U.S. News 360 Guide to Staying at Home During The Coronavirus Outbreak

Key ways to make the most of staying at home:

Set up a Home Office

VPN, Web Conferences and Streaming

Home Health Supply Delivery

Meal Kit, Restaurant and Grocery Delivery

Distance Learning Resources for Kids and adults

On the surface, social distancing due to the coronavirus seems straightforward enough: work from your couch, spend some quality time with your family and take a few extra walks with your dog. The reality, as many Americans are finding out, is a lot tougher. Hunching over a laptop for hours on end is terrible for your back, your kids need to continue their education, you're running low on dog food and it's been so long since you've had fresh vegetables you find yourself craving a salad.

Staying at home while the coronavirus runs its course isn't the same as spending a day or two hunkered down during a storm. You know you need to be prepared for several weeks of being at home, and that means more than stocking up on toilet paper. You must also make sure you can get your work done, take care of your family and take care of yourself.

U.S. News is here to help. We've assembled this guide, which covers the retailers and services that can provide you and your family with what you need to get through this challenging period. We've also curated expert advice from every team at U.S. News, from education and careers to health and even travel. As you stay at home to help flatten the curve, we're here to help you. And yes – we're doing all of this from our homes, too.

Setting Up a Home Office

Long-term work from home is much different than taking the occasional day to tend to a sick child or wait for a plumber. For one or two days, your kitchen table, couch and laptop might be fine, but over the long term, you need a work-from-home setup that supports your health and productivity. Successfully working from home means maintaining a routine, leveraging available technology to stay in touch with your team, minimizing distractions and keeping yourself healthy.

If you don't have one already, look into getting an ergonomically correct chair to support your back. If you're working on a laptop, get an external monitor to avoid spending days hunched over to see your screen, or look into getting a laptop stand and external keyboard to raise your screen to eye level. Your neck and shoulders will thank you.

Commandeering the kitchen table may be a viable short-term option for working at home, but creating a dedicated desk and workspace will allow you to set yourself up to work comfortably for the long haul. A dedicated workspace can also help you focus during work hours, while still allowing you to step away from work when you need to recharge. Look for a desk that fits your space and has enough surface area for a monitor or a laptop stand, as well as a lamp to help you avoid eye strain.

You're likely doing a lot of videoconferencing now, and a full headset with a mic will not only minimize background noise for you, but also for everyone else on the call. When you're not on a call, you can use the headset to block out noise from neighbors, kids or housemates so you can focus.

These retailers all have the work-from-home essentials to get you set up and productive in no time.

Setting Up Your Home Network:

A virtual private network, or VPN, provides an assortment of benefits for anyone working remotely. Regardless of whether you're connected to a public or private network, a VPN protects your privacy by encrypting your data. It's basically a network within a network. This extra security proves useful if you're using an internet connection that doesn't belong to you, or you want another layer of privacy and protection for your work. Some employers require a VPN for work that involves sensitive projects or data. A VPN also allows devices that are not physically near one another to connect to the same network. So, for example, you can access files on remote servers or your office computer.

These VPNs offer you and your work extra protection as you work from home.

Web Conferencing

Videoconferences provide an excellent way to stay connected to your coworkers or clients. The best videoconferencing services will have clear audio and video connections (though much of that depends on your internet connection) and the ability to share your screen. These features allow you to collaborate on projects, get valuable feedback, and answer questions. Learn more about videoconferencing services, or check the companies that offer videoconferencing services below.

Keeping Your Home Healthy and Clean

Not having a daily commute frees up a lot of time – and you're going to need it to keep your home clean. With more people at home, you'll be washing more dishes and cleaning surfaces like countertops more frequently than usual.

If you typically keep your pets confined or crated during the day while you are at work, having them out and about means there will be more pet hair to vacuum up throughout the house. If you're going in and out to walk the dog more often, or if your kids are getting muddy in the yard all day, you'll also have more dust and dirt to clean up than usual.

You may also want to use your extra time at home to do a thorough deep cleaning of your quarters. As such, you're going to need more cleaning supplies than usual. You'll also likely need more paper goods, such as toilet paper and paper towels, since everyone you live with will be at home to use them.

On top of that, the threat of COVID-19 means you must also keep your home disinfected. You will need to stock up on plenty of hand soap, as well as disinfectant spray or wipes for commonly touched items like doorknobs and light switches. A recent study from the National Institutes of Health found that coronavirus can live on some surfaces for hours or even days; the virus survives three days on plastic and two to three days on stainless steel, for example. There are a number of products you'll need to stock up on to self-quarantine during the coronavirus outbreak.

The following retailers all offer home delivery of key cleaning supplies to maintain (or even improve) your home's cleanliness while you stay in it.

Home Health Supply Delivery

Taking care of the people in your home without catching COVID-19 is one of the most important things you can do during this time. It's particularly critical if you live with a high-risk individual, like someone older than 60, someone with a compromised immune system or someone who has other underlying risk factors, such as heart or lung disease.

You'll not only need to minimize your exposure to the virus, but you'll also need to minimize their exposure as well. These retailers offer delivery of key supplies, including tissues, diapers, baby wipes and formula, over-the-counter medicines and other home health supplies.

While having these supplies delivered does lessen the risk of exposure to the virus, you'll still need to take precautions. COVID-19 can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours, according to the NIH. If you can, wear gloves and dispose of all exterior packaging as soon as you can, or at least wipe boxes down with disinfectant. Do not allow high-risk individuals to handle packages without wearing gloves or a mask. Make sure to wash your hands when you're done.

