Your 56-day plan to getting through the circuit breaker

It's day one so take some time to figure things out. Since dining out isn't going to be a possibility for the next month, you better make delivery platforms your new best friend. Independent restaurants, bars and hawkers are also providing meals and cocktails to-go. Order from them to support a local business so that we still have these places to go back to once everything is over.

There’s no need to panic-buy when there are shops that ship the freshest deals right to your door. While supermarkets and grocery stores are considered essential services and will remain open throughout the month, those looking to stay extra vigilant (or just feeling slightly lazy) can choose to have their groceries delivered straight to the doorstep thanks to online grocery stores. Just remember to buy only what you need – we’ve got a robust supply chain and a healthy stockpile of items in Singapore so you definitely do not need that extra roll of toilet paper. Now's the time to try that recipe you've had bookmarked since 2017.

RECOMMENDED: Where to shop for your groceries online and the best gourmet grocery stores

Turn your living room into a concert hall, music festival, or rave as singers, musicians and DJs come together to bring live music to you. Zouk, Razer and Bigo Live’s Cloud Clubbing spins the best of EDM, Music Matters Live From Home hosts intimate gigs by local and regional artists, SSOPlayOn! showcases classical music performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and Esplanade Onstage broadcasts videos, stories, and podcasts on music as well as other arts too. Forget festival gear, just a comfy robe and slippers will do.

RECOMMENDED: Upcoming live streams to tune into

Now that we're all staying home, we've got more time on our hands to upgrade our skills, learn new languages, pick up a paintbrush, or even start dabbling in new age practices. With various classes available all over the internet, the sky's the limit when it comes to acquiring knowledge. Whether you're thinking of picking up practical skills like how to manage your finances or learning a new art form, there are plenty of online courses you can take.

RECOMMENDED: The best online classes to take and Nikon is offering free online photography courses this month

It’s inevitable – the more we stay at home, the more our domesticated side surfaces. With more time on your hand to spare during this period, is your kitchen calling out to you? You are certainly not alone. It’s time to put away that packet of instant ramen and strap on that cooking apron. Let these local YouTube channels kickstart your culinary journey – complete with engaging personalities, inspiring visuals, easy-to-follow instructions, and most importantly, great-tasting recipes.

RECOMMENDED: Local YouTube cooking channels to inspire your next kitchen adventure

The recent closure of all standalone food and beverage stores means that most cake shops have to shut too. But the birthday celebrations must go on, and you can still have your cake and eat it. Cake shops are still whipping up the sweet treats and delivering them door-to-door. Why not order the sweet, layered creation to show your favourite Taurus and Gemini babies that you still care for them?

RECOMMENDED: The best cake delivery options in Singapore

Singapore roared with cheers and claps for healthcare workers on March 30, and following the positive reaction, the movement is now being held every Monday at 8pm – so grab your pans, pots, musical instruments, and loudest cheer as Singapore stands united. And while clapping and cheering for our healthcare workers is truly a heartwarming gesture, there are definitely other meaningful methods to show our appreciation for the frontliners such as staying at home, and sponsoring a meal.

RECOMMENDED: Clap for healthcare workers every Monday – and other ways to show your appreciation

Staying at home shouldn’t come at the expense of your physical health. If you’re not the type to head out for a hike or jog, a handful of local gyms have started streaming live workouts and posting online exercises, so you can get sweating in the comfort, and safety, of your own home. Plus, there’s no need to fight for the shower once you're done – that's always a plus.

RECOMMENDED: The best gyms with online workouts and Barry’s Singapore is streaming workouts for free

It's humpday, so why not turn to meditation for a safe space amidst the current chaos? For good reason too, since it has been hailed to reduce stress, increase calmness and clarity, and promote happiness. It has also been linked to productivity. And the best thing about it? You can meditate anytime and anywhere. If you're a beginner, we've got you covered with our basic tips and app recommendations that can help you form a daily mindful meditation habit.

RECOMMENDED: The beginners guide to meditation

While all bars are closed for the month, some including Atlas, The Tippling Club, Employees Only and The Old Man are offering bottled cocktails and beers to-go to help tide you through the 'circuit breaker' period. Therefore, for days when you're craving a stiff drink (we could all use one during this period), support your local watering hole by getting some tipples to-go or delivered.

