COVID-19 has been hard on everyone. We’ve all gained that quarantine 15, lacked social connection, and have grown tired of looking at a screen for days on end. Well, I say its time to get our lives back to normal, well as normal as they can be right now. It’s been about 7 months since our “normal” lives stopped. Let’s work on bringing them back socially distanced of course.

Here are 7 ways to be active and socially connected while limiting the risk of COVID-19. 

1. Go outside

Meet your friends on a hiking trail, walking path, or sidewalk. Wear your masks and have a socially distanced walk. It’s a great form of exercise and it allows you to spend time with your friends who you most likely haven’t seen in person. 

2. Do online classes 

There are so many online workout classes available now. They range in price offering subscription-based and you can always find free ones. There is a wide variety of classes such as; full-body, yoga, pilates and barre, equipment required classes, cardio, and so on. There are so many options available, it would be impossible to not find one you loved. Gwyneth Paltrow’s magazine “Goop” wrote an amazing article all about the Best Online Workouts 2020. It has all the details on the best online workout classes in 2020. 

3. Make it a contest 

Using a fitness tracking device such as a smartphone, Fitbit, or Apple watch. You can challenge your friends in weekly competitions. You can track their activity levels. At the end of the week whoever has the most activity wins. It’s a way to stay connected and encourage each other without having to be right there with them. 

4. Social Media 

As we all know by now social media has been a way to stay connected with those that we haven’t been able to see. Well, that is definitely still the case. However, scrolling through social media has become a tiny bit boring. To spice it up a bit start a social media challenge with your friends. Here are some ideas of challenges you can do from The New York Times.  Or for a month you and your friend group can participate in several social media challenges. You post one photo a day on Instagram that goes along with a calendar. 

5. Socially Distanced Photoshoots 

Another fun way to see your friends or let some of that creative energy out is to have a socially distanced photoshoot. Go on Pinterest and start looking for ideas (if you don’t already have some) Find a local location that fits your esthetics for the photoshoot. Find a friend whos skilled with a camera. Plan out all your outfits and discuss ideas for poses you want to capture. When it comes to the day of; do your make-up and hair, wear a mask to the location, and stay 6 feet apart from the photographer. It’s a fun way to capture the time we are currently in and its a great excuse to get out of your sweatpants. 

6. Go, Apple Picking 

If you have any orchids, patches, or farms near you definitely take full advantage of them. Getting outside is so important especially when it’s getting colder outside and we may not be able to get out much longer. So take advantage of it while you can. Head to your local apple orchids and enjoy some time outside in the trees picking some fresh apples. Once you’re done you can bring your apples home and make some pie (or other apple treats). You can also head over to a pumpkin patch. We have no idea what Halloween will look like this year but carving pumpkins will never change. Or if it is too early to carve a pumpkin test your cooking skills and make a pumpkin soup. 

7. Bonfire 

Bonfires are a great way to get out of the house and see some friends. Everyone circles around the bonfire, they bring a blanket, some (spiked) apple cider, and some foods to roast. With the bonfire in the middle, It reminds/forces everyone to maintain that social distance of 6 feet. 

For more information about how you can build an “at home” gym, check out Rebecca Lake’s blog titled “How to build a home gym on a budget.”