12 things to order online that make staying home easier—no shipping necessary
Beat boredom with the click of a button.
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You're stuck at home, you've eaten all of your snacks, you've finished the 1,000-piece puzzle you started yesterday, and you've played every board game on your shelf—what are you to do? Sure, you could order a new puzzle or a new game but that requires waiting for it to be delivered (not to mention the fact that many retailers are urging people to order responsibly as they struggle to keep up with demand during the coronavirus outbreak). And if you don't find something to entertain yourself ASAP, you feel like you're going to lose it...
Fortunately, there are a bunch of ways to beat boredom at home that don't require any shipping (or any waiting!). Below are 12 of our favorites, from the wildly popular Netflix Party to the best at-home workout options.
1. A subscription to Kindle Unlimited for readers (even if you don’t have a Kindle)
Just because the library is closed (and because Amazon shipping is delayed) doesn't mean you can't get your reading fix. Enter Kindle Unlimited—i.e. the saving grace for book-lovers. With your subscription, you'll have access to millions of books, magazines, and audiobooks right at your fingertips. Bonus: Even if you don't have a Kindle, you can use Kindle Unlimited on your phone, tablet, or laptop (which is what I've been doing for the last three weeks and loving it!).
Sign up for a free trial of Kindle Unlimited
2. Everyone’s favorite streaming service: Disney+
You can't go wrong with a Disney+ binge-watching session.
Feel like you've watched everything on Netflix already? Sounds like it's time to sign up for Disney+ if you haven't already. The wildly popular streaming service has every Disney movie you could hope for (including Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, National Geographic, and the animated classics) and, because there are no R-rated flicks, all of the content is completely family-friendly.
Get Disney+ for $6.99 per month
3. A MasterClass subscription to take classes taught by celebrities
Learn from the pros.
Learn to cook with Gordon Ramsay. Perfect your free throw with Steph Curry. Improve your photography skills with Annie Leibowitz. You can do all of that—and more—with a MasterClass subscription. Our editor-in-chief tried out MasterClass for himself and says the classes were both informative and motivating. He also liked that you can take the classes at your own pace and when it's convenient for you.
Get the MasterClass All-Access Pass for $180 per year
4. A ClassPass membership for virtual fitness classes
Get your sweat on from home.
Being stuck at home means that your daily spin session or barre class is no longer an option. Or so you thought. ClassPass—an app that lets you take all of your favorite classes at your favorite studios—offers virtual classes taught by expert trainers that you can take whenever you want at home. There's something for everyone, from boxing to yoga to Pilates, and each class is available in both audio and video format.
Get a ClassPass digital subscription for free right now
5. The Sill’s online workshop for taking care of plants
Plant parents, rejoice! The popular plant delivery service, The Sill, offers online workshops on everything you need to know about your houseplants from how to take care of plants in the spring to choosing the best plants for your space (there's even a workshop specifically on caring for orchids). Each workshop—which is capped to 21 participants—consists of a 30-minute presentation followed by an open Q&A session where you're free to ask all of your most burning plant questions.
Take one of The Sill's online workshops for $10
6. Audible so you can listen to audiobooks from anywhere
Turn your book on and the world off.
Audiobooks are great for a lot of reasons: You can listen to them while you're driving, while you're working out, while you're cooking dinner—the list goes on. That's why Audible, the largest provider of audiobooks, is so highly recommended, especially now. Not only can you choose any book from biographies to best-selling fiction, but you can listen on almost every device imaginable. Psst: If you're a Prime member already, you'll get two free books when you sign up.
Sign up for a free trial of Audible
7. Spotify Premium for streaming all of your favorite songs
Choose from hundreds of pre-made playlists on Spotify or create your own.
Of all the apps on my phone, Spotify is the one I use the most (it's playing in the background all day, every day). And if you don't yet have it, Spotify Premium is well worth a second look—or rather, a second listen. You can download the music streaming app to as many devices as you'd like and there are thousands of songs, podcasts, and pre-made playlists to choose from (I recommend Mood Booster or Happy Hits!). Psst: You can also send a Spotify e-gift card to your friends or older relatives to help them stay entertained, too.
- Get a Spotify e-gift card at Walmart starting at $10
- Sign up for Spotify Premium for $9.99 per month
8. Netflix Party so you can host a virtual movie night
When you're at home 24/7, Netflix is a must—especially now more than ever. While Hulu, regular cable, and others are all great, Netflix specifically has a new option for watching flicks and shows with all of your friends without ever leaving your house. Meet Netflix Party, the Google Chrome extension that everyone's been talking about. It syncs whatever you're watching with whoever you're watching with and includes a group chat feature so you all can rant and rave while you watch.
9. A subscription to Alo Moves for at-home workouts from expert instructors
There are even guided meditations available.
As a yoga teacher myself, I know that I feel infinitely better when I make it onto my mat every day, even if it's just for 10 minutes. And Alo Moves makes that possible on the days when I can't get to the studio. There are plenty of yoga classes, yes, but there's also Pilates, barre, HIIT, and more. I love that you can download the classes so you can have them for offline use and that there's so much variety, you never get bored.
Sign up for Alo Moves for $20 per month
10. Digital video games for your Xbox or Nintendo Switch
Game on.
For some of us, more time at home = more time playing video games. And for that, you'll need some new games to keep yourself entertained. Fortunately, you don't have to go to the store or even wait for a game to be delivered to your doorstep—you can download digital games instantly. Whether you have an Xbox, a Nintendo Switch, or some other console, most gaming companies including Microsoft and Nintendo have online stores with tons of games to browse (you can also buy them from retailers like Walmart). Even better: Digital games won't clutter up your home and they're stored permanently in the cloud so you can access them from anywhere.
11. Online classes from Brit.co to get your creative juices flowing
Time to learn a new hobby.
Whether you want to learn how to decorate a cake like a pro, paint a watercolor succulent, or try your hand at digital illustration, Brit.co has a class for you. The brand's online shop has a vast variety of creative classes that you can take at your own leisure. I took the calligraphy class over the winter and loved how fun the course was and how easy it was to follow along with the tutorials. Not only did I learn a lot (and was able to hand-write my friend's wedding invites!) but all of the materials and instructions are yours to keep forever.
Sign up for a Brit.co online class starting at $29
12. The Charge Running app so you can stay active
Have someone hold you accountable for your daily run.
Trying to motivate yourself to go for a run can be hard. But it's a lot easier when you have someone cheering you on the whole time or challenging you to pick up the pace. That's what you'll get with the Charge Running app, which is like a virtual running club, that live-streams runs led by certified running coaches. Reviewers love that there are runs for every skill level (from walk-runs to fast-paced marathon training) and that the coaches are both motivating and knowledgeable. Bonus: If you can't make the live runs, there are plenty to choose from in the on-demand library, too.