Quality quarantine: Best ways to keep yourself entertained while social distancing

Going into quarantine may feel like losing access to some of the most fulfilling forms of entertainment. It means saying goodbye to watching movies with friends, rock concerts and even visits to the zoo, right? Wrong. 

There are still plenty of ways to stay in touch with the boredom-busters you’ve been missing while still being safe and maintaining distance from others. Sit back, relax and make the most of your quarantine with these unconventional ways to stay entertained.  

Group streaming with Netflix Party

Many of us have already submitted to streaming endless hours of television, so why not do it with a friend?

Netflix offers a free add-on where viewers can remotely stream shows and invite their friends to join in on the endless binging action. Break your antisocial slump by sharing a private Netflix Party link with friends, which allows you to watch the same video stream simultaneously and communicate in a chatroom. There’s no longer the need to break quarantine for “Netflix and Chill” because any Netflix viewing experience can become a party from the comfort of your home. 

LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems 

Those looking to return to the simpler days of doodles and coloring books can tune in Monday through Friday to Lunch Doodles with children’s book author Mo Willems. 

In his daily stream, Willems teaches viewers how to recreate characters from his children books such as “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” and “Elephant and Piggie.” His videos, while intended for younger audiences, offer a calming Mr. Rogers-like break to days spent grinding out homework and watching endless Netflix streams. 

Rock out with live concert streams

Concerts and music events around the country have been put on hold until the quarantine is over, but that doesn’t mean artists are ready to stop performing.

All across the country, musical artists and groups are coming together livestreaming the events that their fans are missing out on. Everything from smooth jazz to operas and even rock concerts are starting to make the switch to live. A list of formally announced concerts can be found on the NPR website, but many live event announcements can be found in places like Instagram stories. Tune in to liven up your quarantine and see sweet live shows we thought we’d be missing. 

Watch adorable animals through a zoo cam

Being quarantined may give most people the opportunity to spend lots of quality time with their own fur babies, but for those who need a little extra cuteness to keep them motivated through their social isolation, look no further than zoo cams. 

The San Diego Zoo is one of many that are encouraging people to spend some time with their animals via 24-hour live streams. Whether you’re looking for lions, tigers or bears, you can find it all in these streams. There’s no need to leave your house to visit your favorite furry friends; a visit to the zoo is just a hop, skip and a click away. 

Tour the world’s greatest museums

Right now it may be impossible to go look at great works of art in person, but that doesn’t mean you can’t tour your favorite museums. 

Many of the world’s most famous art and history collections can be accessed online through museum websites. The Vatican offers one of the more in-depth options: an intimate full tour of several of its museums right from your computer. Take the time to dabble through hundreds of years of art without having to dabble past the covers of your bed. 

http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html

Isabella Fortunato is an assistant arts editor and can be reached at isabella.fortunato@ubspectrum.com and @im_fortunato