Helpful Things On the Internet

Since we’re spending so much time at home, and we can’t hang out with friends, we have to rely on the Internet more for entertainment. There are a lot of helpful things on the Internet that are getting me through social distancing, and I wanted to share them with you.

For Your Inbox

1. I subscribed to the Notes from the Universe emails a few years ago. They’re always thoughtful, and more often than not, they tell me exactly what I need to hear on a particular day. Right now, it really helps to read an insightful, reassuring message every morning.
2. Another email that brightens up my inbox is the Girls Night In newsletter. I mentioned this in my post about therapy because it was through a site they recommended that I found my therapist. Girls Night In has always encouraged and embraced the cozy, self-care, introvert lifestyle, but their perspective is especially valuable right now. They have great recommendations and resources, and their team puts a lot of work into their weekly email.
3. If you’re in the phase of isolation where all you want to do is organize things, extend that to your inbox! Unroll.me is a great service that helps you weed out the junk mail and unsubscribe from mailing lists you don’t care about.

Mind + Body

1. One of the things that’s challenging for me about this time is not being able to go to the gym. But, I discovered that there are so many amazing workouts available online. Many apps and subscription services are offering free trials, but you can also search YouTube and have plenty of choices. So far, my favorites have been from 305 Fitness and PopSugar Fitness. I’ve also heard good things about the obé Fitness app, Body by Simone and the Peloton app.
2. If your work days are a little quieter, or you want to flex your creative muscle when the work day is over, this is a great time to brush up on skills or try something new. Brit + Co has a bunch of fun classes, from lettering to cookie decorating (use code SELFCARE to get them for free through 3/31), and check out A Beautiful Mess for photography and social media courses.
3. Just because you can’t be with friends in person doesn’t mean you can’t connect. We’re “getting together” for regular game nights with our friends on Zoom (we use Jackbox Games), and it’s easy to organize a virtual book club or happy hour. It’s such a mood booster to see each others’ faces and be able to laugh together!

I hope this list of helpful things on the Internet makes your social distancing experiencing a little less daunting. It’s difficult, but if we’re willing to adapt and try new things, it doesn’t have to be so bad.