By Leslie Fisher
Social distancing has left many of us with a lot of time on super-sanitized hands. But there is plenty more to do besides binge-watching TV or obsessing over the news. Below are some ideas to keep you active, both mentally and physically, along with some ways to stay engaged with the local community while still keeping your distance.
Tap Your Creativity
Remember that adult coloring book you bought on impulse but never really used? Now is the time to sharpen your creative skills and your colored pencils. Try your hand at coloring, drawing, painting or writing. Creating art is both relaxing and releasing… If you’re feeling cooped up, anxious, or bored, you can express those feelings in your art. There are tons of online tutorials to help you get started. Share your work online or check out the work of others…
Emergent Arts (EA) is hosting an online fundraiser to help local artists affected by the pandemic. How it works: Make a tax-deductible donation to EA, then vote on the artist you would like to help by “liking” their image in Emergent Art’s Facebook COVID-19 Fundraiser album. For every $250 raised, the artist with the most likes at that time will win the $250 award. To be considered for an award, artists may submit one image or collage of images with a short caption to Emergent Arts Facebook account via Messenger. Artists must be from Garland County OR have exhibited at Emergent Arts. Artists are asked to mention how COVID-19 has impacted them.
Wednesday Night Poetry (WNP) is hosting virtual open mic nights through the pandemic. Send a video poem or song (3 min or less) to WNP hostess Kai Coggin on Facebook Messenger, or to kaicoggin@gmail.com. The selected entries will be posted on the Wednesday Night Poetry Facebook page each Wednesday night.
Get Physical
There’s no better time to get in shape. Regular exercise can boost your mood and your immune system. Take your workout outside and all that fresh air and Vitamin D will do you some good, too.
Hit the trails! Hot Springs provides quick access to hundreds of miles of trails of all levels of difficulty and with so many to choose from, it’s easy to keep a safe distance while hiking or trail running. There are 26 miles of trails in Hot Springs National Park. If you really want to get off the beaten path and perhaps do some backpacking check out the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail in the Ouachita National Forest.
Pop a wheelie! Biking is not only great exercise but a fun activity to enjoy with others while still keeping your distance. Hot Springs is a fast-growing mountain biking destination. Get in on the action at the Northwoods Trail System. There are trails for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders. For a more leisurely roll, take a bike tour with The Hot Springs Bicycle Touring Company. They offer guided tours and rentals ($10/hour or $50 for a full day). Tours include a water tasting tour of the springs and a Hot Springs Creek Greenway tour with information about the Sculpture Garden.
The Hot Springs Convention Center and Bank OZK Arena are home to one the most extensive collections of public art in the South and it can be viewed online! (Good thing since the Convention Center is currently closed.) The collection comprises local, regional, national, and international works of art by more than 50 artists including notable local artists like Benini, Jeanfo, Gary Simmons, Richard Stephens and Alison Parsons. The online gallery also includes a collection of historic photographs of Hot Springs.
Even on rainy spring days you can stay active indoors. For motivation, find an exercise video online, whether it’s yoga, aerobics, calisthenics, or even dance tutorials. There’s plenty to choose from and most don’t require equipment.
Stimulate Your Brain
Now is a great time to read a book or learn something new… (something other than COVID-19). While it’s important to stay up-to-date on current events and health recommendations, it’s also important to give ourselves a break from worrying.
The Garland County Library is currently closed to the public, but this amazing local resource offers tons of materials online. In response to current events, they have expanded their digital resources with new databases and thousands of additional ebooks and audiobooks.
They have also added online story times and a new chat service which allows users to speak directly with library staff. If you don’t already have a library card, you can get one online and gain immediate access to their online resources (which also includes movies and music).
If you prefer a traditional book, the library is also offering curbside pickup seven days a week from 9-11 am and 1-3 pm. (Returned materials are quarantined for a minimum of three days and disinfected before being recirculated.)
Learn a new language with free online programs like Duolingo. The website offers lessons in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, Hebrew and more. I’ve been using Duolingo off and on over the years to learn Spanish and I love it. The platform is easy to use and you learn by hearing, seeing and typing phrases.
However you choose to spend your time, make the most of it! There is so much uncertainty and anxiety about our current situation. Let’s be kind to ourselves and to one another. Support local as much as you can, self-isolate, wash your hands and BE WELL!