RECOMMENDED: Bars offering cocktail takeaway and delivery

As you would've known by now, the internet is a treasure trove of knowledge. It's a wonderful tool to learn anything and everything about the world. And just because schools are closed, doesn't mean your little Einsteins can't do some schooling. Harness in the power of technology and learn something new through interactive lessons, brain games, and other fun activities at home. There are dozens of online resources that challenge and entertain your kids – and even you – while they learn.

RECOMMENDED: The best online edutainment for kids

Outdoor run or cycle can do wonders for the mind. After all, it’s a relatively fuss-free way to stay fit, sans the expensive gym memberships. If you’re going to keep up a routine, you’re going to need somewhere to do it. We suggest picking places with views to keep yourself inspired including leisure beginner-friendly options, intense mountain biking tracks and everything else in-between to suit all abilities. Just make sure you avoid crowds and keep a safe distance of at least one-metre between other runners and cyclists.

RECOMMENDED: The best running trails, the best cycling trails, the best mountain biking trails and the best parks by neighbourhood

Nothing makes or breaks friendships – including families – quite like board and card games. The heat is on the minute the cards are drawn, the dice are rolled, and someone on the table shouts (or swears). Everyone feels engaged, invested, creative – anything but bored (pun intended). It’s also a healthy antidote for those looking to decrease screen time. Swap your fancy consoles with tabletop games that come with a twist such as Exploding Kittens, and The Singaporean Dream. That's your Sunday family time, sorted.

RECOMMENDED: The best card and board games to play

We're halfway through the circuit breaker! So treat yourself to a virtual holiday to give you something to look forward to once normalcy resumes. Explore.org and Polar Bears International are live-streaming the Northern Lights, so you can watch the aurora borealis in its full glory right from your couch. The live cam is planted directly underneath the aurora oval in Churchill, Manitoba, which is one of the best places on earth to witness the Lights.

RECOMMENDED: Can't travel? Stream the Northern Lights live from your home

Nothing beats swapping the real world for a dystopian future, a blast to the past or even an entirely different country for a couple of minutes (or hours). And what better way to dedicate some time getting lost in a book written by Singapore's very own authors. Order one – or two – from an online bookstore, find a cosy spot in the crib, and kick back with your chosen page-turner.

RECOMMENDED: The best novels by local authors to read right now and bookstores that deliver to your doorstep

Alternatively, you can choose from over 725,000 eBooks and audiobooks from the National Library Board app. Gone are the days where you have to head down to the nearest public library and browse through thousands of books, especially if you're just looking for a specific title. Since its launch in 2016, the app has made it easy for anyone with an NLB card to download an ebook and read on the go – or at home. You'll also have access to magazines and newspapers from over 100 countries. What better way to keep up with everything that's happening in the world?

RECOMMENDED: You can borrow from over 300,000 online books free on this app

Get down to disco (or sing in the shower) with the hottest made-in-Singapore acts. If you're searching for your next earworm, you don't have to look very far. For a comparatively small music scene, we've got genres like rock, indie, hip-hop and even lo-fi beats covered. Here are some homegrown talents you should be listening to now – complete with a nifty playlist of recommended songs.

RECOMMENDED: Local musicians that should be on your radar this year

Here's a Friday project since you have a little more time on your hands. Just because watering holes are closed for now doesn’t mean happy hour is cancelled. But what do you put in the shaker when all you have at home is some vodka, a sad lemon and a few half-empty bottles of liqueur? Learn to make a cocktail or two as bartenders turned to social media to share recipes and tips.

RECOMMENDED: IB HQ's Kamil Foltan and Zurina Bryant share cocktail recipes you can try, the best alcohol delivery services, and the best wine delivery services

We might not be able to visit the Singapore zoo this weekend but some of the zoos around the world have adapted to the situation by allowing the public to 'visit' the zoo via webcams and live-streaming. If you're wondering how our local wildlife are doing, explore Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve through its animal cams. The three cameras focus on the view from the main bridge, the biggest bird hide in the reserve and the pond. If you're lucky, you might even see otters frolicking by the water, migratory birds feeding or even freshwater crocodiles making its way down the river.

