It goes without saying that we’re all feeling the pandemic fatigue. This past year has been exhausting, and we all wish we could go back to life as we knew it pre-2020. That being said, unfortunately we’re not out of the woods yet. It’s really important that we all stay vigilant in our efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 while vaccination efforts ramp up and we inch closer toward herd immunity.
Where we live in Vancouver, we are now entering our 3rd wave. Many provinces in Canada are heading back into lockdown and we know a lot of people are in the same position in different parts of the world. It’s important we do our part to keep the virus and its dangerous variants under control, and so we once again find ourselves looking for creative ways to entertain ourselves while staying safe.
Today we’re sharing our top 8 tips for getting through this home stretch:
Find Quiet Outdoor Spaces
There are still plenty of activities to do outside safely either by yourself or with your core bubble (distanced and/or masked). If you’re finding your usual outdoor spots are overcrowded, you might need to get creative and look for some lesser-known parks and green spaces nearby. Go for a nature walk, play a game of tennis, do an outdoor workout, go hiking, have a park picnic, or try rollerblading! Getting some fresh air and connecting with nature is a great way to lift your spirits during these tough months.
Catch Up on Award Season Films
If you’re staying home and you need something new to watch, there are so many great films out right now! Many of them are available on subscription streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Crave. Some of our must-see recommendations from this past year include Promising Young Woman, Judas and the Black Messiah, Nomadland, One Night in Miami, Minari, Pieces of a Woman, Sound of Metal, and The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Send Some Snail Mail
One perk of knowing friends and family aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, is you know they’ll be home to receive a card or letter in the mail. Bonus points if the letter is hand written or you make the card yourself! At this point it feels like we’re all getting a bit tired of FaceTime and Zoom, so why not send something special in the mail to brighten someone else’s day.
Cook or Bake Something New
After 12 months at home we’ve definitely tired of our go-to Uber Eats orders, so we’ve been working on getting more creative in the kitchen lately with exciting new recipes. Try looking up a recipe for something you wouldn’t normally make, and give it a try! YouTube is a really great resource if you need some ideas or a little extra guidance. Some of the new meals we’ve tried lately are vegan “beef” bourguignon, vegetable coconut curry, and plantain and black bean burrito bowls!
Listen to Music
When was the last time you just sat and listened to music? Like actually listened? The other day we cuddled on the couch and sang along to a 90s playlist on Spotify and it was so much fun. We loved listening to all the songs from our childhood that are burned into our memories, and it really helped get our minds off of everything for a little while. Highly recommend this activity as it’s something none of us do nearly enough!
Do Some Online Vintage Shopping
One of the things we really miss doing this year is going to thrift shops in person. It’s so much fun to sift through vintage clothing and find all the gems! Luckily there are some great online thrift stores like Poshmark and Thred Up where you can find all kinds of cool vintage items from the safety of your home. Online consignment is a great way to shop secondhand and we’ve had so many great finds! If you aren’t able to go out to the shops where you live, this is a great alternative.
Re-Decorate and Re-Organize Your Living Space
One of the the things that has really helped us over this past year is keeping our home a space that is cozy, productive, organized, and energizing. We’ve done everything from painting, to building furniture, putting up artwork, and ordering lots of plants. If we’re going to be stuck here at home, it’s really important that this is a space that we enjoy! There are so many things you can do to spruce up your home, even on a really small budget. Sometimes just moving things around and re-organizing your belongings can make your space feel fresh. Find some inspiration on Pinterest and map out a few projects to focus on each month!
Chat With New Friends on Clubhouse
Clubhouse is a new audio only social media app, where you can rest your typing fingers and just chat with like-minded individuals in different rooms. Topics range from photography, to travel, to LGBTQ+ safe spaces, and more! Clubhouse is currently available for iPhone users and is invite only as it’s still fairly new, but it’s a great way to connect with people during this time of isolation. (If anyone needs an invite you can shoot us an email and we can help you get set up!).
We hope you’re all hanging in there, and hopefully this list gives you some ideas on how to keep yourself entertained and feeling your best during these tough months. This is such a crucial time in the pandemic, and if we can all stay the course we can get through it!
If you missed our list at the beginning of the pandemic, you can check it out here.
What are some of your favourite activities to keep your spirits up right now? Let us know in the comments!
