Self-isolation needn’t be boring, use it as a time to better yourself. Photo credit: Getty
Life under quarantine, or self-isolation, needn’t be boring. Embrace it as an opportunity to get fitter and smarter with our ultimate guide to being a better you…
Keep entertained during self-isolation
Remember all those TV shows you had every intention of binge- watching? Now is your chance to finally have some tidbits for that water cooler chat when offices reopen. In between sofa surfing, get mental stimulation and hit the books, and broaden your vocabulary – Netflix will only get you so far.
What to watch:
Carnival Row Starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, the series is Les Misérables-meets- crime-caper-meets- fantasy. It’s perfect escapism. Amazon
Afterlife The second season of Ricky Gervais’s black comedy drama releases on April 24. It will make you laugh and cry in equal measures. Netflix
The Plot Against America A gripping six-part series based on the Philip Roth novel, that reimagines US history during the second world war, with the country slipping into fascism. HBO
What to read:
Go Ahead In The Rain by Hanif Abdurraqib, a New York Times bestseller documenting A Tribe Called Quest, their music, and the time.
The Mastermind by Evan Ratliff tells the incredible true story of an attempt to bring down Paul Le Roux, a powerful criminal cartel boss.
For cinemagoers feeling like they’re missing out on the latest blockbusters, Universal Pictures is making some new releases available on demand on Sky, Apple, and Amazon. Theater buffs can also get their cultural boost via live streaming with many theaters, philharmonic halls, and opera houses, including New York’s Metropolitan Opera, Vienna’s State Opera, and Berlin’s Philharmonic, offering free streaming in the wake of the coronavirus. Check the websites of your favorite venues to discover what is being streamed – the lists are changing daily as isolation levels oscillate across the globe. You can also follow your favorite band or musician on social media for live free shows. Initiated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, the Together at Home virtual concert series has seen artists take to social media to connect with fans either as a question and answer session à la Justin Bieber or, like Martin and John Legend, via a free gig.
Explore virtual museums:
The Uffizi Gallery, Florence Step inside the home of the Italian Renaissance. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC Home to many historical gems, from Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit to the 1903 Wright Flyer. The Guggenheim, New York Head to Google’s Street View and explore one of the world’s most famous museums.
Use your time in self-isolation to get fitter. Photo credit: @dryp_ae
Get physical
The closing of gyms has caused many to feel sluggish and stir crazy, but staying indoors is no excuse to let your fitness regimen fall by the wayside. Sign up to at- home programs and online classes, including Insanity, Fitness Blender, and The Body Coach. Also, check out the social media accounts of your local gyms and trainers – many are offering free classes on IGTV and Facebook Live. For boxing and yoga, check out @underdogboxn, @jivamuktiwithdina, and @Dryp_ae; for HIIT there’s @barrysuae, @theplatformdubai and @crank.dubai. Motion Cycling in Dubai is also renting out bikes and offering online classes for AED 1000. Mental health should also be considered and meditation and mindful apps are a great way to help you feel more at ease. Insight Timer contains more than 25 000 guided mediations and 2 000 free talks; Shine offers advice and motivation throughout the day; Simple Habit provides guided meditations and bedtime stories.
Learn a masterclass from storyteller Neil Gaiman
Educate yourself
Take an online course, learn a new language, pick up a new skill or take a virtual tour in a museum across the globe. The world wide web puts a wealth of education vices at our fingertips.
Always wanted to be an award-winning director, storyteller, top editor, chef, or distinguished designer? Let Martin Scorsese, Neil Gaiman (right), Anna Wintour, Gordon Ramsay, or Marc Jacobs teach you how on Masterclass.com. Update your CV by upskilling via expert-led learning courses on LinkedIn. From software development to leadership and management and data science lessons, earn a certificate to help you bag that promotion or new job. Once travel bans are lifted you might want to impress people with your multilingual skills on your next holiday after picking up a few phrases via online language courses from DuoLingo, LinkWord and Babbel. Tutti bene!
Podcasts to download
Romesh Ranganathan’s stand-up show in the UAE may have been cancelled, but you can still catch his hilarious bants with famous guests.
Podcast Euro 2020 has been postponed, but thanks to the former England forward you can still get your dose of all things football – plus humorous anecdotes.
Go inside San Quentin State Prison in California – where inmates are under constant isolation – for riveting tales of life behind bars.
Read now: #TogetherAtHome: Stream These Free Music Concerts from Your Couch
