friends and loved ones using FaceTime, Zoom or Google Hangouts.
Photo by Denys Nevozhai
10. Catch a Broadway Play Online
The show must go on! So more and more theatre companies are streaming performances for free.
11. Try a Cultural Activity
Here’s a large spreadsheet of various cultural events and classes that are taking place.
12. Get Entertained By a Celebrity
Actors, singers, comedians and chefs are doing all sorts of things to keep you entertained.
13. Do Some Puzzling
Crosswords, jigsaw, Rubik’s cube, brain teasers, cryptograms, sudoku—anything to keep your mind engaged.
14. Treat Yourself to a Spa Day In
Pamper yourself with a DIY face mask, bubble bath, a blowout or mani-pedi.
15. Write Something
Draft a story, movie script, play, poem or handwritten letter. Bonus: Learn calligraphy.
Photo by Kari Shea
16. Cook and Bake
Search for your favorite chef or type of cuisine on YouTube and you’re sure to find a video to guide you along. For daily ideas, sign up for The New York Times Cooking newsletter, and head to the NYT Cooking Community on Facebook for more tips, tricks and advice. (Bonus: Check out the Times’ new At Home section with lots of ideas on how to stay busy.)
17. Organize Your House
We all have some piles of clothes we’ve forgotten about, intimidating mounds of Tupperware with lids strewn about, junk drawers and paper stacks. Now’s a great time to organize them.
18. Craft with Friends
FaceTime a friend or two and get crafting. Try candlemaking, knitting, woodworking, coloring, drawing or anything else you can think of.
19. Read
Step away from the screen and curl up with that book or magazine you’ve been meaning to start. Bonus: Start a virtual book club.
20. Transcribe Library of Congress Documents
Feel like doing something for the good of humanity? The Library of Congress welcomes volunteers to transcribe various historical documents.
21. Go on Virtual Disney Rides
Relive your childhood “It’s A Small World” experience by taking a virtual Disney ride.
22. Redecorate and Organize
If your living room, bedroom or kitchen is starting to feel too familiar, switch things up a bit. Explore these decorating ideas, move your furniture around, swap out the photos in your frames or reorganize your cabinets to refresh your home’s interior.
23. Give Your Home a Thorough Spring Cleaning
The ultimate spring cleaning list, this is sure to keep you occupied for days.
24. Meditate
Self care is always important but right now it’s especially useful when it comes to keeping COVID-19 anxieties at bay. Try a meditation app for relaxation guidance.
25. Attend a Live Stream Concert
Billboard is kind enough to keep a master list of live streaming concerts for all the music lovers out there.
Photo by Sarah Brown
26. Identify Plants
Try an app like PlantNet or a site like the USDA Plants database to identify and learn more about some of nature’s treasures.
27. Start a New Hobby
If you’ve ever considered yoga, bread making, guitar or singing lessons, making a family tree or anything else that can be done in your home, now’s an ideal time to give it a whirl. Many instructors are sustaining their income by offering virtual classes but you can likely find free ones online too.
28. Study the NYC Subway Map
Learn the history of your favorite subway map, thanks to The New York Times.
29. Visit a New York Museum Online
Take a virtual trip to one of your favorite NYC museums.
30. Share Your Skills
Have a knack for working out? Baking? Playing piano? Make a how-to video or host an online class to share your skills with others.
Photo by Lorenzo Spoleti
31. Sing Along with a Marie’s Crisis Pianist
Partake in a nightly Marie’s Crisis sing-along from the comfort of your home by attending a live-streaming set. You can even tip the pianists!
32. Complete Something You’ve Put Off
We all have to-do lists with unchecked items—there’s never been a better time to tackle them.
33. Idea Generator
When all else fails, head to Bored on Quarantine for a new random idea with every click.
