April 14th marked my one-month quaranversay; this was likely the case for many of you. Over the last few weeks I have come to understand my privilege. During an era of uncertainty and fear for people throughout the globe, I experienced uninterrupted work and consistent pay. I also have the luxury of having a comfortable apartment, a nearby grocery store, and a bridge on which I exercise without compromising social distancing. The most obvious burden of this quarantine in my life has been an increased workload, house chores, and trying to be creative with my free time. I do not speak for all, but there is a group of us currently fairing this storm better than others and it behooves us to be aware of this benefit.
This COVID-19 Quarantine Survival Guide (created with the support of other individuals) is a sign of how we are thriving. That said, do not feel guilty; we have been given the extraordinary opportunity and good fortune of being in a position where we can help those that are struggling, those keeping our cities alive on the frontlines, and those managing the services we take for granted. Staying creative outside of a routine is certainly a challenge, so try to use this time to learn, to move, to grow, and to give back – perhaps at the end of this crisis we will emerge with a refreshed sense of responsibility, compassion and wisdom.
Physical Wellness
- Peloton – Free access to their digital app for 90 days including indoor/outdoor running classes, cardio, strength, bootcamp, cycling, and meditation
- Orange Theory – Every day OT shares a 30-min workout showcasing some of your favorite coaches from around the world
- Yoga Down Dog – Free access to all of their apps until July 1st
- Youtube yoga – Try classes anytime with favorites like Brett Larkin, Cat Meffan, and Gayatri Yoga
- Gympass W – Gympass is offering a 60 day free pilot of their at-home wellness platform that includes unlimited access to at-home workouts and classes, nutrition planning, and more
- Local yoga studios – Many of local studios reacted quickly to the effects of social distancing and offer online virtual classes. Check out your studio’s website for updates
Mental Health
- Follow @the_quarantine_collective on Instagram
- Checkout the following apps: Headspace, Calm, Betterhelp and Talkspace
- Ask your company if they offer free subscriptions to the Ginger app
- Dive into religion – if you are a follower of a particular faith who takes solace in those teachings, this is an opportune time to learn more and find relief in a higher power
Volunteer / Donate
- Buy Meals for Healthcare Workers in NYC
- NYC Food Bank or find a Local Food Bank
- Red Cross Blood DriveÂ
- Help Get Medical Supplies
- Meals on Wheels
- Checkout these COVID-19 relief efforts
- Donate airline miles to support American Red Cross COVID-19 relief efforts
Learn
- Watch TED Connects – A free, live, daily conversation series
- Take an Ivy League Course – Many are being offered free of charge for the first time ever
Entertainment
- Stream free Broadway shows
- Live stream concerts with Songkick
- Check out Morning Brew’s Guide to Living Your Best Quarantined Life
Top Shows (collected via survey)
- Tiger King (Netflix)
- Unorthodox (Netflix)
- 100 Humans (Netflix)
- Dirty Money (Netflix)
- Money Heist (Netflix)
- Fleabag (Amazon)
- Some Good News with John Krasinski (Youtube)
- Ozark (Netflix)
- Westworld (HBO)
Top Movies (collected via survey)
- Queen & Slim (Amazon)
- Richard Jewell (Amazon)
- Up in the Air (Hulu)
- The Florida Project (Netflix)
- Okja (Netflix)
- Contagion (Amazon)
- Marriage Story (Netflix)
- The Game Changers (Netflix)
Top Books (collected via survey)
- Sapiens (Yuval Noah Harari)
- Blitzed (Norman Ohler)
- Light on Yoga (B. K. S. Iyengar)
- Little Fires Everywhere (Celeste Ng)
- Exit West (Mohsin Hamid)
- Talking to Strangers (Malcolm Gladwell)
- An American Marriage (Tayari Jones)
- In the Time of Butterflies (Julia Alvarez)
