There are so many ways for you to continue adding life to your years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we may all be heavily restricted to the confines of our own homes there is plenty we can be engaged with through creativity, knowledge, fitness, and virtual experiences. Using the Add life to your years categories, we have gathered a list of great online content to keep your minds active and bodies moving in these interesting times.
Many of our community partners are making the move online. Neighbourhood houses and U3A’s are now offering classes via video conferencing platforms and the YMCA have released some fantastic workouts to do at home.
Browse through the list of online content below and find something that sparks your interest. Next time you find yourself twiddling your thumbs in isolation, come back and discover something new.
Note: Many of the online activities listed below require live streaming or downloading at high bandwidth. If you are on a limited data contract this may impact your data usage. Make sure you are aware of your data inclusions and track your data usage to prevent receiving excess data charges from your internet provider.
Creativity
| Online activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Mindfulness benefits and practice - Colouring in for adults-external site | Read the theory behind mindfulness and colouring books for adults. This page also provides a colour in sheet for you to try yourself. |
| Printable Colouring Pages for Adults-external site | Faber Castle has provided over 25 printable colouring pages for adults (or kids). Simply click to download the design that you would like to colour. |
Knowledge
| Online activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Ted Talk playlists-external site | TED is a non-profit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). Watch videos of Ted Talks here. |
| ABC Podcasts-external site | Listen to podcasts by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). |
| Literary podcasts to keep you inspired | Not sure what to read next? Stuck and looking for a recommendation or literary inspiration? Try these free podcasts for author interviews, book recommendations and more! |
| Online learning |
As a Boroondara library member, you can enrol in online courses through Lynda, learn a new language with Transparent Language Online or get expert exam advice with Road to IELTS. These online learning resources are free when you join the library, but you'll need your membership details to log in. |
| Trentwood Hub Virtual Group Activity Program-external site | Trentwood at the Hub have developed an exciting new Virtual Group Activity Program. Classes include learning the Ukulele, botanical illustration and Beginner French. |
Fitness at home
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Relaxation exercises - Beyond Blue-external site | Finding a sense of peace and calm in our day-to-day lives can be difficult. Relaxation techniques can help to relax the mind and body and also manage some of the symptoms of anxiety and depression. |
| YThrive: Gold Workouts-external site | YMCA at Home: Free programs anytime, anywhere. |
| Trentwood Hub Virtual Group Activity Program-external site | Trentwood at the Hub have developed an exciting new Virtual Group Activity Program. They are happy to help you get set up so you can participate in these online classes. |
| Go for a walk or bike ride in your local area | Whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines you are permitted to leave your homes for daily exercise, why not find a local walking or bike track and enjoy the beautiful autumn days. |
Virtual experiences
| Online activity | Description |
|---|---|
| National Gallery of Victoria-external site | Stay connected and inspired with highlights from the NGV including the stories behind our Collection works, virtual exhibition tours, essays, interviews and more. |
| Museums Victoria: Explore exhibitions through virtual tours-external site | Follow cameras on Google Maps throughout the Melbourne Museum. Zero crowds guaranteed! |
| Art Centre Melbourne Performances-external site | While their curtains are drawn, the show will go on! Feel uplifted, inspired and connected while enjoying curated digital content from the Arts Centre Melbourne. Be sure to keep checking in, as new videos will be released regularly. |
| The Australian Ballet’s 2020 Digital Season-external site | The Australian Ballet’s new ‘At Home with Ballet TV’ digital season will beam their premium-quality productions right to your couch for free. Ballet is powerful magic. It can draw you out of your lounge room and into forests and castles and starry skies. It can make you forget your worries and feel the freedom and exhilaration of unbridled leaps and lifts. |
| Melbourne International Comedy Festival -external site | To celebrate the Festival 2020 Melbourne International Comedy Festival (that would have opened on Wednesday 25 March) the organisers will be sharing a clip each day from Festivals gone by. They will feature artists who would have been appearing at this year’s Festival and often they will relate to the particular Special Event scheduled for that date. |
Technology
| Online activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Zoom tutorials-external site | Heard about people connecting on zoom? Learn how to use zoom with these tutorials. |
| Be Connected-external site | Join thousands of Australians who are taking Be Connected’s free courses on everything from how to access the internet, using your device and keeping in touch with others online. |
| Scam Watch-external site | Scamwatch is run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). It provides information to consumers and small businesses about how to recognise, avoid and report scams. |
Entertainment
| Online activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Seniors Online - Games-external site | Here you can get your daily dose of games. Updated every day, you can keep coming back for more challenges to test your brain. |
| Discover a world of reading online | There are many ways you can keep reading from home with your library card. You can download thousands of eBooks and audio books and read current copies and back issues of your favourite magazines and newspapers from around the globe. |
| Film and music streaming | As a Boroondara library member, you have free access to a wide variety of films and music through Beamafilm, and Kanopy streaming services. Play movies and songs on a phone, tablet or computer, or watch films on a television screen using a casting service or HDMI cable. |
| Arts Centre Melbourne - Interviews with Australian Music Hero’s-external site | The Australian Music Vault has asked some of the country’s most influential trailblazers and unsung heroes to open up about their lives in music as part of our Long Play Series, view the videos here. |
| Arts Centre Melbourne Stories-external site | Sit back and delve into Arts Centre Melbourne stories with artist interviews, behind-the-scenes articles, iconic moments and more. |
| Opera Australia - Staging an Opera-external site | In five short videos, go backstage and back in time as Opera Australia chronicle how a production takes shape at Opera Australia. |
| Opera Australia - Listening Guides-external site | Get to know the music of some of the world's most famous operas. |