If the coronavirus pandemic has shown us anything, it’s that we can find joy in the little things.
We may not be able to shop our favorite store, but we have so many more options online. Sure, we can’t go to the gym, but streamed yoga sessions are surprisingly fun. And when we can only see faces through our screens, why bother wearing pants?
Thanks to technology, there’s never been a better time in human history to be stuck at home. These online subscriptions can make isolated life a little more fun:
1. Netflix
A Netflix subscription is every bit as essential to your crisis kit as food and medicine. OK, not quite — but it’s still a must when the rest of society is shut down.
At $8.99 per month for a basic membership, Netflix gives you access to more than a 100 million hours of video. With your extra home time, why not settle in for a movie marathon? Start with the 100 best movies on Netflix.
Netflix can do more than keep you entertained. Have you always wanted to learn Spanish? Watch Spanish TV shows with English subtitles. Digital immersion is a better, more fun way to learn a language than a textbook.
2. Nurx
If you’re stuck inside with your partner, this pandemic is the perfect time to restore that spark to your relationship. But with the economy tanking and medical facilities overrun, it probably isn’t a great time for an unplanned pregnancy.
You can still protect yourself without visiting a doctor’s office or pharmacy. Nurx digitally connects you with a medical expert, walks you through your birth control options, and ships contraceptives to your door in discreet packaging. You get refills automatically, just in case the virus decides to stick around.
3. Disney+
Parents, this one’s for you: Disney+ can keep your kids entertained for hours. If you need to get work done, pop on a classic Disney movie and sneak back to your desk.
In addition to the classics, Disney+ has the Star Wars saga, National Geographic explorations, and select Marvel movies. Disney’s service costs $6.99 per month. For extra magic, ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney+ can be had for a total of $12.99 per month.
Take a walk down memory lane with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, or let it go with Frozen. With Disney+, you can remember the good old days every day.
4. Kindle Unlimited
If you’re a book lover, check out Kindle Unlimited. You’ll get access to popular magazines, audiobooks, and e-books on any device with the Kindle app.
Take advantage of Kindle Unlimited’s 30-day free trial. After that, it renews at $9.99 per month. Kindle Unlimited contains more than a million titles, which should keep your mind off the chaos.
If you need to escape the news for a while, research suggests diving into a book is a great idea. In a survey of 4,164 adults, researchers compared readers to non-readers.
Readers reported feeling:
- Happier
- Less depressed
- Less stressed
- More connected to the community
- More aware of social issues and cultural diversity
5. Amazon Prime
Even if your community is not under a stay-at-home order, why risk going into a store when you can order what you need online? An Amazon Prime membership gives you two-day shipping for free. Plus, it gives you access to Prime Video, Prime Music, and discounts at Whole Foods Market.
Realize, though, that there’s been a surge of online orders during COVID-19. You might not get your package in two days, but you’ll still get free shipping on every Prime item.
What if the item you want is out of stock altogether? Amazon says it’s making it a priority to restock household necessities and medical supplies.
6. Epic!
Even if your kids can’t go to school, their education still needs to continue. Subscribing to a digital library is a great way to do it.
Epic! is an e-library for those 12 and under that includes over 40,000 children’s books. With titles like “The Giving Tree” and “Chrysanthemum,” it has all the content your kids could want.
During the COVID pandemic, parents can get Epic! for 30 days for free. Teachers can get free remote student access through June 30, 2020.
7. Spotify Premium
Nothing can get you out of a bad mood faster than your favorite music. If you’re stick of YouTube ads and internet radio stations that can’t figure out your style, invest in a Spotify Premium subscription.
Spotify offers a one-month free trial of its Premium service, after which it costs $9.99 per month. Premium listeners get ad-free streaming, downloadable songs, mobile access, and unlimited skips.
What if you’ve got a few audiophiles in your family? Spotify’s Family plan runs $14.99 per month, which comes with parental controls and up to six accounts.
Nobody said surviving a global pandemic would be easy. But if you stay in and enjoy all of the online services available to you, you’ll be just fine. You might even have a little fun.