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Self-isolating? Here are some things to keep you busy

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House of Cronies: Take a shot at running the country with this fun, locally created game.
pictures:supplied
House of Cronies: Take a shot at running the country with this fun, locally created game. pictures:supplied

As a means of curbing the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, we have all been urged to stay at home and practise social distancing. The #Trending team has fun and safe ideas for you to explore in the comfort of your own home as we self-quarantine and prevent the rapid spread of the deadly virus. 

BOARD GAMES

Board games are a sure way to bond with loved ones. Favourites include good ol’ Monopoly, 30 Seconds and Scrabble, or one of the local classics, Morabaraba. Alternatively, you could try something that responds to these times. House of Cronies, created by the team behind the award-winning show ZA News, allows you to play the political field, outwit your opponents and win the highest number of votes. Available for R395 at takealot.com – Phumlani S Langa

DIGITAL GAMING

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Digital Gaming pictures:supplied


There isn’t any sport being played in most countries around the world, so we suggest that soccer fanatics glue their eyes to the screens with the latest Fifa game, or the all-time classic Grand Theft Auto V. Consider a subscription to either X Box Live or the PlayStation Network as you can then play against people from around the world online. X Box Live will set you back R160 a month, while its PlayStation equivalent costs R109. – Phumlani S Langa

STREAM MUSIC

Apple Music: R59

Spotify: R59

YouTube Music: R59

SoundCloud: Free

Get some headphones or a decent set of speakers and set them on fire with your favourite sounds. Spotify has Jay Z’s entire catalogue on it, but Apple has a few exciting features, such as Nicki Minaj’s Queen Radio, which has provided some entertaining controversy.

SoundCloud is dope because it’s free, but you do run the risk of encountering records that have not been vetted for quality or authenticity. You can, however, find the instrumentals to a lot of your most enjoyed tracks if you like hearing something you’ve heard, but differently.

You’ll also need YouTube Music, which enables you to play tracks with your phone locked and has no advert interruptions. – Phumlani S Langa

STREAM SHOWS

Two essentials to outlasting this self-quarantine are Showmax and Netflix SA, which respectively charge R99 per month. Movies and series for days with titles such as Game of Thrones and The Wire on Showmax, as well as Venom and almost every Spider-Man movie made on the flix. If you download the application on your computer or phone, you can even download titles to watch later.

Also have a look at our review of the online music platform Colors, which is free to subscribe to. It has an amazing selection of unique sounds from around the world. – Phumlani S Langa

TAKE AN ONLINE COURSE

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Take an online course pictures:supplied

Almost all industries are forced to think seriously about digitising their systems as a result of this quarantine. It might be worth taking up a course such as New Technologies for Business Leaders offered by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US), among many other free courses, or a paid course for $49 (R800), which comes with a certificate.

Platforms such as Udemy, edX and Skillshare offer ways to upgrade your skill set in the comfort of your home, provided you can connect to the internet.

Instead of spending this time in worry and anxiety, channel your energy towards preparing yourself for life after Covid-19. – Welcome Lishivha

COOKING

Many people are often overwhelmed by the creative exercise of creating an elaborate dish from scratch, which, I promise, is incredibly therapeutic and will leave you feeling like a rock star, depending on the outcome. Use this time indoors to bring out your inner culinary genius by trying your hand at new dishes.

Delish.com and Bonappetit.com are some of my favourite sites to scout for delicious, fun-to-make and homely dishes.

– Welcome Lishivha

READ

For those who claim to “never have time to read a book”, self-isolation presents an opportunity to finally catch up ono your reading. Allow your senses to be whisked away to the otherworldly planes of literature. This is also a great time to be informing yourself about Covid-19 to avoid unreasonable anxiety and panic attacks.

Can’t afford a book? Read online through Goodreads.com, which has a wonderful selection of free books. Another good online reading resource is Readprint.com, which offers essays, fiction, non-fiction, plays, poetry, short stories and the classics. – Welcome Lishivha

SPRING-CLEAN YOUR HOME

It’s good to keep harmful germs at bay by constantly washing your hands, not touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and avoiding contact with other people. It’s just as wise to ensure that your sanctuary is spotless, with a spring-cleaning session so that the virus has no chance of growing on the various surfaces in your home. – Phumlani S Langa

DIY EXERCISE

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Make your own medicine ball. pictures:supplied

Keeping your workouts at home is a responsible thing to do. One of the best forms of exercise is lifting a heavy, weighed ball, called a medicine ball. But, they can cost up to R700 if you buy new. Not to worry, you can make your own! You will need sand, a deflated ball (preferably basketball, as it’s thick), a precision knife, clear tape, duct tape, scissors, a big spoon and a funnel. Cut open the ball with a 10cm incision and fill it with sand. When it’s almost full, use clear tape then duct tape to secure the incision on each side. Put the funnel in the now smaller hole and continue filling. When the ball is full, close up with clear tape, then duct tape. Go wild with the duct tape to ensure you have a sturdy ball. Happy lifting! – Mohau Mokoena



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