Lifehacker

Social distancing means a lot of us are spending significantly more time at home. If that’s not something you’re used to doing, then you might have started to run out of things to pass the time.

Sitting here in not-so-sunny California, I’m bored to tears as a result of the Coronavirus lockdown. And while I have video games to entertain me, and endless work to do (from home, of course), I’ve been looking for a better way to deal with the solitary conditions I, and plenty others, will be dealing with over the…Read more...

Much of the country is beginning the process of social distancing—if not all-out isolating themselves from the outside world—in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. And while it’s important to do this, particularly to protect the most vulnerable in our population, it also means many of those vulnerable…Read more...

There are many reasons to be using digital payment options these days instead of cash or card, and Google’s latest Pixel Feature Drop just gave Google Pay users an even prettier way for Pixel users to manage their money.

Cats are great, sure, but they can also be jerks. Like when they step all over your face in the middle of the night—so you close your bedroom door and they meow and scratch until you let them back in. Here’s how to get them to stop so you can get some sleep.

If you asked me last month, I’d have said that I’m part of a small-yet-mighty cadre of workers who hangs in their house all day, metaphorically tied to a laptop and desk. But today, it could be argued that I’m one of the masses who are now calling home and work the same place.

Social distancing and closed facilities in many of your cities and towns may make going to a recovery meeting harder to do.

It is a great time to be a bean, or, more accurately, a purveyor of beans. In addition to the popularity of a certain exclusive bean club, current conditions have made beans—both dried and canned—a sought-after item.Read more...

Coronavirus has exposed a reality that many Americans already knew to be true: there are gaping holes in our deliberately weakened and insufficient social safety net. We all likely know people who are now out of work, who are wondering how they will pay their bills, who are worried about their health and that of their…Read more...

3 Months Free w/ 1-Year Subscription | NordPass | Promo code nordwfhRead more...

It’s easy to get duped right now, while we’re all in panic mode. All it takes is for one person with a bit of free time on their hands to make a “Coronavirus dashboard” that asks unsuspecting users to install an application on their machine, and boom—you’re suckered into installing malware on your system when you…Read more...

Worried about paying your credit card bill right now? Your card issuer may be able to help.Read more...

As schools around the country close and parents scramble to either work from home or find child care, it can be easy to view this as one big, long snow day. Prop ‘em in front of the TV with some snacks and ride it out. But experts agree that the best thing parents can do for kids off school for the next couple of…Read more...

The spread of the coronavirus isn’t just affecting public health and the global economy; it also impacts internet and cellular networks. With so many people stuck at home and others displaced by travel bans, data usage has risen, bandwidth is clogged, and service is being disrupted all around the world.Read more...

While it doesn’t seem like pets play a role in transmitting COVID-19 between people, a dog in Hong Kong was reported to test positive for it earlier this month. Experts are still puzzling over exactly what this means.Read more...

On Friday, President Trump said he would waive interest on federal student loans. But the move isn’t as exciting as it sounds.

If you’re currently relying on food delivery to get you and your family through a work-and-school-at-home situation—or if you’re having food delivered to elderly relatives and friends who need a little extra love and care right now—there’s one good way to ensure that as much of your money as possible goes towards the…Read more...

Beyond health and safety concerns, one of the biggest sources of anxiety for people right now is keeping themselves and their families fed. While it’s easy to invest in a whole bunch of dried pasta and beans, buying vegetables, storing perishables, and planning meals can feel a bit confusing. Luckily the editors of…Read more...

Forget paleo, keto, and intermittent fasting—we’re getting to the truth of how you really should be eating this week with Mark Bittman and Dr. David L. Katz. Their latest book is called How to Eat: All Your Food and Diet Questions Answered, and in this episode, they discuss the importance of using both science and…Read more...

If you’ve ever wondered whether hanging upside down for too long can kill you, the answer is yes. Here’s what happens to your body if you don’t get it upright in time.Read more...

Stay home. That’s the first rule of self-quarantine, and of social distancing. But after a while you may be itching to get outside and move, and I have good news for you: if you’re able to do it all on your lonesome, it’s fine to go out for a run.Read more...

“If even ONE student in my ENTIRE school gets sick with the coronavirus, they’re going to call off school for EVERYONE,” my nine-year-old son announced to me the other day. “Why is everyone talking about this so much?” He’s right on both accounts—they will probably close his school (even if a student doesn’t test…Read more...

In the past few days, I’ve seen some terrible advertisements and articles telling you that you should get a will, right now, at this very moment. Because if the coronavirus doesn’t take you down, you’re definitely not going to live that 150 years you’ve been planning on! (Seriously, I saw that copy with my own eyes.)Read more...

If social distancing has made you already blow through all the movies and television shows you had in your queue, Netflix is dropping a bunch of new stuff this week to help you build it back up again.

Social distancing means that we’re all spending a lot more time at home, canceling or rescheduling vacations, and probably not going out to things like movies and museums. Staying at home doesn’t mean you can’t experience a little travel, and maybe a little culture, from your home computer.

