Like all pages on our website, check back for updates!
We know your feeds are saturated with bad news, so we’re putting together a list of wonderful distractions to help you pass the time, de-stress, etc.
(In fact, de-stressing is great for the immune system.)
Mental Health Awareness and Relaxation Resources Curated by the New York Library Association:
Do you need some support? Check out the below mental health resources that can help you center yourself if need be!
https://library.hws.edu/mental_health
https://thequietplaceproject.xyz/thequietplace
http://www.relaxonline.me.uk/sa1/index.html
http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/
https://thisissand.com/ (an app for art, creativity and relaxation)
http://make-everything-ok.com/
Live Animal Cams
We have a large list of live Zoo and Aquaria feeds on our “Kids and Family Page,” under “Virtual Field Trips.” But one highlight is the following webcam: the Southern Sea Otters at Georgia Aquarium. There really is no distraction like sea otters!
https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/southern-sea-otter-webcam/
News Stories
From BBC: Christmas Island: ‘A giant robber crab stole my camera’
Crabs on Australia’s Christmas Island are suspected of pinching some high-priced equipment.
From BBC: David Hockney shares exclusive art from Normandy, as ‘a respite from the news’
The artist, who’s in lockdown in Normandy, shares 10 soothing paintings of the springtime.
From DW: Solidarity and humor in the coronavirus crisis
From friendly gestures or encouragement to helping others in need, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us all how humanity can come together in times of crisis. This is how people around the world are showing solidarity.
From The Guardian: Astrophysicist gets magnets stuck up nose while inventing coronavirus device
The Getty Museum in Los Angeles challenged visitors to their Twitter account to pick a favorite piece of artwork, and recreate its visuals using things they found around the house.
Music
Music Hall Favorites, From Our Stage to You: A Spotify Playlist curated by the Tarrytown Music Hall: “We looked back through our calendar and selected some favorites by many artists who have played on The Music Hall stage. (Well, except for one, but hey, the name almost fooled us too!)”
Food varies wildly from place to place and from culture to culture; since humans are such sensory creatures, using words to evoke the experience of eating is an excellent way to bring a text to life.
Follow along as writer and comedian James Veitch narrates a hilarious, weeks-long exchange with a spammer who offered to cut him in on a hot deal.
Puzzles and Games
Simon Tatham’s Portable Puzzle Collection
Running out of crosswords and Sudoku puzzles to occupy your brain? Play some of Simon’s surprisingly complex puzzles and games that won’t eat up your computer’s memory—but might challenge your own brainpower.
At-Home Literary Scavenger Hunt, from Book Riot
Missions broken down into categories such as “inside the front cover,” “physical characteristics,” and even a themed mission of items related to the popular book Little Fires Everywhere.
De-Stressing (re: Covid-19) Advice from News Sources
From The Guardian: “Read This to Control Your Health Anxiety”
From CNN: “Social Distancing Doesn’t Have to Doom Your Weekends. We Have Ideas.”
The NYTimes shows you how to make ice cream in a mason jar, a perfect project for when the summer gets too hot to bake.
