7 great apps that are perfect for quarantine

Wherever you are in the world right now, chances are you’ve been told to stay at home as much as possible, or you’re in lockdown and you’re forced to stay at home. Either way, there’s no use moping about - there are plenty of things to do to help you pass the time!

Make the most of quarantine

One of the benefits of living in the 21st century is that the smartphone has been invented. Applications on this nifty little invention can provide endless ways of keeping yourself entertained throughout your time in quarantine. So, if you’re getting bored at home and can’t wait to get outside again, take a look at these seven apps that will help make the time fly by.

Houseparty

You’ve undoubtedly heard of Houseparty; the app has exploded in popularity since quarantine measures began. It has also made it onto every “top apps for quarantine” list in the past few weeks, so if you haven’t got it already, then you’ve definitely heard of it. 

Houseparty is a social networking app that allows you to video chat with other people, either one to one or in groups. The app allows friends to join a group, or “house,” and then video call people in that house. You can also challenge your friends to quizzes and mini-games, like Heads Up, which will keep you entertained for hours.

Adult coloring book | COLORS

Colouring apps have been all the rage for a while now. They are a perfect way to unwind after a particularly stressful day or take your mind off the pressures of the outside world.

Adult Coloring Book is exactly what the name suggests: a colouring book, for adults, on your phone. It is a great way to relax and an even better way to whittle down the hours until you can go outside again.

Home Workout – No Equipment

A real concern for a lot of people during quarantine or lockdown is exercise; it’s hard to feel fit and healthy when you’re cooped up inside all day. While you can still go for a run, that isn’t going to cut it for some people, especially those who hit the gym regularly.

Well, worry no more, because this free app is great at making sure you stay active at home. The app takes you through different workout routines, without any gym equipment. The routines are no joke either, you really feel like you’ve had a workout afterwards.

The free app offers beginner, intermediate and advanced workouts for five different muscle groups and allows you to schedule workouts and record your results. For the real fitness freaks, the paid subscription gives you access to a plethora of other workouts and features.

lichess

A couple of weeks back we recommended learning chess to keep yourself entertained in quarantine. It’s a great way to engage your brain and develop transferrable skills.

lichess is a fantastic app for learning and playing chess. It is completely free, with no ads, and offers chess games as well as a myriad of other features to help you learn and advance.

There are daily challenges, game analysis and tournaments as well as different variants of chess, such as crazyhouse, king of the hill, bullet chess and blitz. The app is available in 80 languages and is perfect for anyone who wants to learn or advance their game.

Elevate

“The brain is the biggest muscle in the body,” as your old maths teacher used to say. "You have to keep exercising it to keep it healthy." It is very important to keep yourself mentally stimulated while locked away in your home. It’s all too easy to spend your time watching Netflix, so to keep yourself mentally active during this time, try the Elevate app.

Elevate boasts over 35 skill games that help keep your brain sharp. The interactive games revolve around five key skill groups: maths, reading, speaking, writing and listening, with the aim of developing your cognitive skills. It’s a really great way to stay engaged and productive.

Brain training apps are also great for parents who want to keep their children engaged academically. They not only give parents a much-needed break but they also keep children's brains active and focused while they are off school. 

Netflix Party

While it is important to stay productive at home it is also important to relax and unwind, especially in such stressful times. What better way to relax than slumping on the couch and watching your favourite series on Netflix? It’s just a shame that, due to social distancing rules, it’s difficult or even impossible to watch your favourite shows with your friends. Or is it?

Netflix Party isn’t so much an app for your phone as an extension for Google Chrome. The extension works seamlessly with your browser and allows you to create a chatroom which your friends can join. The room plays the movie simultaneously across everyone’s screens and allows you to chat with your friends while the show is being played!

QuizUp

One of the best ways to pass the time is by doing quizzes. Who doesn’t love the opportunity to show off how much you know compared to your close friends and family?

QuizUp allows you to do exactly that, testing your knowledge on a huge variety of topics and, if you think you’re better than everyone you know, you can also test your expertise against people all over the world. Perfect for making your time in quarantine fly by.

Keeping your body and mind healthy

So, there you have it, seven apps to help pass the time while in quarantine. Hopefully, these apps will help you relax, as well as keep productive and active.

Spending too much time watching TV or playing games can make you unfocused and out of practice. Keeping productive and exercising ensures that both your mind and body stay healthy so you’re ready for when the restrictions are lifted. 

This article originally appeared on IamExpat in Germany.