Vice President Joe Biden will take on Senator Bernie Sanders tonight at 8pm ET in a televised debate from CNN’s studio in Washington, D.C.

Social distancing means that many of us will be spending quality time at home this weekend rather than out at bars, restaurants, and concerts with friends. Just because you’re staying a safe distance away from other people doesn’t mean you can’t hang out with them virtually.

An Instant Pot, solar power generator, a sale on high-quality soap, and Sonic the Hedgehog pre-order bonuses lead Saturday’s best deals around the Web.

If you have a flight coming up and are worried about bringing your hand sanitizer on-board we have some good news for you: now you can pack larger bottles in your carry on.

Over the past few weeks, more and more of us have started spending a bit more time at home. Maybe your office is asking everyone to work from home, or you’re self-quarantining because you’ve traveled recently or been exposed to someone that has the virus. Or maybe all your plans to attend sporting events, concerts,…Read more...

With more people staying at home and working remotely to avoid the COVID-19 outbreak, online security has become an even higher priority. Using a web browser that respects user privacy and keeps your data safe is a telecommuting necessity, but you should probably avoid using the Tor web browser for now, even though…Read more...

Will I get sick from opening a package? What about handling a library book? Is it safe to drink from a water fountain? What about lifting weights at the gym? Do I need to worry about my toddler’s habit of putting everything in his mouth? We know that the coronavirus can survive for a little while on surfaces, which…Read more...

If you’ve braved the crowds at your local store only to find the disinfectant aisle picked clean, you might be absolutely freaking out right about now. Don’t lose all hope just yet: Coronavirus panic may have wiped out the national supply of hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes, but I bet your store still has plenty of…Read more...

Remember when you decided 2020 would be the Best Year Ever and bought tickets for festivals, concerts and sporting events? Yeah, you were going to have a blast. Until the coronavirus showed up and canceled almost every social gathering of more than 100 people.

It seems that a lot of us are going to be spending more time at home, which could lead to boredom, ennui, and a good bit of alcohol consumption. Twitter—which is a very fun place—seems to be excited about these potential “quarantinis,” which have two forms: “a regular martini you drink alone in your house,” and this…Read more...

If you or your child has a permanent disability you may be entitled to a free lifetime pass to visit the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands.

U-Haul is offering 30-days of free storage to any college students who have been forced to suddenly leave their dorms due to the pandemic.

Ultraviolet (UV) light might be known for its skin-damaging intensity, but it can also be used to disinfect your electronic devices and keep you safe from the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses or bacteria. UV disinfection—which uses UV-C light, specifically—is a common practice at many electronics repair shops…Read more...

As more and more communities shut down non-essential services, and as people begin self-quarantining in higher numbers, a lot of workers are going to be forced to stay home without pay. If you’re among the lucky who can work from home (or you’re getting paid time off), and you can still afford that cleaning person or…Read more...

Low-income families can potentially get two months of free internet from Comcast in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Sometimes life gives you more than you can handle, and sometimes the thing it gives you is herbs. Whether you have an overproductive garden, generous friends with an overproductive garden, or a grocery store that refuses to sell herbs in anything but a packed plastic clamshell, it is not always easy to acquire the…Read more...

When I get bored at the drugstore, I buy gimmicky stuff I don’t need. That’s how I finally discovered liquid bandage, which it turns out I do need, because it’s great for small cuts, blisters and any cut on my hand. Liquid bandage replaces a normal bandage with a layer of clear liquid applied directly to the wound.

If coronavirus concerns and social distancing have you skipping a trip to your local coffee shop, restaurant, or theater, consider purchasing a gift card now.

When it comes to coronavirus news, there’s no shortage of misinformation and bad actors. If you want to learn from trusted sources, you might be worried that you’ll soon run out of your free articles for the month and then be stuck trusting a bunch of tweets.Read more...

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I can’t do it anymore. If I sing the words “happy birthday” to myself one more time as I wash my hands, I might combust. It’s actually my birthday today, and the last thing I want to hear is that song. In the video above, I found a solution.Read more...

I stirred up a bit of a hornet’s nest this week when I suggested that people should switch from Google Authenticator to another two-factor authentication app on Android. I recommended Authy, but that’s only because I use it and find it incredibly convenient. Not only does it forbid you (and other apps) from taking…Read more...

Excalibur 9-Tray Food Dehydrator | $190 | AmazonRead more...

Whether you’re self-quarantining, your gym has canceled events as a social distancing measure, or you just want to be cautious, it’s nice to have options for working out besides going to your usual gym or fitness class. Here are a few ways to stay active on your own.Read more...

All jokes about Netflix and social distancing aside, the coronavirus outbreak is causing financial uncertainty for a lot of people. From workers who rely on tips to events staffers for now-canceled festivals and trade shows, there are plenty of scenarios where the income you can typically count on may not come through.Read more...