RECOMMENDED: Observe the wildlife of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve via a live webcam

Popular flea markets and bazaars including Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar, Twilight Flea and Feast, and Boutique Fairs Singapore have gone digital by offering nifty wares, quirky handicrafts, fashion accessories, gorgeous home decor pieces, and more interesting wares online. Shoppers can browse and discover various brands under the online directory as you would offline. Warning: it’s nearly impossible to leave these online stores without splurging on new dudes for a wardrobe refresher.

RECOMMENDED: Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar goes digital this year and best online local shopping sites

Have colleagues that constantly flexes with their pet? You can live out your Tiger King dreams and bring the striped big cat into the house (don’t worry, it’s not real). Thanks to Google’s augmented-reality animals tool, you can choose from a range of animals including giant pandas, penguins, sharks, and wolves and view them in 3D within the confines of your sweet digs.

RECOMMENDED: Google 3D brings life-size lions, tigers and pandas into your home – here’s how to use it

Did you know that you can explore virtually every major museum in the world online? That's made possible with the existence of online platform Google Arts and Culture and local virtual tour companies like Haroko Studio, as well as online exhibitions hosted by the galleries themselves. In case you didn't know, National Gallery Singapore has an online collection of over 1,000 artworks and 7,000 archival materials to check out. Culture vultures can now feed their minds without even leaving their couch.

RECOMMENDED: The best virtual art exhibitions to explore from your couch and browse National Gallery Singapore’s collection of artworks online

Besides keeping listeners up-to-date with what’s trending in Singapore and around the world including politics, business, crime and pop culture, podcasts also offer some much-needed escapism from the mundane. Whether you’re looking to learn something new, see the world through the eyes of someone else, or simply laugh out loud, we’ve got you covered with the cream of the podcast crop.

RECOMMENDED: The best local podcasts to listen

We're almost there but some people might not be dealing with the situation as well as others. Check in on your buddies to make sure they're hanging in there. There are loads of free video chat apps to hang out with all your pals such as Skype, Google Hangouts, Zoom, and Houseparty. You can also round up the crew via the Chrome extension, Netflix Party, where all of you can watch Netflix together online. 

RECOMMENDED: How to use Houseparty: the social app keeping isolated people connected

Before things go back to normal – or at least, as normal as they can be – let's take this time to remember not to take things for granted. See how the busiest streets and attractions in Singapore were void of any visitors, with shops shuttered and business coming to a halt. Time Out's designer Kashmira Kasmuri went down to some of the city's most popular spots to catch a glimpse of what things are like now. Take a look at them here.

RECOMMENDED: Photos of Singapore's busiest places that are now completely empty

Put those green thumbs – and restless fingers – to good use by bringing pockets of green to your home with easy indoor gardening kits put together by local companies. And as an added bonus, after a couple of months, you get to enjoy the fruits of your labour.

RECOMMENDED: Where to order an indoor gardening kit and the guide to indoor plants

Marie Kondo your sweet digs and donate your pre-loved clothes, books and furniture instead of sending them to the bin. If you find something still in good condition that you have no need for any more, put it in a giveaway pile for someone else. Plus, you can donate your extra masks and sanitisation supplies to hawkers, cleaners, drivers, nurses and doctors, as well as those from lower-income families that need extra protection. 

RECOMMENDED: Where to donate used clothes, books, furniture and toys and donate your extra masks to front-line workers at these drop-off points

We made it but the battle is far from over. To quote High School Musical, we're all in this together. And it's heartening to see so many community-driven initiatives that aim to help us all get through the chaos coronavirus has caused. We can start by taking care of the most vulnerable among us – the elderly, people with underlying health conditions and those in need – as well as those whose jobs have been most affected by the pandemic. Even if you don't have time or money to donate, we all can play a small part.

RECOMMENDED: 8 things you can do to help your community right now and local charities that need your support

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. As seen on social media, the unofficial trend of the stay home movement is the Dalgona coffee. As complicated as it looks to make, this coffee is pretty easy to whip up in the kitchen. Whisk instant coffee granules with sugar and hot water until it becomes foamy – if you have an electric hand whisk it would really make it easier. Spoon the mixture over cold milk and voila. Surprisingly, it tastes like expensive coffee, especially if you switch it to oat or a soy milk alternative.

