The economy is pushing forward with bars, restaurants, cafes and shops slowly reopening around the globe - and while it’s great to see the world regaining some normality, not all of us feel like heading out to our favourite eatery with a group of friends just yet.
For those of you who feel like your brain might combust in anxiousness at the thought of meeting up with a group of people - do not fret. We’ve done the hard bit for you and henceforth present to you an exhaustive list of socially distanced activities to do while you’re waiting for everything to resume to typical hunky doriness.
1. Get Outta Town
While rebuilding the economy is great, the subsequent proliferation of groups of people in streets, shops and parks, ecstatic about being let out of their homes and seemingly catching up with every person they have ever met in their life is… not so great.
The benefits of heading out of the bustling city to the countryside with a couple of close friends (or just one friend, depending on what you’re comfortable with) are twofold; you’ll be visiting a spacious, spread out region where you won’t literally or figuratively run into a hoard of people (little countryside towns are much less populous and way more spread out than cities, meaning you won’t be in the company of every man, woman and child), and you’ll get a moment to breathe in some fresh, relaxing country air (good for the mind, soul and preservation of sanity).
If you’re not too hot on the idea of visiting a cafe or restaurant, you and your pals can grab a takeaway and wander around the village or beach, and taking separate cars up is always an option for those not wanting to be in enclosed spaces with anyone just yet (even friends).
If you live in Australia, check out our Top 5 Aussie Regional Destinations to visit.
Visit the beach for a socially distanced activity far away from other people.
2. Online Murder Mystery
For those of you wanting to stay indoors for the time being, yet still have social needs because you are a human being - we got you.
The kind folks over at AmazingCo have gone ahead and created a completely online (!!) Murder Mystery experience, so you and your friends can catch up by solving a thrilling murder case over video chat, all from home.
No really, you’ll each get separately sent a digital clue set complete with character bios, the case background, and hints on how to start a completely casual, nonchalant and unassuming conversation with that friend who you just know is the criminal. We recommend upping the ante, so to speak, by getting dressed up as your character for the occasion (seeing everyone dolled up on video call alone in their room is an experience in itself) and virtually cracking open a bottle of fine wine with your friends (you know, to help you solve the case).
Online Murder Mystery piqued your interest? Check it out here.
3. Invite One or Two People Around For a Mini Dinner Party
If you’re not too fussed with having a couple people over, an intimate dinner party satisfies the social cravings while keeping things small and safe. You’ll be able to skip the restaurant while still chowing down on a delicious meal with your pals from the comfort of your own home.
If cooking lies somewhere in the distant outskirts of your realm of expertise and tuna pasta is about as fancy as you get in the culinary department (not that there’s a single thing wrong with pasta, let me make myself quite clear), consider asking your friends to bring along a dish of their favourite home cooked meal. By throwing in the word ‘potluck’ it will seem as though you know what you are doing and while you very much could cook up a three course storm, would rather have a variety of dishes for a diverse culinary experience (this will sound very believable).
To make things extra fancy and very restaurant-y, consider lighting all the candles you can get your hands on, and make sure you have plenty of wine and nibbles to get the dinner party started.
Having a small group of people over for dinner makes for a great socially distanced activity.
4. At Home Pub Crawl
While nightlife and eateries are slowly reopening, you might not be feeling up for a beer down at your local watering hole just yet, and frankly why would you, if we told you that you could be going on your own, virtual pub crawl at home with friends over video call?
Yes my good people, you have heard me correct - AmazingCo is bringing the pub experience to your home with their At Home Pub Crawl. It’s basically just as good as it sounds; you and your friends will get together through video chat, and be sent together on an epic pub crawl through your respective homes, stopping to play drinking games, challenges and trivia at each themed room (the mind boggles).
While undoubtedly fun, the experience allows you to stay in contact with friends in a unique way, making you all feel as though you were together (and to be clear, it doesn’t count as ‘drinking on your own’ if your friends are simultaneously doing the same over video call).
Interested in the At Home Pub Crawl? Check it out here.
5. Step Up Your Zoom Game With a Virtual Wine and Cheese Night
If there’s one thing we’ve learned these past few months, it’s that the Internet (while sometimes a dark and scary place) undoubtedly does allow us to stay in touch with others, opening the doors to completely virtual- yet still very much social- communication.
