Self-isolation got you down? Entertain yourself with these apps!

Since the coronavirus outbreak earlier this year, most of the world is now on lockdown. Many of us have been told to self-isolate while the world governments try to tackle the outbreak, but that means staying indoors and away from others. You might be wondering what you can do to pass the time? In the age of smartphones and new technology, we can fight off the cabin fever with a few simple apps! We’ll be walking you through our top six apps to keep you entertained while you’re tucked away in your home.

Lumosity

If you’re conscious about keeping your brain healthy and active while you’re self-isolating, Lumosity is a great choice. The app has a range of mind stimulating games which have been shown to improve cognitive performance. You can choose to play games that work on enhancing specific areas, such as speed, memory, attention, problem solving, flexibility, word and math. The app gives you a daily brain workout, and can give you personalised workouts depending on what you want to achieve. If you’re looking to keep your mind occupied and sharp while in self-isolation, this app tops them all. You can download on Android and iOS.

MyJuno

Feeling sad about missing your holidays? Fear not! Although the coronavirus might be stopping our current travel plans, it can’t stop us from exploring forever. While we all wait out the virus in self-isolation, why not start practicing your language skills with the MyJuno app? With over 30 languages to choose from, you can start learning common phrases and sayings using the MyJuno phrasebook. You can reconnect with friends you’ve met on your travels and chat to them in their own language, as MyJuno has instant messaging translation, meaning all your native-written messages will be automatically translated into your friends language. If there was ever a time to check up on your friends and ask how they’re doing, now is definitely the time!

Google Arts & Culture

Even in self-isolation, we can still see and experience other countries cultures. Thanks to the Google Arts & Culture app, there are now over 500 exhibitions and tourist attractions available to view! The app has a combination of 360 degrees videos and images, along with street view style tours for some of the world’s most renowned places. See Holland’s Rijksmuseum, roam around the Taj Mahal, and admire the Great Pyramid of Giza, all while in the comfort of your own home! This is a great way of seeing new places and learning about new cultures while keeping yourself safe from the coronavirus, and it’s completely free! If you’re self-isolating with your children, this app is perfect for family time, too. You can download the app on Android and iOS.

Slither.io

More of arcade game kind of person? Then you’ll love Slither.io! This super addictive app lets you design and control your own snake, with the goal of becoming the biggest snake on the board. Playing as your snake, you slither round the room eating multicoloured grub to get larger, and watching out for other snakes. You can kill or be killed by fellow snakes, so you have to be crafty! The longer you stay alive, the bigger your snake will get. You’ll need a good internet connection, as Slither.io is best played in one of the online rooms, however a bot room is available. You can also get your friends and family to play along with you, too! If you’re sick of playing Candy Crush and Magic Tiles, Slither.io is a great alternative! You can download the app on Android and iOS.

Audible

For those of you who can’t stand the thought of watching Netflix for the foreseeable future, you’re not alone. If you haven’t given Audible a go, we highly suggest it! Choose from audio books and the latest podcasts to keep you going. Audible works off of a subscription basis for £7.99 a month, but they’re offering 30 day free trials for new customers at the moment! You acquire one free token a month to spend on any book of your choice, and can buy other books whenever you want; all podcasts are completely free. Even if you cancel your subscription, you will still have access to all books and podcasts you have downloaded, so you won’t lose out! You can download the app on Android and iOS.

Puzzle page

Didn’t manage to stock up on word search and puzzle books before the coronavirus got us all self-isolating? The Puzzle Page app has everything you need to keep busy at home! Choose from hundreds of crosswords, sudokus, word searches, and many more to keep you busy. The app is completely free and fun to play, and it’s reducing paper waste! These puzzles will keep your brain hard at work, and you can even get your friends and family to help if you’re all quarantined together. Who said self-isolation had to be boring? You can download the app on both Android and iOS