ad collaborative post // You probably heard the omicron variant is making headlines. Will the COVID-19 pandemic ever end? It’s impossible to tell how long taking precautions will remain necessary. Still, you should do what you must to safeguard your health and that of your family. Here are eight winter activities to stay connected while social distancing.
Why You Should Still Practice Social Distancing According to some news reports, the omicron variant may be even more contagious than delta, creating the need for additional restrictions. National and local governments continue to take action to stem new infections.
Symptoms of infection include cough and shortness of breath, fever, chills, muscle pains, headaches, sore throats, and loss of taste or smell. Signs may appear anywhere from two to 14 days following exposure. You should continue to quarantine if you know you were exposed to someone with the virus or if you develop any of the above symptoms. You can find both in-person and at-home COVID tests to check your status.
8 Winter Activities to Stay Connected While Social Distancing
You should also keep your distance if you are medically vulnerable. You simply don’t know. While it’s rare, even fully vaccinated and otherwise healthy individuals have succumbed to COVID-19. Please don’t become a statistic when you can still have fun and socialize this winter while social distancing.
1. Cross-Country Skiing
You can go cross-country skiing with a partner while you remain six feet apart. This sport will blast your quads and hamstrings like few others. You’ll also burn a ton of calories — as many as 460 calories per hour.
2. Sledding
Remember the joy of pulling your Flexible Flyer up the slope only to zip down it like Chevy Chase in “Christmas Vacation?” Guess what? You can still enjoy this sport as an adult. You’ll burn just as many calories and have as much fun, all while social distancing — as long as you don’t double up on the toboggan.
3. Ice Skating
You don’t have to hold hands on the ice — you can maintain a sensible distance and still skate together. If you don’t own a pair of skates, many facilities let you rent them. You’ll find both indoor and outdoor rinks. Is there anything more romantic you could do this holiday season than carve figure-eights in the frosty stuff at Rockefeller Center in front of the giant tree?
4. Online Games
If you’re a diehard gamer, rejoice! The pandemic was likely a wonderland for you in many ways, and you don’t have to give up all that sweet screentime just yet.
Just about every popular gaming platform allows you to connect virtually with other players all over the globe. Text your friends for a match or play with random strangers. If you’re a parent, take the proper precautions, of course. You should monitor or block the chat channels to prevent your little ones from falling prey to an online predator.
5. Virtual Bake-Off
You’re a regular FaceTime master by this point in the pandemic, right? Why not put those tech skills to use in the kitchen?
Invite one of your distant friends or family members to a bake-off. You’ll have to get a bit creative with the judging. You can see who does the best job of cake decorating, but you might have to agree that you’re both the winner when it comes to taste.
6. Virtual Dance-Off
Do you have little ones at home? Here’s a fun activity you can do as a playdate — all via the joy of FaceTime or Zoom. You could also head to the playground and have your dance-off in the great outdoors. Wear a mask and stay six feet apart.
7. Volunteering
Guess what? You don’t have to sign up to help out at a soup kitchen in-person. There are plenty of organizations that need helpers from home. Doing so increases your feel-good neurotransmitter levels and improves your mood. You’ll also meet new people who care about the same causes you do.
8. Collaborative Storytelling
Do you love to write but struggle to do so solo? Thanks to Google Docs, you don’t have to go it alone. Why not try collaborative storytelling with some of your similarly creative friends?
You can set up any rules you like, but all you’ll need is a shared Google document. You could take turns writing a page, a paragraph, or even a sentence each. Keep adding every day, and you’ll collectively finish the Great American Novel before you know it.
Stay Connected While Social Distancing
The omicron variant brings yet another twist in the ongoing pandemic saga. Stay connected while social distancing with these eight winter activities.
My 10 year old granddaughter and I do collaborative writing. ❤️🦋🌀
These are some awesome winter activities that are helpful with restrictions starting to be put back in place similar to last winter! I really love skiing with my family and even with covid we’ve been able to given the distance. Online baking sound like something I’d love to try with my bestie!