You (and most of the rest of the world) are in quarantine, in a hiding place, or some other form of lockdown, which means your usual entertainment is probably off the cards. At some point, even the shyest people may go crazy after a while, especially if you have children locked inside. 

The good news is that the Internet reacts with more social networking opportunities than ever, including ways to connect with other people through various games. These are all ways to create your sense of community, even if you live by yourself. 

We have come up with some of our favorite ways to stay entertained if you're quarantined or social distancing yourself in the coming weeks.

                                                                                                                                                 Photo by Charles Deluvio 

Due to the US government encouraging social distancing to slow the spread of the disease, artists have tried to find a way to share their talent. 

Artists such as Pink, Chris Martin from Coldplay, Keith Urban, the Death Cab for Ben Gibbard from Cutie's, and John Legend broadcast live concerts on Instagram. 

Rob Thomas from Matchbox Twenty, who also announced the session, tagged many other artists to encourage them to do the same. The American DJ Diplo will be hosting nightly music streams. 

 

                                                                                                                                             Photo by Jens Kreuter

The Metropolitan Opera broadcasts free nighttime operas, while people isolate themselves. The Grammy Museum hosts some of the recordings of "Questions and Answers" by artists such as Billy Aylish, Brandi Carlisle, and Greta Van Fleet. 

The initial deployment will include nine artists. All of the sessions were filmed at the 200-seat Clive Davis Theatre inside the museum located at LA Live. Also, the Metropolitan Opera will feature the Nightly Met Opera streams. 

“Animal Crossing: New Horizons” appeared on the Nintendo Switchboard on 20 March. Players are immersed in all aspects of peaceful island life. The social aspect of the game made social distancing a little easier.  

Players even moved to another level and started decorating their homes to make them look like a tropical island from which to leave. 

Simple in-game activities such as growing fruit, planting flowers, researching, designing rooms, and spending time with friends can calm players down.

Thanks to technology, spending a day in a museum is still an option, even if you can't leave home. The list of 12 museums offering virtual excursions includes "Travel and Leisure." 

You can visit famous places in the USA or abroad in Seoul, Berlin, Florence, and other places. 

You can also get your art fix with the Google Arts and Culture app for iPhone and Android. 

The app allows you to browse your paintings in AR, read on your masterpieces, and find your famous double painting. Also, check out what you can find in Google Maps if you are in the mood to explore. Georgia Aquarium and Monterey Bay Aquarium have turned on webcams so that you can still watch otters, fish, and penguins without the crowd.

If you and your family or friends have a Netflix account, you could arrange a time to watch a series or movie synced together. The free extension Google Chrome, called Netflix Party, synchronized video playback so you can play and pause at the same time. 

 

                                                                                                                                         Photo by freestocks

It also has a feature for a group chat, so you can hold a conversation while watching. However, each party member must have a Netflix account, so it is not entirely free.  

Some of us reserve cleaning for the weekend, but if you're stuck at home, you probably have extra time. 

There is a list of things you can do. Maybe you want to disinfect your house, phone, car, and even your dryer and kitchen sink. 

 

                                                                                                                                      Photo by The Creative Exchange

Also, learn to clean smarter rather than harder and in all the places you shouldn't forget to clean. While you're cleaning, don't forget to clean up your appliances as well. 

If you're similar to me, you have more than enough books on your shelves and tablets to keep you busy for a while. 

However, you can also quickly buy or borrow books, magazines, and newspapers on Nook, Kindle, and the Apple News app for iOS. 

However, be careful. While digital books are often sold at a discount, their price can still increase if you're a reader.

 

                                                                                                                                              Photo by Christian Wiediger

You can also download free e-books on your tablet, computer, or phone. Websites such as Authorama and Project Gutenberg make hundreds of works in the public domain available for download, including "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, "The Secret Garden" by Francis Hodgson Burnett, and "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll. 

Playing video games is another way to pass the time if you're stuck at home. You also have the option of an online sports betting odds website. Besides games that you may already own or have downloaded from PlayStation or Microsoft Store for Xbox, there are other ways to play.

If you are looking for a gaming experience, Google Stadia and Apple Arcade streaming services are worth a try for their exclusive content. Google also offers Play Pass for more affordable games (compared to Stadia). 

Also, NASA has released a game for Mac and iOS called NeMO-Net, in which players can virtually travel through the seabed on a ship called Nautilus, identifying and classifying any coral you encounter. 

The most interesting thing is that when you play the game, you help NASA with data and research. The game helps to teach the supercomputer Pleiades in Ames to recognize corals from any image of the ocean floor. 

Relaxing on the sofa can be fun, but after a while, you can get restless. There are dozens of virtual fitness programs to choose from at home, but ultimately it's all about finding the one you like and the one that fits your lifestyle. 

Some fitness applications, such as FitOn, are free and have features that other applications will charge for. 

Other apps, such as Pocket Yoga, have free features but require a subscription for a full experience. You can also train from Google Home or on YouTube.

Training at home does not require an expensive home gym. Depending on what kind of workout you want to do, you need to free up a little space. 

For example, resistance training, some barrel, pilates, and yoga exercises require only a few square feet and usually do not require any equipment. 

Also, some Instagram fitness trainers like Jaclyn Ho have started streaming their training live on IGTV, and you might be able to convince your super fitness friend to share their training on Facebook Live. 

                                                                                                                                                           Photo by JD Mason

Pinterest can entertain many people with its aesthetically pleasing paintings and creative ways. While some projects may require some things you do not have at your fingertips, you may find supplies after you organize your crowded closet. 

You can find a project for anyone - whether you want to be creative, organize your kitchen, or keep the children busy.

Sometimes good weather comes early. If you have a yard or planter and get a few sunny days, maybe think about revamping your garden for the summer. 

Being outside can also help to avoid any cabin fever. Helping children with indoor plants is also a fun way to help them stay busy, and unglue them from the screen for some time. 

Sometimes a good search on Wikipedia or Google is enough to keep you busy. What have you always been interested to know more about? 

Choose a YouTube video and click on the suggestions after that. If you need the inspiration to learn more about different fancy themes, watch things like Stuff You Should Know, TedTalks YouTube page, and Atlas Obscura.

After all, life is about being busy with things that make you happy. So do things that make you happy and mentally mobile. 

Stay home and stay safe!