Free and Cheap Resources to Keep You Entertained, Productive, & Healthy While Social Distancing
What to do Online While Social Distancing
Stuck at home, struggling to find ways to pass the time while social distancing? This post has loads of free and cheap online resources that will help you make the most of social distancing. Learn how to stay entertained, healthy, and productive while self-quarantined. COVID-19 may have halted travel and in-person get togethers but there’s still tons of online options to stay connected, have fun, be healthy, and support small businesses.
While most options are not location-specific, I’m a New Yorker so I’m also including a lot of digital events from New York City businesses. If you’re from New York, this is a great way to enjoy and support some of your favorite businesses. If you’re not from New York, it’s a unique opportunity to take part in some of the activities that make this city so special.
I’ll be updating this post every few days with new options so be sure to check back. If know of a good option that I missed, please drop a comment below so I can add it to the post. Thank you!
Should you wish to travel with me to Jordan, Mexico, or Cuba this fall when travel resumes, please check out my upcoming group trips.
Happy and safe social distancing!
STUFF TO BUY
Some retailers are offering timely products to use now or limited-time sales on products you’ll want to have once travel resumes and life returns to normal. Drop a comment below if you’re aware of any.
Toilet bidets are getting more popular as toilet paper grows scarce. Many bidets on Amazon are sold out so I recommend Tushy, which is the bidet I use!
The North Face is offering up to 30% select shoes and gear.
Le Creuset is offering up to 50% off new kitchenware items for the first time ever.
Uncommon Goods has great deals on cooking equipment, home goods, and decor.
Chewy is offering 30% off your first auto-shipment for pet food and supplies.
Etsy lets you find unique, handmade products directly from independent entrepreneurs.
Target has tons of Easter stuff on sale for 20% off. Get that candy!
Plants.com is offering some plants 20% off to brighten up your home.
Zenni has great, cheap eye glasses & sunglasses since optometrists are closed. $5 off.
Also check out my Amazon Travel Store, where i have lots of recommendations for travel-related products that can help you prepare for and and look forward to your next trip. There’s also a special gift category for items to send to travel lovers in your life.
ONLINE DISTRACTION
Looking to binge-watch TV and movies on Netflix, Hulu, or HBO to help pass the time while social distancing? Here are some options to consider, including some free trials.
TV and Movie Subscriptions
Amazon Prime 30-day trial (including video)
Roku streaming is cheaper than cable
Music
Met Opera live streams daily at 7:30pm EST and is available another 23 hours
Rockwood Music Hall is offering daily live music streaming (and accepting donations)
Quizzes and General Fun
Live cams to see nature and animals all over the world.
Fun quizzes on any topic.
COOKING + BAKING
With restaurants closed and more time to cook at home, now’s a great time to get in the kitchen. Here’s links to some sites offering great cooking equipment and appliances.
Food52 offers great cookware and bakeware.
Caraway makes beautiful cookware and offers a 30-day trial and FREE returns.
Bed, Bath, & Beyond has EVERYTHING for the home and gives 20% off if you join their newsletter.
MasterClass offers cooking classes with pros like Gordon Ramsey and is offering buy-one-get-one on annual membership.
Le Creuset is offering up to 50% off new kitchenware items for the first time ever.
Uncommon Goods has great cooking items like unique cutting boards, pepper grinders, serving dishes, and sourdough starters. They also have an eco-friendly collection.
Etsy sells all-things handmade. I ordered this adorable recipe book and love it!
DELIVERING HAPPINESS
Gift delivery services can help connect you to others even while social distancing! These merchants have great products to send loved ones for birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day, and just to show you care.
Goldbelly allows you to order from your favorite restaurants online
Plants.com is offering some plants 20% off to brighten up your home.
Target is going on the list because it’s my sister’s favorite store. They also sell the Cuba guidebook I wrote. Just sayin’. :)
FITNESS + WELLNESS
Staying active is extremely important to our physical and mental health. Experts are saying you can still go outside to exercise, just don't be around big groups. I've been enjoying solo bike rides and long “urban hikes.” Really it’s just fast walking but it makes my butt sore so I’m going to call it a hike. To workout indoors, check out the following options. Note that if you don’t want to be charged, you may need to unsubscribe before the trial runs out.
2-weeks free of Headspace meditation if you sign up for annual membership (you can delete before being charged)
LEARN SOMETHING NEW
Language Learning
Rosetta Stone is has a big sale and now is a great time to learn a new language or brush up on whatever you learned back in high school.
Read a Book
Many public libraries across the country (including my beloved Brooklyn Public Library) offer digital books you can check out virtually and enjoy at home.
Online Courses
Coursera offers classes on just about any topic, from science and health to history and philosophy. Many courses have a fee but here are free courses. They also have a new annual plan for only $399.
MasterClass offers classes with professionals like Gordon Ramsey, Martin Scorsese, RuPaul on cooking, acting, filmmaking, self-expression, and photography. They’re currently offering buy-one-get-one on annual membership.
Sundance Master Classes are now free. The courses are craft-base and can help you improve your story telling, pitching, writing, and film making skills.
Online Tours & Talks
Turnstile Tours is offering live virtual experiences every day about all things New York City, including iconic New York City markets, distribution centers, restaurants, and topics like wartime production and telling Brooklyn’s story through the US Census.
The Green Space at WNYC (New York City’s awesome public radio station) is offering online events and talks ranging from classical music to sex worker discriminaliztion.
Brooklyn-based Greenlight Bookstore - who does not carry my Cuba by Bike guidebook :) - hosts multiple live talks with interesting authors every week.
Learning for Kids
Scholastic has loads of books, worksheets, games, and activities for kids.
Really Good Stuff offers games and activities that sneak fun into learning.
ART CLASSES
Here’s 10 free University art classes you can take online.
Download free coloring pages from around the world.
PODCASTS
Podcasts are a great way to escape all the depressing Coronavirus news out there and there’s podcasts on every topic imaginable. I suspect with all the increased downtime, everybody and their mother will be launching a new podcast in the coming months. Here are a few of my personal favorite podcasts. Drop a comment below with your favorites!