As we continue to practice social distancing, the need for exercise, information and entertainment increases. There are many resources available to help meet those needs.

While schools are closed and children are at home, AmazingEducationalResources.com lists hundreds of sites offering free services and subscriptions. The many sites are aimed at children of all ages to inform, educate and entertain. From short tutorials to full lesson plans, AmazingEducationalResources.com has many options, and the list continues to grow.

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Most libraries offer some sort of free video streaming service with your library card. Services like Kanopy partner with libraries and universities to offer ad-free movies and series.

Along with staying healthy, we all need to care about physical fitness. Gyms and personal trainers offer online personal training through audiovisual formats. Personal trainer Tommy Else helped me prepare for several marathons, and now I am utilizing his online services to work out while my health club is closed. Also, several years ago in our interview, fitness expert Joey Thurman demonstrated exercises that could be done in a hotel room, which now I am using in my home.

Virtual trips, tours and performances are on the rise. Museums, zoos and other such public places allow you to visit them via the internet. Artists, musicians and other creative folks have also taken to the internet to entertain and stay in front of public audiences.

In an effort to induce and reward patronage, many restaurants and businesses are offering specials on delivery, carry-out and gift cards. This is a great time to support local businesses and get a good deal.

It is a difficult time, and there is no timetable for a return to normalcy. We must do all we can to replace activities to keep our minds and bodies sharp.

— John Wroblewski, online writer