While maintaining social relationships online can be difficult and feeling a little distant from your friends and family is normal (nothing like a literal barrier made from a hard, cold glass screen between you and your loved ones), not all virtual interactions need to be a typical video call. Imitating or transforming a typical social activity into a virtual social activity on Zoom, FaceTime or Skype (is that still around?) can help the interactions feel more normal.
One of my personal favourites is a virtual wine and cheese night (although luckily, the wine is very real). It’s easy to execute; simply video call a friend while both pouring a glass of wine in your respective houses, and spend the time talking, drinking and munching away on some cheese, dips and crackers - just like you would if you were actually together.
A great socially distanced activity is a wine and cheese Zoom call.
6. At Home Movie Night
Some cinemas are starting up again, which is great and all - but you may not want to be enclosed in a room with twenty strangers for two hours just yet.
This doesn’t mean you can’t have a superb movie night from home though; it’s way cheaper (let’s be real - going to the cinema and buying movie theatre snacks adds up to be much more than you remember each time you go) and is also a more low key yet just as fun affair.
Invite a small group of friends over (or just one, depending on how comfortable you feel), add some good old fashioned microwave popcorn to the equation (if you don’t have a microwave - simply mix popcorn kernels with butter and looots of salt and put in a pan with a lid on top until the kernels start popping away), open a bottle of bubbly if you are so inclined and get the movie streaming.
If it’s hot where you are - consider grabbing a couple of light blankets and setting up shop with your laptop in the garden (extra points if you light some tea lights - this sets the scene for ultimate movie night ambiance).
7. Go For A Physically Distanced Stroll
The benefits of going for socially distanced walks with other human beings are twofold; you get to see your friends at a safe, government suggested distance (who thought we’d be saying that at the beginning of the year) and the actual walking makes you feel great (because of endorphins and all that good stuff), letting you get some fresh air and exercise while simultaneously being social.
We suggest (nay, implore) you to drop in at a local cafe to pick up some takeaway coffees or food along the way, making the walk more enjoyable with a hot cup of something or a delicious bite to eat. Plus - you’ll be supporting small, local businesses who have been hit hard and could really be using your help to stay afloat.
If you’re after more ideas to help small businesses survive, check out our blog on how to do so here.
8. Socially Distanced Picnic
If there’s one activity that makes it super easy for you and your friends to stay an arm’s length apart, it’s a picnic out in the fresh air.
And while typical picnics are without a doubt splendid, AmazingCo have designed an array of Mystery Picnic experiences, perfect for small groups of friends wanting to catch up outside in the open instead of quaint cafes and restaurants. But what makes the Mystery Picnic experience so ‘mysterious’, I hear you ask in an inquisitive tone?
Basically, you and your friends will need to solve a number of clues, riddles and hints (delivered to you digitally on your smartphones) leading you to a number of boutique food stores where you will pick up delicious bits and bobs for your picnic basket (making the whole thing like a huge food scavenger hunt).
You also won’t know where your scenic picnic location will be, adding to the mysterious nature of the day.
Can’t wait to try out a Mystery Picnic? Check them out in detail here.
9. At Home Trivia
If you’re feeling the grey cells gradually wilt away due to isolation induced inaction, there’s nothing a game of trivia with friends can’t fix.
And luckily for you, the kind folks over at AmazingCo have created a completely Online Trivia Night. The experience (for which you and your pals won’t even need to leave your respective homes for) brings the typical and good old fashioned pub trivia directly to you - and with a virtual pub quiz master connecting with you and your friends over video call to host the whole thing, it’ll feel just like the real deal.
We recommend taking things to the next level by pouring yourself a beer and (virtually) toasting your friends (and for ultimate pub authenticity, attempting a home pub meal - frozen fries and crumbed chicken strips from the supermarket absolutely counts).
Interested in the Online Trivia Night? Check it out here.
And there you have it;
An exhaustive list of socially distanced activities for those of us who don’t feel comfortable going back to the ‘new normal’ just yet but are still humans who, you know, would like to see other humans too.
Now go forth and socialise!
