With the CDC and many local governments still urging people to social distance as much as possible, most of us are continuing to spend more time at home than ever before.
While staying home is a great chance to catch up on those home projects you’ve been putting off or to work on hobbies you always said you wanted to try, it can also be very isolating. But with the right tech, you can stay connected with friends, family, and even your local news, without ever leaving your home. Keep reading to learn three simple ways to help you do just that.
Make Sure Local News is Just a Click Away
From watching the latest numbers on COVID-19 to rising unemployment, watching the news might be the last thing you feel like doing at home. But if you’re like most people, tuning into your local news might be your only way of staying up-to-date on the latest current events, including news that could directly affect you and your well-being.
Before COVID-19 drove us all to stay in, you could likely keep up on the news just by chatting with coworkers and friends or maybe by listening to the radio on your daily commute. Without those sources, if you choose to stay away from the news at home, you could be left vulnerable if your area is struck by severe weather, if a boil advisory is put into place, or if other important news, like updates on where you have to wear a mask, are released.
Luckily, keeping up with the news at home is a breeze. Whether you choose to watch local weather channels by streaming them to your TV or laptop or prefer downloading apps to your phone and tablet, you can stay connected with the world, even if you’re currently sheltering at home.
Utilize Free Video Call Options
Worried about running out of minutes on your cell phone plan, but don’t want to lose touch with family and friends? There are plenty of free video call apps that can help with that.
From Zoom to Skype to Google Hangouts, all you’ll need is a Wi-Fi connection and you can instantly call your friends or check in with family from home. Even Facebook offers a video chat option. Choose to turn on your camera and you can share a family game night, cook a meal together, or just enjoy a video chat. Or, turn off your webcam to enjoy a more traditional phone call without burning a single minute on your cell plan.
Watch the Latest Hits with Friends
There’s no denying that “Tiger King” is now a household name and likely one that will be talked about alongside the spread of the coronavirus for years to come.
Whether you’ve yet to catch up on the drama or other popular Netflix releases, now is a great time to do so. And while you’re at it, invite some friends or family to join you using Netflix Party. This new feature synchronizes playback between several Netflix accounts so that you can watch in time with one another and pause it as needed. You’ll also get an added group chat so you can discuss your favorite shows in real-time. Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean that you can’t be building lasting memories with your loved ones!
Staying Connected While Staying Home
Staying home to keep yourself and others healthy doesn’t have to mean getting cut off from the rest of the world. By streaming local news, chatting with friends and family over video chat, and maybe catching up on the latest shows with your pals in real-time, you can stay connected without ever leaving your home.