RECOMMENDED: How to up your coffee game at home, get coffee delivered to your door from these cafes and online stores, and the best coffee subscription service

It’s Day 30 now, and your desk (or dining table) might be cluttered with takeaway boxes, paperwork, and random junk. While everyone’s working preferences are different, it doesn’t hurt to switch things up to see what works well for your productivity. Telecommuting takes time to get used to, but there are plenty of ways to help you focus and productivity like rearranging your desk, downloading apps, and having good Wi-Fii. Here are some tips, hacks and apps the Time Out Singapore team swears by.

RECOMMENDED: Time Out’s guide to working from home

Our daily routine, lifestyle and habits have been shaken up to accommodate the new norm brought about by strict circuit breaker measures. And since we’re switching things up, why not start implementing some eco-friendly habits from home? Small changes in your lifestyle can make a difference. For starters, bring reusable bags out for groceries, practise zero-waste, and cut down on consumption habits. It's not the 90s anymore – life in plastic, isn't fantastic (sorry, Aqua!).

RECOMMENDED: 7 ways to be sustainable during the circuit breaker

Our daily routine, lifestyle and habits have been shaken up to accommodate the new norm brought about by strict circuit breaker measures. And since we’re switching things up, why not start implementing some eco-friendly habits from home? Small changes in your lifestyle can make a difference. For starters, bring reusable bags out for groceries, practise zero-waste, and cut down on consumption habits. It's not the 90s anymore – life in plastic, isn't fantastic (sorry, Aqua!).

RECOMMENDED: 7 ways to be sustainable during the circuit breaker

Turn up the fun-o-meter in your next digital gathering by challenging your friends to an online game. Plan virtual game nights with multiplayer apps ranging from quizzes and charades to wordplay and races – you don't have to leave your bed for a friendly competition. Did you know that there’s an online version of Cards Against Humanity too? Amp up the fun by joining a group video call and witnessing everyone's reactions.

RECOMMENDED: The best online games to play with your friends

There are various online initiatives by local theatre companies including Wild Rice, Pangdemonium, and The Necessary Stage to keep us entertained like online watch parties, virtual theatrical experiences, and even Instagram book readings. While most live streaming and online initiatives are available for free, do consider supporting your favourite theatre companies if you enjoyed them. You can do this by donating or buying merchandise.

RECOMMENDED: The best live streams and online initiatives by local theatre groups

Beyond flirting on the phone, up the romance in your so-called LDR love story with fun virtual dates while social distancing. Here are some ideas: play dinner-delivery roulette, Netflix Party and chill, visit each other's island on Animal Crossing, explore a virtual art exhibition together, take turns spinning quaran-tunes (and find new music to obsess over), or ask those 36 burning questions during phone pillow talk.

RECOMMENDED: The best online date night ideas

Fancy a tipple or two? We could all use a drink, especially during these strange times. Make it extra special by joining the 1887 Virtual Bar where guest bartenders from watering holes including Shin Gi Tai, Nutmeg & Clove, Jekyll & Hyde, and more shake up special cocktails on Zoom. Alternatively, bring the famous 28 experience from 28 HongKong Street to your house with its House Party where you can invite your mates to join online.

RECOMMENDED: Bars offering cocktail takeaways and delivery

Due to the dire consequences of the current climate, many people and communities in Singapore are affected, resulting in decreased donations across all charities and fewer volunteers because of the strict restrictions on social distancing. While we all play our part to flatten the curve, it's also important to stand in solidarity with the community – providing help to those who need it most, especially at the fringes of our society. If you don't feel comfortable volunteering, you can do your part and donate if you have the means.

RECOMMENDED: Local charities that need your support right now

One of the upsides of yoga is the ability to do it anywhere – whether you're at the studio, beach, and even your own home. Factor in the numerous mental and physical health benefits of yoga, and you've got a trusty workout. While we wait patiently for our favourite yoga studios to reopen, there are various digital classes from local studios you can tune into for vinyasa yoga, reiki yoga, and sun salutations.  

