As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread, we’ve all been urged to stay at home to help slow the spread. If boredom is starting to set in, here are some tips for staying fit, keeping in contact and to keep learning.

Keeping in Touch with Loved Ones

While visiting in-person is discouraged, you can still feel like you’re there thanks to video conferencing technologies such as Apple’s FaceTime and Google’s Duo.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with picking up the phone and making a good, old-fashioned phone call. It’s especially important to keep in touch with senior citizens to make sure they’re staying home and that they are well stocked with food and other supplies.

Playing Games with Friends, Virtually

Online gaming is nothing new and you’ll probably find your friends online a lot more frequently now.

Fortnite has been popular for some time and is available on virtually all consoles, including Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS and Android devices. With everyone at home, you’ll usually have no trouble finding a friend online ready to play. Voice chat is built-in to the game so you can strategize (and catch up while gathering loot).

If you have a Nintendo Switch, Nintendo’s Animal Crossing was just released which gives you a virtual world to explore (while we can’t explore the real world).

AARP offers online puzzles such as Mahjongg and Solitaire on their website.

iPhone and iPad users can download “Alto’s Adventure” and “Alto’s Odyssey” for free at the moment thanks to the thoughtfulness of their developers.

Of course, there are plenty of other smartphone games, such as Words with Friends, available in your phone’s app store. You can check the “Top Charts” section to see what is popular.

Update Your Skills

Udemy is a great place to turn if you ever want to brush up on your skills or learn something. Watch for sales as you can pick up many course for under $30.

If you’re looking to learn to code HTML, CSS and other web technologies, FreeCodeCamp is a great resource available at no cost.

If the kids need to some additional help in math or other topics, Khan Academy is a popular resource for students.

Streaming Entertainment

If you’re bored with Netflix, be sure to give the free streaming TV service Pluto TV a try. It organizes online content into a tradition TV listing grid, giving you that cable TV feel without the bill.

Tubi TV is another free streaming entertainment option supported by ads.

So while cabin fever may be inevitable, thankfully there are plenty of resource available to keep you fit and entertained while keeping us connected.