– This post was written by Neesha Kanga –
Stuck at home? Us too. As we ease into the idea of being increasingly homebound, we may be longing for the before-times and the things we did in a pre-corona world. With that in mind, Tiqets set out to learn how you’re getting your culture fix indoors and what holidays and travel ideas are keeping you motivated.
We created a survey to investigate what ‘outside-things’ you miss doing, how you’re enjoying cultural activities at home, and what your future travel plans may look like. Two hundred and thirty-seven people responded – here’s what we found out.
Activities people miss the most
Travel (85%)
The vast majority of you miss traveling the most. Perhaps you had long-awaited travel plans fall through, or some of you might be defined by the new places you experience.
It’s easy to fall into a trap of irritability and demotivation when there are no travel plans on the horizon. While the future of travel is still uncertain, there are ways to cope with your sudden stillness. From exploring hidden destinations in your own country to quelling the burgeoning wanderlust via inspiring photographs, the key is keeping your itchy feet busy. This is the best time to start planning and saving for your perfect post-corona vacation!
Friends (75%)
Glitchy Zoom calls and socially-distanced air hugs just aren’t cutting it, as 75% of you miss your friends. While we’ve been doing our part by self-isolating, we may also be missing events and celebrations that would otherwise be filled with familiar faces.
It is important to hold off any close-proximity social contact, despite how great the weather is for a stellar garden party. Even after the quarantine is lifted and establishments start to open, we’ll still be looking at a 1.5-meter society until a vaccine becomes widely available.
In the meantime, you and your friends can feel more connected by getting into virtual activities together. For example, you can make a day out of dressing up as famous works of art as made popular by the Getty Museum challenge. You can also submit your own artwork dedicated to your BFF to Tiqets Homemade Museum, or co-watch the best travel documentaries on Netflix to get you into the mood for exploring together again.
Nature (51%)
51% of you miss the great outdoors. Spending time in nature is crucial for mental and physical health, and with most of us under strict lockdown, the call of the wild is louder than ever. The good news is that nature is thriving without us, and when you return, Mother Nature will be even more beautiful than you remembered her to be.
Meanwhile, seek out the green spaces close to you. Be it a secluded city park or a drive through the countryside, you can still stay connected to Earth’s beauty while social distancing. Keep your eyes peeled on nearby national parks that you can visit as soon as these places can enforce the re-opening guidelines. Better yet, if you have the space for it, challenge your green thumb and try gardening!
Museums & attractions (50%)
The audience is split on this one – 50% of you miss visiting museums and attractions. Museums are important cultural institutions that allow us to feel rooted in our creative selves, and undoubtedly, it’s an industry that’s been hit hard by the coronavirus.
Attractions like zoos and amusement parks aren’t exempt from the repercussions of the pandemic either. Thankfully, there are still ways to experience your favorite attractions from home via livestreams. Our high-cultured respondents will be glad to know that many museums now offer virtual experiences of their exhibits.
Concerts & festivals (46%)
Despite summer approaching, many of us can put away the tie-dye shirts and pop-up tents this year. Concerts and festivals are canceled across the board until further notice. A cool 46% of you are in the midst of collecting your refunds and woefully missing out on an integral, performative aspect of culture.
Thankfully, some venues have decided that the show must go on! From Broadway to the Globe, theater and concert venues worldwide are finding ways to bring culture to your humble laptop screen-stage.
Virtual activities people tried at home
Online gym classes (47%)
47% of our health-conscious respondents have been keeping fit by taking online gym classes. While exercising may not be a cultural endeavor, it’s imperative for our mental and physical health that we keep active so we can truly enjoy all the places we’ll visit (and all the beaches we’ll be sprawled out on) when this calms down.
Livestream concerts (34%)
With live shows canceled, 34% of you have turned to the all-giving internet to fulfill your musical needs. YouTube is rife with videos of famous musicians, performers, and orchestras performing for virtual audiences. On top of that, entire cities have come alive with song and dance in shows of solidarity during these unprecedented times.
Social media live sessions (33%)
33% of you have been keeping up with the goings-on of the world via live social media sessions. It’s a great way to stay connected without putting anyone at risk. We’re lucky to be living in a time where Facetime and virtual hangout sessions are a thing. We’re even luckier that this technology is accessible to us, as the digital divide is causing further isolation in some parts of the world.
Virtual museum tours (28%)
A mere 28% of you found the time to take virtual museum tours. This is understandable because some would argue that the essence of a museum lies in experiencing the physical presence of the art object. So, while you’re waiting to actually walk through the hallowed halls of your favorite museum, why not plan your visit in advance by reading some of our guides to popular museums?
DIY art (21%)
Doing things tends to be hard – we know that because only 21% of you engaged in DIY activities. Some of us just prefer looking at art rather than making it. Others may already have their hands full from WFH and juggling a household-office-daycare center. If you’re spending quarantine at home with kids, DIY art projects can be a great way to get everyone’s creative juices flowing.
What’s next? Virtual activities people are interested in doing at home
Museum tours (47%)
Despite only 28% of respondents having partaken in virtual museum tours at home, there’s an aspirational 47% who want to give this a try. You can try easing into virtual cultural experiences by brushing shoulders with it via social media. There’s a plethora of Instagram and Twitter accounts, sub-Reddits, hashtags, and more that you can follow that’ll douse you in virtual cultural experiences without you even knowing it!
Theater shows (46%)
An interest in theater takes the stage with 46% of you wanting to experience more theater during the quarantine. Luckily, as mentioned above, tons of revered theater venues have taken their spiels online for a virtual audience to enjoy.
Cooking classes (44%)
With more time on our hands, it’s no wonder that 44% of respondents want to explore the culinary arts. Food is an essential part of experiencing a culture; from homemade cocktails to hand-kneaded pasta dough, cooking international dishes at home is an affordable way to get a taste of the places you’ll soon be dining in.
Music & concerts (44%)
Almost half of you want to experience music and concerts. With strict social-distancing rules and concert venues not being able to operate in full capacity, concerts are going to be less circle pit-y and more ‘please-maintain-your-proximity’. A small consolation is that there’s an increasing amount of concerts you can livestream each day, so get exploring!
Gym classes (41%)
Your local fitness center may not look the same when it reopens. If you thought you had a hard time seizing the squat rack before this, don’t hold your breath for what a post-corona gym is going to look like. For our fitness-focused 41%, a silver lining to this quarantine is the wealth of home workout resources available on the internet. Tons of YouTube fitness channels and yoga videos can help you stay healthy, mind, body and soul.