RECOMMENDED: The best digital classes from yoga studios

Ground control to all wannabe space rangers – blast off with NASA and Science Centre Singapore via its virtual and augmented reality (AR) tours. Through NASA at Home, you can live your astronaut dreams with 360-degree virtual walkthroughs of the space stations, visualisations of other planets, e-books about the solar system, and informative videos and interesting podcasts discussing all things space including past Apollo missions too – and it's all for free. Further your out-of-this-world exploration every Friday with a live vodcast at 4.30pm and stargazing session at 8pm, each happening on alternate weeks via the Science Centre Observatory Facebook page.

These are strange times and it's undeniable that it has affected everyone in different ways. The least we can do is be kind and understanding towards one another, whether it's a stranger or a friend we haven't talked to in years. A good deed can and will go a long way. Start easy – by treating them to a meal, buy them flowers, customise a tea blend, send some mail, or make art for frontliners. Plus, self-care goes a long way, so be kind to yourself too.

RECOMMENDED: Make someone’s day with some of these kind gestures

Airbnb is bringing the vacation to the living room with Airbnb Online Experiences. There are over 50 online experiences to book and partake via Zoom. Learn how to make the perfect Chinese steamed bun with a chef in Singapore, work out like an Olympian with athletes from Belgium, create colourful pasta with an Italian chef, discover Turkish fortune coffee reading from the United States, and witness a magician reveal his secrets from his magic lair in the United Kingdom. Did we mention a guided meditation with a sleepy sheep too?

Whether you're an aspiring or established artist, one thing is for sure: it never hurts to grow your creative skillset. Don't get us wrong, you don't have to be the next Pablo Picasso. Simply tap into your imagination and create your vision. After all, art is known to have numerous benefits for your mental health such as alleviating stress. With time on our sleeves now's a good time to brush up on your watercolour painting, drawing and graphic illustration skills.

RECOMMENDED: Arts and craft you can learn from home and MoMA is offering free online art courses you can take from home

While football fans wait for the Premier League season to resume, they can still have a kick off-pitch with the Premier League's #WeAreOneTeam initiatives. Expect home workouts with players and coaches from top clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United, home-learning content for the little ones as part of Primary Stars, and an online pub quiz hosted by James Allcott every Sunday on the Premier League YouTube channel.

Have your fix of short films with Objectifs Film Library which digitally houses over 40 titles by 14 Southeast Asian filmmakers. Among the shorts are those by award-winning Singapore directors Boo Junfeng and Kirsten Tan. Objectifs also has a film club in the pipeline, organising events to highlight selected films and invite filmmakers to share more about their craft with fellow film lovers via Zoom.

It's not just about Amazon, Lazada and Redmart when it comes to online shopping in Singapore. There are also local online stores that let you stock up on books, tea, wireless headphones and more to get through the stay-in season. Now you don't even have to look cute to go out. Sink into the couch in your comfiest sweatpants and click away.

RECOMMENDED: The best local online shopping sites

Despite the annual Keukenhof Flower Exhibit being cancelled this year, you can still get an eyeful of the colourful petals. The garden, which is at its blooming best right now, has decided to share its fields of technicolour tulips, daffodils and hyacinths online, via a series of videos, so that they can still be enjoyed. Keukenhof is the world’s largest bulb-flower garden and boasts more than 800 varieties of tulips. Seven million bulbs were planted for this year’s display.

RECOMMENDED: You can now take a virtual tour of The Netherlands’ most spectacular tulip garden

Put together by die-hard Potterheads, Hogwarts Is Here offers free virtual classes of the entire magical course directory including Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions, as well as the history of the magic O.W.L.S exams and magical transportation. You can also visit Hogwarts via a virtual Wizarding World walkthrough on YouTube that takes you to Dumbledore's office, the Defense Against The Dark Arts classroom, the herbology lab, and the Room of Requirement.

Head back to Amsterdam – virtually – through one of the world’s most unusual museums Kattenkabinet’s online exhibition. The grand, privately owned canal house filled to the whiskers with paintings, posters and sculptures of cats spotlights the representation of felines in art history, through 75 works from ancient Egypt to the present day.

RECOMMENDED: This virtual exhibition explores the history of cats in art and the best virtual art exhibition to explore from your couch

While we can't jet to Japan to witness its beautiful sakura blooms, you can still get your fill of the cherry blossoms from your living room. Japan’s Weather News channel has released 50 VR videos that explore the best blossom spots throughout Japan, with stunning 360-degree views and some very soothing background music. Bliss.

