How to Be a Shut-In Outside
Original image by Vincent Keiman on Unsplash.
Warmer weather and the desire to be outdoors need to be tempered with the safety requirements of social distancing. Consider the following as a rough guide, with the potential to combine activities. And as always, maintain safe social distancing practices (stay 6 feet apart, wear a mask, wash your hands, do not go out if you are symptomatic).
1. Move your screen outside.
With even a small amount of outdoor space, you can create a pleasantly airy movie night. Move your TV outside (use a long extension cord and a power strip) and use a Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick, Roku Stick, or other WiFi device to stream movies. With a small portable projector ($100-$200) you can go even further: rig up a white sheet and make an outdoor theater. You can also connect an external monitor ($90 and up) to a laptop and use that. Caution: Rain and televisions don’t play well.
2. Eat al fresco.
If available, a grill is an obvious choice for moving the dinner chore outside—but not the only option. Consider a picnic either in your yard or in a local public park. Or bring takeout from a local restaurant. If a grill is available you can also use it to toast marshmallows and make smores. If not: use a candle.
3. Pitch a tent for privacy and socially distant family socialization.
If you have a yard, pitch a tent and sleep outside, or use it for games or conversation. Small pop-up tents ($75-$300) can provide shade and some shelter from the elements, and a nice communal atmosphere.
4. Make the home office a “roam” office.
If you work remotely, you already have a laptop/tablet, and a phone. Take that work to go: Grab a beach chair, a cooler, and your face mask and make that Zoom call from a grassy knoll (or the beach, if open). Tell everyone the ocean behind you is a digital backdrop.
5. Use parks.
If you live in the city, the entire city is your backyard. You can stroll through parks, or kick a ball around, grab (or bring) ice cream, or get some exercise.
6. Do chores outdoors.
If you’re desperate—and you are—you can even shift some housecleaning to the (empty) sideway, to a balcony, or a yard. You won’t be able to run the dishwasher outside, but you can air out bedding, set up a table to fold laundry, or…clean the windows. (Hey, we said you were desperate.)