Recreational Activities for Remote Workers

The workforce is currently going through a global movement to work from home, or work remotely, due to a global pandemic. Humans are accustomed to being social so when we’re told to self-isolate in our homes to help limit the spread of COVID-19, we might think we’ll run out of things to do.

Good news! We’ve created a list of digital activities that will help you get through this period of self-isolation.

Learn a new language:

• Duolingo – A free and interactive language learning app that also comes online dashboard  
• Babbel – Learn real-life conversation skills in the language of your choice for as low as $6.95 a month.
• Lindsay Does Languages is hosting 40-minute “speak easy” sessions via Zoom, in the language of your choice, until the end of March. 

Take an online class or participate in a virtual learning session:

• EdX.org offers free and college credit eligible online classes from top universities – You can audit a class for free or upgrade to a verified certificate from $49 - $100 per class. 
• Coursera is similar to EdX.org - this article explains both.  
• For Children out of school – Scholastic is offering a free learn from home program. 

Increase your leisure activities:

• Netflix Party – Google Chrome has an extension that you can add from Netflix that allows simultaneous streaming with friends. 
• Free Audio books – Here is an article with several different free audio book sites.  There are also audiobooks available on Spotify.  
• Nightly Met Opera Streams - a free series of encore live in HD performances beginning at 7:30pm EDT and will remain available via metopera.org.  
• Explore The Kennedy Center’s Video Library - ballets, comedy chamber music, Jazz, Hip-Hop and more are available.  

Keep up with your fitness routine: 

• Planet Fitness is offering free online workouts. They will live-stream at 7 p.m. ET each day for the next two weeks. And if you can't make it live, the workouts will be available on-demand on Facebook and in Planet Fitness’ YouTube Channel. No equipment is needed, and the classes are 20 minutes or less. 

Places to virtually visit:

• The "Rare Book Room" let's you examine and read about 400 of the greatest books of the world. 
• National Museum of Natural History virtual tours allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room tours of select exhibits and areas within the museum from their desktop or mobile device. 
• Use Google Arts & Culture to look at works of art including exhibitions.  
• See over 40,000 pieces from National Gallery of Art, Washington DC 
• See over 15,000 works from The J. Paul Getty Museum  
• Check out the animals taking field trips at Shedd Aquarium, including the adorable antics of penguins Edward and Annie on Twitter!  

Also, spend your extra time working on those house projects you’ve been meaning to complete and reading those books that have piled up on your bookshelf.