If you’re up for a challenge (and you have a massive home), we dare you to take on the brand-new Travel Around Art puzzle. It comes in at an astonishing 54,000 pieces: we’re talking 190-square-feet of pure fun. When completed, it reveals an art gallery, complete with artworks like Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss and Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring.

RECOMMENDED: The new world’s biggest jigsaw has landed, and it has 54,000 pieces

Remember when you promised yourself you’d learn to play that guitar that ended up gathering dust in the corner? Here’s your chance: Fender is offering three months’ free online lessons. The guitar maker has even got high-resolution videos with IRL teachers, and you can track your progress online. You can follow along to videos or practise at your own pace, with adjustable scrolling tablature and a metronome.

RECOMMENDED: Fender is giving you three months of guitar lessons online for free

There’s no denying that karaoke is (almost) every Singaporean’s favourite pastime – besides eating. Whether you’re singing along to pop hits with your buddies or brooding over a break-up with tear-jerking slow jams, there’s always a reason to flex your impressive vocal chops (or lack thereof). We put together the top tracks you need to put in queue for the perfect karaoke sesh. Karaoke versions of all of them are widely available online.

RECOMMENDED: 18 karaoke songs that every Singaporean adds to their KTV queue

Daily Zoom meetings with your colleagues getting a bit stale? Why not switch things up by changing your background on Zoom and using your imagination? Sentosa, the National Heritage Board, and us here at Time Out Singapore have created fun backgrounds for you to use during your next conference call. Here's a quick and easy guide on how to do it: download the image, join a Zoom meeting, click on the arrow to the right of the stop/start video button, select 'choose virtual background', click on the + sign on the right to add image or video, select your chosen image from your folders and voila!

RECOMMENDED: Zoom backgrounds to use if you miss being out in Singapore

IKEA recently released the secret recipe for its famous meatball dish online – and it's an adorable replication of its usual instruction manual. Instead of screws and complicated graphics, all you need to prepare the dish are four simple steps, and common ingredients of minced meat (pork and beef), onions, garlic, breadcrumbs, and milk. The recipe card also comes complete with instructions on how to make a one-pot cream sauce. Melt butter, and throw in flour, vegetable and beef stock, double cream, soy sauce, and a squeeze of dijon mustard and leave the mixture to simmer and thicken. To re-create the full IKEA dining experience, we suggest throwing in some boiled potatoes and a dollop of lingonberry jam (if you can get some).

Missing a pot? Or a saucepan? Don’t worry – IKEA’s still got your back. Its online store remains open should you require any DIY furniture pieces.

RECOMMENDED: IKEA has revealed the recipe for its famous meatballs so you can make it at home

Take your theatre nights to another level with opera. New York’s Metropolitan Opera is raiding its archives and streaming free daily productions from the award-winning Live in HD series while its doors are closed. London’s Royal Opera House is also streaming past productions every Friday, while Vienna’s acclaimed Wiener Staatsoper is sticking as closely as possible to its planned schedule of performances, but with archive productions rather than live ones. And they’re all filmed from the best seats in the house – no opera glasses needed.

RECOMMENDED: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s biggest musicals are streaming free on YouTube for a limited time

Calling all history buffs: the immersive digital version of National Museum of Singapore's Bicentennial exhibition, An Old New World: From the East Indies to the Founding of Singapore, 1600s – 1819 transports you back in time to the bustling trading port of the East Indies that drew the attention of the Dutch and British East India Companies. Embark on your online adventure, uncovering the factors that led to the events of 1819 by selecting either one of the two modes of navigation: self-exploratory or guided which has curators Daniel Tham and Iskander Mydin narrating about Knowledge and Power and Seeing the Indigenous, as you explore the featured artefacts and surrounding showcases.

Bread flour is sold out almost everywhere, more people are drinking coffee (Dalgona to be specific), 'stay well' is the new normal email sign off, the colleagues are now your pets or plants, and pants are optional. The circuit breaker has made us all into caricatures. Deny it if you want, but before you put your third banana bread in the oven, find out which circuit breaker cliché you've become. In the meantime... stay well.

RECOMMENDED: Which circuit breaker cliche are you?