Ever since coronavirus officially touched Mecklenburg County on Thursday, events from all over Charlotte are being canceled left and right. Governor Roy Cooper declared North Carolina to be in a State of Emergency and discouraged events from gathering more than 100 people to prevent the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19, also known as coronavirus.
“Along with sleep and a healthy diet, appropriate exercise is one the best things you can do to protect yourself. Why? Exercise helps flush the stress from our system and puts your body in a stronger position to fight off illness,” said Dr. Russell Greenfield from Novant Health Integrative Medicine.
Here are ways that you can get some exercise, support local businesses, and even be a little social while the city takes a step back to mitigate the threat of COVID-19:
Get moving around the Mecklenburg County greenways and spend an afternoon getting your steps in and enjoying nature in the open air. To avoid potential exposure to germs, keep your little ones off the playground equipment along the trails, or at least make sure they wash their hands thoroughly once they get done playing.
The U.S. National Whitewater Center is home to outdoor activities including whitewater rafting, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking and more. Courtsesy of USWNC CharlotteFive
Particle Falls is a real-time data collection of particle pollution displayed in a light exhibit on the side of the UNC Charlotte Center City Building. Alex Cason CharlotteFive
(2) Ride a bike
You don’t have to let yourself get out of shape if you’re staying away from the gym. Switch out your stationary bike for a real one and explore Charlotte on two wheels. Cycling is a great way to relieve stress and get some cardio in without having to be within close proximity of others. If you don’t have a bike, stop by the Re-Cyclery or another local bike shop to get one to take home or rent a B-cycle. Make sure you wash hands before and after your ride. Staying healthy doesn’t mean just washing hands, either: don’t forget to wear your helmet and use bike lights if it starts to get dark.
Ride a bike along Charlotte’s Rail Trail. Melissa Oyler CharlotteFive
(3) Read a book
Stop by one of Charlotte’s little free libraries or independent bookstores like Park Road Books or That’s Novel and pick up a national bestseller or a novel by a local author. You can even coordinate with your friends and set up a Facetime book club if you don’t want to read alone, but you want to skip the public spaces.
Consider taking a boat out on the lake with the family at Lake Wylie or Lake Norman.
Hunter Wilson, a Lake Wylie marine commissioner, said via email of the vessels at Lake Wylie Boat Rental: “We are cleaning the boats after every use (not every day or every week; after every use).
Stop by a local brewery and pick up a 4-pack of cans or a crowler of your favorite beer, cider or kombucha to take home and drink in the comfort of your own house. Bottle shops also have great local grab-and go options (in fact, according to USA Today, a bottle shop in the running for the best beer bar in the country is right here in Charlotte).
“Swing by for a four pack or crowler to go or enjoy a beer on the patio from the patio bar,” suggested NoDa Brewing Co. co-owner Suzie Ford.
BEFORE YOU GO: Sycamore Brewing has closed its taproom temporarily, and other breweries may follow. Reference our article about what local breweries are doing before you head out to get that four-pack.
NoDa Brewing beer selection. Courtesy of NoDa Brewing CharlotteFive
(6) Find a new favorite podcast
Become a walking encyclopedia of fun facts by catching up on podcasts. Local podcasters cover everything from fashion to sports, local music to politics. By just listening to one episode a day, you’ll be ready to ace trivia and wow your friend with all the fun new things you’ve learned. If you’re going stir crazy, go for a walk in your neighborhood while you listen.
Take this time to reorganize your life and remove anything that does not “spark joy.” Declutter, redecorate and refresh your home while you’re waiting out the coronavirus. Also, you can do the same thing to your social media feed. Instead of arguing with the same difficult acquaintance (how do you know them again, anyway?), or following pages that make you feel like you don’t measure up, just unfollow to focus your energy on positive news and accounts.
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(8) Learn something new
You swear you “aren’t creative,” but you have always wanted to learn to paint? Are you relying on the intern to help you use Photoshop or Illustrator at work? Use your social distancing time to learn a new skill using in-home video lessons from programs such as Skillshare. These tutorials come at a lower price than in-person classes — and no one else has to witness your growing pains.
(9) Try your favorite fitness class remotely
If you don’t want to risk your favorite class, do it online. Don’t worry if a fancy Peloton bike isn’t in your budget. Several local studios allow you to stream classes in the comfort of your own home for a fee much lower than the cost of attending a class.
The Barre Code franchise owner Lauren Travis. Melissa Oyler CharlotteFive
(10) Cook a meal
Learn to cook a meal for yourself. Not only will you reduce your risk of exposing yourself to germs, but you’ll also be able to impress your next date or girls’ night with your culinary skills. If you’re feeling under the weather, let a delivery like Amazon Prime or Instacart bring groceries to your door.
To keep us safe from coronavirus, several delivery companies are offering options to drop groceries at your door and walk away, so you don’t even have to see a human. Pro tip: even if you didn’t see a human, one still touched your groceries. Make sure to not only clean your hands after putting groceries away, but leave a bigger tip than usual. They’re navigating the germy public for you.
Chef Santhoshi Radhakrishnan creates meal kits that contain precisely measured ingredients and a tested recipe sheet. Shown above is paneer butter masala. Melissa Oyler
Everyone else is at Lowe’s for the face masks, but we’re actually here for the patio pavers and seeds. Dive into spring by nesting in your backyard or apartment patio. Check out gardening tips via the Charlotte Observer or get inspired by Blackhawk Hardware’s insta page. If you put in a little work, you can harvest tasty vegetables and enjoy beautiful flowers by the time the coronavirus pandemic passes.
Blackhawk Hardware at Park Road Shopping Center. Alex Cason
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