Social Distancing – But Make It Cute

We’ve all read the news – social distancing is more important than ever to stop the COVID-19 pandemic. For all of us who have been doing our due diligence, social distancing has taken its toll. The novelty of bundling up under your covers, drinking a soothing cup of tea, and scrolling through social media while Lana Del Rey’s Norman Fucking Rockwell! plays in the background wears off pretty quickly (at least for me). From one empathetic global citizen to the next, here’s a list of things that can transform your social distancing into Social Distancing.

1. Stream a concert.

Just because you have to remain home does not mean that you have to sacrifice your taste in music. Get that concert experience with the rest of the world by tuning into concerts of the likes of Miley Cyrus, Vance Joy, and Miguel. A live list of these concert streams can be found in this Billboard article.

Miley Cyrus's daily livestream, Bright Minded, on Instagram Live.
Miley Cyrus's daily livestream, Bright Minded, on Instagram Live.

2. Pick up a language.

With apps such as Duolingo and Babbel, language learning is more accessible than ever. Practicing a little bit each day will help you master a new language or review a language that you already know. If you don’t have the time to actively learn a new language but are still interested, download the Language Learning with Netflix Chrome extension. After selecting the language that you are interested in, the extension breaks down what movies and shows on Netflix can help you pick up the language and goes line by line to translate the script. Très chouette!

The Language Learning with Netflix extension goes into detail.
The Language Learning with Netflix extension goes into detail. Photo credit: Google Chrome

3. Binge a new TV series.

Time flies fast when you’re completely captivated by a TV show. Granted that you might be doing this already, it’s worth pointing out some great shows that might have missed your radar. From my personal favorites, check out: Élite, RuPaul’s Drag Race, One Day at a Time, Sex Education, and Silicon Valley.

The picture-perfect cast of Élite.
The picture-perfect cast of Élite.

4. Clean out your closet.

For those of us who have procrastinated on sorting out our wardrobe, social distancing has given less of a reason to continue our willful ignorance. As you go through your closet at home and the items that you’ll bring back from SMU (R.I.P. Spring 2020), put on the ___(INSERT YOUR FULL NAME HERE)___ Fashion Week to see what is or is not in season for you. For the items that you are ready to let go, look into selling platforms like Poshmark and Depop to make some money in these trying times.

Celebrities like Madison Beer are among Depop's users.
Celebrities like Madison Beer are among Depop's users.

5. Reach out.

No matter how much we hype up isolation on social media, social distancing is not easy on anybody. The COVID-19 pandemic and its impact has not only taken a toll on our emotional well-beings, but it also has multiplied financial and social burdens on many. During this difficult time, check up on your friends, family members, and acquaintances. Chat with them over whipped coffee (TikTok is going insane over these), a Zoom chat, or a phone call. A simple “Hello!” can brighten anyone’s day.


Mushfequr Rahman

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