From ordering take-out to watching live orchestras.

It’s been a tough few weeks for us Australians (and the rest of the world). From a toilet paper shortage to major events being cancelled left, right and centre, many of us are feeling uncertain about what’s to come. If you’re like the one of many Aussies who are now working from home or having to self isolate for 14 days, you’re probably thinking to yourself ‘What can I do to make time pass quicker?’ We hear you, and so have many others who have come up with innovative solutions to help the days go by easier.

So whether you’re a big screen aficionado or gym junkie, we’ve come up with a handy guide on some of the best things you can do in the comfort of your own home.

Stream a live opera performance

Many venues across the globe are temporarily closing down due to a ban on mass gatherings. New York’s snazzy Metropolitan Opera however, is not going to let this affect their performances and showbiz personality. They’re taking the virtual centre stage, announcing nightly live-streamed opera performances from its collection.

As of yesterday, the opera will stream a different show each evening called Nightly Met Opera Streams. The entire program will run for 20 hours from 10:30am (7:30pm New York Time), and will include high profile shows such as Bizet’s Carmen. Most exciting of all, the opera is completely FREE and will be streamed in high definition.

Met Opera
https://www.metopera.org/

Order your daily necessities from Deliveroo

In response to those who are social distancing, Deliveroo have just announced that they will be adding kitchen and household products to their delivery services. So that means in addition to having your food delivered, you can now also order from your local shops and supermarkets and have supplies delivered right to your door!

The company have also added a ‘no contact’ drop off option, meaning you can request to have your driver leave your delivery at the front door of your doorstep instead of face-to-face delivery (in case you’re feeling sick or have just returned from a holiday).

Deliveroo
https://deliveroo.com.au/

Celebrate happy hour with a delivered hamper

Who said happy hour was only reserved for in-office days? The team at Everleigh Bottling Co has made every Melbournian’s dream come true with a range of cocktail hampers to ease the transition into spending time at home. The aptly named ‘Happy Hour at Home’ hampers will feature signature single-serve bottled classic cocktails (Martini, Negroni, Manhattan, Old Fashioned), glassware, a copy of A Spot At The Bar, (recipe book written by Michael and Zara Madrusan) and venue gift vouchers from Made in the Shade group.

Hamper deliveries will be available in a range of inner Melbourne suburbs, so those missing their signature after work drinks can recreate the whole experience at home.

Everleigh Bottling Co
https://everleighbottling.com/

Unleash your inner artist with Do Think Share

If you’re stuck for ideas, embark on a creative arts and craft challenge from 64 Million Artists, a two week program full of fun and free creative challenges to do at home. The activities are easy and any materials you might need will be easy to find. You can attempt these challenges yourself or grab a small group (if you’re thinking of any weekend gathering ideas) and try it out together!

Browse through previous creative briefs and have a look at submitted works from other people around the world.

Do Think Share
http://dothinkshare.com/

Hop onto Instagram live for free ‘concerts’

Celebrity artists like John Legend and Coldplay have been trying to alleviate the stresses of social distancing by starting an Instagram live streaming music movement. Chris Martin of Coldplay tweeted “If anyone feels like chatting and listening to some music, I’m going to do a livestream on the Coldplay Instagram,” with John Legend following suit with a livestream of his own and asking his followers for certain song requests.

Wanting to continue the movement, Legend also asked for suggestions of other artists he should “pass the torch to.” You can follow John Legend’s twitter for more information on his movement, and catch a sneaky ‘concert’ or two whilst at home!

Move and exercise with workout programs

Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you can’t exercise! If you’re working from home and can’t make the time to exercise, schedule it into your day and create a small home-gym corner where you can go to relax and relieve stress. Having workouts playing can also keep you moving and motivated. Youtube channels such as Blogliates, Yoga with Adriene and Fitness Blender offer hundreds of free on-demand workouts that you can access right from home.

If time is a constraint, The New York Times have a collection of easy and quick 6 minute workouts that you can choose from.

Take a virtual museum tour

Who doesn’t love exploring museums around the world? Thanks to Google’s extensive Arts & Culture collection, you can be (virtually) transported to hundreds of historical and modern museums around the world. Take a free audio tour of Japan’s Nagoya City Art Museum or Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC. As your tour progresses, you can find more immersive stories to browse.

You can sort all of Google’s collections on a map, including the artwork and posters that hang from the walls of each museum. One example that listeners love: Posters from History’s Greatest Illusionists at the American Museum of Magic.

In case you missed it, read about the events and festivals that are cancelled in Australia.