Many of us are now entering the second, third or fourth week of restrictions on our movements, and it is becoming ever clearer that overcoming this crisis will be a marathon, not a sprint. As we all collectively adjust to our unique situations, we asked New York Times readers to share their ideas for pursuing the traveler’s spirit of discovery, curiosity and delight within their new limitations at home. Following are their responses, which have been edited for clarity and length.
An artistic exercise in patience
As a child, I was taught ink drawing and I rediscovered my love for it. It requires a lot of concentration and patience. It helped me through a difficult time in life where I felt very anxious about not understanding what’s happening around me. This resonates so strongly today.
— Andre Williams, Montreal, Canada
Painting landscapes of where I want to go once the virus is no longer a threat.
@ameliekurlander, via Instagram
Journey through French music
My Spotify playlist can take me around the world and my personal favorite is definitely French music. The music opens a whole new feeling with a country, which is the perfect “vacation” while studying or being stuck in quarantine.
Some of my favorite French songs are:
These are all kind of basic, but they all remind me of great holidays and the language is, in my opinion, very beautiful.
— Hanneke Bezemer, Brummen, the Netherlands
Support small businesses where you can
Please remember that there are so many people for whom this isn’t a staycation, but unemployment. My husband and I own a small craft chocolate company and we don’t have work or wages for the seven people we’ve had to tell to file for unemployment. We have no sense right now of whether our small business will make it through or not. For those of you who are able to be on staycation, please consider doing some online shopping at independent stores and ordering take out from independent restaurants.
— Elaine, Atlanta
Watching live-streamed operas and virtual museums. The arts have been brought to us!
@ce.l.l.in.e, via Instagram
Beethoven, via Berlin
Concert halls may have been closed to the public, but that doesn’t stop me from “attending” one. The Berlin Philharmonic, for instance, kindly offers concerts on their Digital Concert Hall website free of charge. This year is Beethoven’s 250th birthday, and listening to the composer’s struggle hidden within his music really rejuvenates my mind and drives me forward. Music makes us happier and more optimistic, and staying at home with some music, especially by Beethoven, puts us in another world.
— Neo Hung, Hong Kong
Explore rail trails, nature preserves, parks. Geocaching is also active fun for families!
@laurenmati, via Instagram
Look to the stars
Download the SkyView app to your phone to view distant constellations, nearby planetary objects and more! I love gazing at Jupiter, which is 513 million miles from Earth, in the sky we all share. It reminds me of Earth’s extraordinary beauty and the unity of life.
— Caroline Pedro, Seattle
Zoom karaoke with friends.
@marissa_friedman, via Instagram
Take stock. Breathe.
What is worse right now? Being alone or getting cabin fever (and irritable) with your partner? Since I have no choice — my darling husband died a year and a half ago, after 54 years (not nearly enough!) of marriage — I am thinking hard about the coming weeks and months.
1. Finally edit the zillions of photos on my computer. Consider actually making photo albums for myself or my loved ones.
2. Do some creative writing, especially some short “memoir” pieces my grandchildren would enjoy.
3. Attack my files. Get rid of unnecessary paper and create a better filing system.
4. Take a daily walk and notice the beauty.
5. Deep breathing before getting up and before going to bed.
6. This will last a long time, but not forever.
— Robin Weintraub, Rochester, New York
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