As the UK begins a slow relaxation of its lockdown rules, the ‘stay alert’ message means that many of us will still be working from home, self-isolating, or shielding.
And whilst exercise has become unlimited for those permitted to leave the house, many will be remaining in a state of isolation, cut off from family, friends, and loved ones.
Thankfully, even when stuck at home, there are many ways to stay connected with the outside world.
Since lockdown began groups of friends, internet communities of like-minded individuals and complete strangers have been coming together to help us remain mentally well, physically fit, and socially active.
Whether you want a night at the theatre, a pub quiz or just to discuss the latest must-read novel, here’s your guide to staying connected in lockdown.
1. Take your social life online
The internet provides an almost limitless number of ways for us to stay connected during these difficult times.
For those working from home, the novelty of a Zoom call or Microsoft Teams meeting might have worn off, but video calls can play a vital part in keeping families together too.
Age UK – amongst others – has provided online training courses on video calling using Skype, FaceTime, and WhatsApp. If you or an elderly relative are struggling to stay connected, make that your first stop.
Once you’re up and running, a ten-minute FaceTime chat can easily replace the usual telephone catch-up with a friend or family member and can make all the difference if you’re feeling isolated. But, why stop there?
Use the same software to make a night of it. Family and friends have been getting together for virtual night’s out, engaging in everything from Wine and Cheese evenings to inter-family quizzes and poetry readings.
Get creative and the humble video call can give you that much-needed social contact as well as proving great fun.
Also, remember that the internet can help you stay fit and healthy even whilst you’re stuck at home. Self-appointed ‘nations PE teacher’ Joe Wicks continues to provide daily workouts on his YouTube channel.
If that’s not for you, yoga and Pilates classes are also available from sites such as POPSUGAR.
2. Join a book club
If you’re an avid reader but usually consider it a solo pastime, why not take your passion online during these unprecedented times and join a book club.
Better yet, start your own.
Carefully select a group of friends, pick a book, and settle down to read. Then meet up back on Zoom or Skype the following week to dissect and appraise your chosen book. You might find yourself revisiting certain chapters or re-examining key characters in light of points raised during the group discussion.
If you’re looking for book club recommendations, look to the 2020 British Book Awards. They may have been postponed until the end of June due to coronavirus but their shortlists have been announced.
Nominated books in the fiction category include Margaret Atwood’s follow-up to her hugely successful The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments, and the sequel to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris.
The British Book Awards honour debut novels, children’s literature, and non-fiction, so you should be able to find something for everyone.
3. Live-streamed theatre
The lockdown has come as a massive blow to theatres and cinemas and the whole of the entertainment industry, but many venues and organisations have been meeting the challenge head-on, providing world-class content for free via internet live-streaming.
The National Theatre At Home is streaming weekly performances on its ‘National Theatre At Home’ pages. Amongst those still to come include Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire starring Gillian Anderson and Tom Hiddleston taking the title role in Shakespeare’s Coriolanus.
Performances are only available for a limited time, so check in regularly to be sure you don’t miss any.
Leicester Curve is making its regional theatre accessible to a global audience, putting archive performances on its site for a limited time and free to stream. Current choices include Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest and Joe Orton’s What the Butler Saw.
Finally, past performances from the Met Opera have been made available as part of a weekly schedule whose upcoming works include Puccini’s Tosca and Verdi’s Otello.
Arrange for family or friends to watch the same live stream and you’ll have a shared theatre experience from your own armchairs, and plots and performances to dissect during your next video call.
