Creative self-care | Looking after your health and wellbeing during COVID-19

With social distancing measures put in place, there has never been a more important time to take care of your mental and physical wellbeing. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to take care of yourself and try something new from home.

BRAIN FOOD

Keep your brain sharp with these free online resources.

Ebooks
Google Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books and Audible are all offering a selection of free ebooks. To enjoy a range of free ebooks on every topic imaginable, simply search “free books” at each site.

Study online
From novel writing to coding and design, Future Learn has a multitude of short courses and online degrees from leading universities. It’s never too late to learn a new skill or pursue the career of your dreams.

Research, research, research 
If you’ve always had a strong interest in academia or are keen to learn more about a specific topic in-depth, now is a great time to read the latest publications and get up to speed on the latest developments with your area. Visit www.jstor.org for access to thousands of academic journals for free during lockdown.

MIND, BODY AND SOUL

Yoga is an excellent way to improve flexibility, fitness and relieve stress simultaneously, all from the comfort of your home.

For beginners or those with limited mobility, why not start off with some gentle chair yoga. GemLife Woodend resident and fully-qualified yoga instructor Julie Ritchi has created a program of simple, at-home chair yoga poses that anyone can try.

Or for those looking for something more intensive, try one of Brett Larkin’s many free online yoga challenges.

ART & CULTURE

Experience some of the world’s most amazing artists and performances from around the globe for free. International art galleries and museums are offering free virtual experiences, including:

Uffizi in Florence, Italy, with arguably one of the best collections of Renaissance art in the world.

Musée d’Orsay in Paris, home to an incredible collection of Van Gogh and Cezanne’s artistic masterpieces.

Visit the Opera. Immerse yourself in the drama of an opera performance. The Met Opera has started streaming performances. Perfect for long-time opera lovers or those who are looking for something new to try. Visit operawire.com to learn more.

TRAVEL

Are you itching to explore somewhere new? While you may not be able to hit the road for a while, it’s never too soon to start planning your next trip! For those of you yearning to explore the great outdoors via road, have a destination in mind but are unsure of the best route to take, try using a journey planner such as roadtrippers.com/australia or http://www.camparoundaustralia.com.au/road-trip-planner/.

Or virtually escape your loungeroom to visit the northern lights, the Eiffel Tower in France or Yosemite National Park in USA by visiting Concrete Playground.

Next steps

Has quarantine got you wondering what’s next?

If you’ve been considering downsizing your home or moving into an over-50s lifestyle resort in order to live a more vibrant and social life, now’s the time to start your research. GemLife is now offering private appointments for prospective residents.

Click here to book your private appointment for Bribie Island
Click here to book your private appointment for Highfields
Click here to book your private appointment for Maroochy Quays
Click here to book your private appointment for Pacific Paradise
Click here to book your private appointment for Woodend
Click here to book your private appointment for Tweed Waters

Learn more about the GemLife lifestyle, browse floor plans, carpet, tile and colour scheme samples, and pricelists for our resorts’ stunning, open-plan two and three-bedroom homes designs and have all your questions answered by our expert sales team.