Maybe you’ve already signed up for a free on-line course at Harvard (yes, they do exist!) or you start every day with a 30-minute Tai Chi session on YouTube. If so, well done! But if you’re like many of us, you’re looking for ways to be more active—both physically and mentally. We thought it was a good time to share some resources available online to help you start moving more, learn new things and generally be happier and healthier in 2021. After all, our New Year’s Resolutions might look little different this year.
Emotional Well-Being and Coping during COVID-19
- https://psychiatry.ucsf.edu/copingresources/covid19#h – wide range of resources—how to improve your sleep to where you can join a virtual meditation.
- https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/coronavirus-anxiety-resilience.html “How to Build Resilience from the Stress of the Coronavirus”.
- https://www.va.gov/PREVENTS/docs/PRE013_FactSheets_IsolationLoneliness_508.pdf – articles collected from a wide range of sources that tackle practical issues like “The Art of Socializing During a Quarantine”.
Challenge and Stimulate Thinking Skills
- https://www.assistinghands.com/20/illinois/hinsdale/blog/best-online-games-for-seniors/ Online diversions to be played alone or with others as well as hands-on games and puzzles.
- https://www.edx.org/ free university courses from Harvard, MIT, The Sorbonne, University of California system, Australian National University, etc.
- https://www.openculture.com/freelanguagelessons: practice/learn new language skills to get ready for your next trip.
Virtual Museum Tours and Art Classes: many of the world’s most famous museums now offer free virtual tours.
- https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-10-art-history-classes-online-free– until we are able to travel again, these classes will help you engage and learn more about the background and insights into art.
- https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/may/14/zoom-art-classes-online- create your own art with classes available on Zoom.
Physical Activities: Plethora of web sites offering a chance to Zumba with friends, practice your tango steps or sweat through a boot camp. Many are free, others offer a week or more at no charge followed by a required subscription.
- https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/09/29/creative-ways-to-exercise-during-the-pandemic
- https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/exercise-during-coronavirus.htm
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/reviewedcom/2020/04/02/best-online-fitness-classes-working-out-home/5067270002/
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/fitness/a31792038/coronavirus-live-stream-
- https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/free-home-workouts/
Volunteering During a Pandemic
- https://www.volunteermatch.org/virtual-volunteering
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a34288060/virtual-volunteer-opportunities/
- https://www.pointsoflight.org/virtual-volunteering-opportunities/
- https://createthegood.aarp.org/volunteer-ideas/virtual.html This site was especially interesting because it includes a series of questions that will help you figure out what sort volunteering meets your needs.