By Caitlin McBride and Abby Miller

A blog post by Libraries’ student workers Caitlin McBride and Abby Miller, in which they recommend some of their favorite study break activities to help their peers stay entertained while we all #StayHome.

After cutting your bangs, learning a TikTok dance, and putting together a 1,000 piece puzzle, you may be wondering what else there is to do while social distancing. We’ve put together a list of resources to help keep you entertained during this unprecedented time.

Entertainment

Listen to free books

Now’s the perfect time to check those books you’ve wanted to read for years off your list, but libraries are closed and attention spans may be fleeting. You can listen to audio books on Audible.com while organizing your kitchen cabinets or taking a bubble bath! Audible offers a selection of audiobooks you can, “instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages.” 

Listen to MN Spin

There’s finally time to put the Taylor Swift CD away and discover some new artists (don’t worry, Taylor will still be there when you’re done). MN Spin is a free online collection of Minnesota music curated by local experts. The collection features the selected works of Minnesotan artists of all genres. Music is available to stream or download.

Learning

Learn a new skill

Whether you are facing graduation this year or in the coming years, the prospect of finding a job after all of this may be terrifying. Now is a good time to learn a new skill or develop one you already have. If you don’t already have a LinkedIn account, sign up! Once you do, check out LinkedIn Learning. This resource offers high-quality, online training videos for all skill levels including software, technologies (3D Animation, Audio, Photography), design, and business. An iPhone/iPad app is available, too!

Duolingo

Why not use this time to add a second (or third!) language to your resume? Download the Duolingo app and visit it daily to keep the owl and your brain happy.

Exercise and Mindfulness 

Move your body

Having a hard time staying motivated without RecWell? Stay well and mindful with Desk Yoga or get some exercise with the free YMCA 360 classes. If you struggle to get into a routine, try one of the 30-day Yoga with Adriene challenges on Youtube. Whether it is a mindfulness and grounding practice or a more intense core practice, Adriene always reminds her viewers to be kind to themselves. 

Color our Collections

Just because museums are closed, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some historic art! The Wangensteen Historical Library’s 2020 coloring book lets you color sketches that were made in the margins of books by past readers. You can try to imagine what they were thinking while you enjoy these 500-year-old doodles and color them yourself!

These are a few of our recommendations, but there are plenty of other activities to enjoy. The important thing is to take regular breaks from doing homework and reading the news. Share this list with your friends and classmates and try some of the activities together!