Many of us are about to come into some free time to help flatten the curve of COVID-19 across the country. Last week, our major telecom groups announced they would take away data caps while we are at home. 

For those of us with access to the Internet, we have a world of free resources at our fingertips to pass the time or find a new hobby. 

For the person missing out on a March break trip 

Whether you made the decision not travel or your escape was cancelled, we feel your pain. We might not be able to bring the beach to you, but the world is closer than you may think. 

• Transport yourself to the heart of Paris with a virtual stroll through the Louvre. 
• Enjoy the sights of glowing jellyfish and energetic otters through the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s delightful livestream.  
• Save on the plane fare to check out the Taj Mahal through Google Street View.  

For the person looking to channel their creativity 

So your play was cancelled and dance class is on hold. Not to worry. You can get those creative juices flowing with some help from your favourite artists. 

• Take a dance class from New York City ballerina Ashley Bouder.  
• Treat yourself to a night at the Metropolitan Opera.  
• Grab your laptop and make a dent in that book you always wanted to write. NaNoWriMo is an online challenge to write every day. While this is done each November, you could easily apply the model to a few weeks of self-isolation.  

For the movie buff 

You may not be able to head out to a movie theatre for a few weeks, but you can enjoy a flick without dishing out ten dollars for popcorn. 

• The National Film Board has a ton of titles you can watch for free. We suggest you take a look at the NFB’s Indigenous Cinema website.  
• Checkout the free content on CBC Gem. You can watch Mamandagokwe by local filmmaker Gabrielle Fayant. 

For the person who is trying to cope with anxiety 

The rapid changing nature of COVID-19 is causing stress for a lot of people. It’s okay to be upset by the headlines you are reading. Here are a few resources to help you make sure you feel supported. 

• Give the Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region a call. Their 24/7 phoneline is here to help.  
• Try a free guided meditation to put things on pause, even if just for a few minutes.  

For the foodie who’s ready to serve up new dishes 

We are not encouraging any form of panic buying but if you are in position to shop responsibly, there are a lot of free resources to expand your palette.  

• Check out your favourite chef’s website, they often have a few free recipes for you to try. Now’s the perfect time to learn to cook like Ina Garten, Padma Lakshmi or Chrissy Teigen.  

For the next Stephen Hawking  

You can explore the depths of the ocean to the milky way without ever leaving your couch.  

• Take a virtual tour of NASA’s state-of-the-art facilities. You can visit everything from the Hubble Control Center to the NASA Armstong’s Dale Reed Flight Research Centre. 
• Want to learn how to build a moon base, understand GMOs or follow the life cycle of a black hole? Check out the YouTube channel Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell.  

For the person who needs to keep moving 

While you may appreciate the equipment at the gym, you can get creative and even find a new favourite way to stay active. 

• Start your day off with a body flow led by Yoga with Adriene.  
• Work your way to distance running with Couch to 5k Runner.  
• Get those apartment friendly workouts in with a 14 day plan by Casey Ho.