Meal Kit, Restaurant and Grocery Delivery During Quarantine

While some people might be using their extra time at home to cook elaborate meals, others are microwaving chicken nuggets and calling it a day. No matter which camp you fall into, you're still going to need to eat.

Meal Kit Delivery

A meal kit service can be a great way to add some variety to your diet without having to invest in ingredients you may never use again. We reviewed some of the best meal kit delivery services and found programs to match nearly every dietary need, whether you are seeking gluten-free, keto, plant-based, Whole30, weight loss, vegan, diabetic or Mediterranean diet options. Even if you don't follow a specialized eating plan, you can count on these meal kit services to keep you satiated and smiling while you're at home.

Restaurant Delivery

You may also be missing your favorite restaurants, and they're likely missing your business. If you don't feel like cooking, there are a number of restaurant delivery services available, with many offering contactless drop-offs. As with all other deliveries, you'll want to dispose of the packaging and wash your hands before you eat to reduce your risk of exposure to the virus.

Grocery Delivery

Even if you stocked up on food and grocery items before social distancing, you may now find yourself running out of some essentials. A grocery delivery service can help by minimizing your exposure to the virus in public places, and by decreasing your risk of transmitting the virus to others. We looked at the Best Grocery Delivery Services of 2019 and have found deals from some of the top services.

The following companies offer grocery delivery and allow you to request no-contact drop-offs. As with other deliveries, you should dispose of all packaging and wash your hands after you put your items away. Also, be sure to disinfect any surfaces the packaging has touched, like your kitchen counter, to reduce your risk of exposure. (While you're making your grocery list, take a look at the foods nutritionists recommend you have on hand while quarantined.)

Pet Supply Delivery

One positive result of COVID-19's quarantine protocols is that people have been fostering or adopting homeless dogs and cats in droves. If you are considering adding a furry friend to your family (or already have one), it's important to keep in mind that you will need to have pet supplies on hand.

All animals will need an adequate supply of food, and some may need medications, litter boxes or disposable bedding. Those who already own dogs may need more waste bags to clean up their messes on walks. Pet groomers are closed in many states, so you should also be prepared to perform basic grooming tasks, like brushing your pet's coat, brushing their teeth, trimming their nails and cleaning out their ears. These retailers can deliver pet supplies so you can care for your pet while under quarantine.

Distance Learning for Kids During COVID-19

Most schools and daycares are closed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which means kids are staying home with their parents. If you have kids at home, it's important to keep them engaged and learning throughout their hiatus from formal education.

Experts agree that setting and sticking to a routine can help the whole family remain comfortable and productive. Everyone should wake up and get dressed at a regular time each day, and children should maintain their regular bedtimes. Set aside distinct time for school work, craft projects and playtime, but also allow for flexibility. For instance, if you're working from home Monday to Friday, save some homeschooling projects for the weekends so your weekdays aren't too packed. Try to fit lessons into your daily activities, like cooking, to keep your kids engaged. To ensure a healthy balance, trade off childcare duties with your partner or another trusted adult in your household if possible.

Teaching your kids when you're not a teacher can be daunting, and it's made even harder if you're also trying to get your regular work done. These online tutoring services – which cover a variety of subjects – can provide guidance for your kids while they're out of school.

Educational Apps

Not every child will need a tutor. These educational services and apps provide lessons in subjects like reading, math, science, writing and social studies, and they are appropriate for elementary school students. Not only will the programs help your children learn while they're out of school, but they'll also keep your children occupied so you're free to focus on something else for a bit.

Educational Toys

If your children prefer a more hands-on approach to learning, the following retailers offer educational toys and subscription boxes to keep kids entertained. Some also offer workbooks and craft supplies. A box of sidewalk chalk and your driveway can make for a fun outdoor math lesson; some paint, construction paper and recycled cardboard boxes can be turned into a table-top town to enhance social studies lessons. You can also use these sites to buy old-fashioned energy burners, like jump ropes and hula hoops, to keep everyone sane.

Staying Happy at Home

Streaming Services

When you're not working or caring for your loved ones, you'll need to keep yourself happy and entertained. Subscribing to a streaming service can give you access to your favorite shows and movies. Some film studios are even taking theatrical releases directly to streaming services.

While you may already have access to your favorite services, now is a good time to check out others. Learn more about streaming services, or check out some of your best options below.

Exercising at Home

Regular exercise will not only keep you physically healthy while you're staying home, it can also help maintain or improve your mental health. There are plenty of at-home workout routines you can try, including some that can help your posture and back (which is key if you're sitting and working all day). There are also a number of online workouts available through apps, livestreams and prerecorded videos. When you're in need of fresh air, try walking or running outside (while maintaining an appropriate distance from other people, of course).

These sites are offering workout routines, exercise equipment or workout apparel to help you stay healthy.

Adult Learning During Quarantine

This is a stressful time, and no one would blame you if you spent it on the couch watching cat videos. With the right mindset, however, you can take this challenging period and turn it into a time of growth. With extra time at home, you can learn new things and (virtually) explore new places and even do some travel-themed activities from the comfort of your couch.

Take this time to learn some new skills, test out new hobbies, transition to a new career or just brush up on your high school Spanish. The following sites can help you emerge from social distancing with some new skills in your back pocket.

Dealing with the coronavirus, staying on top of work and caring for the people you love can take a lot out of you. If you're feeling like all of this is more than you can handle, help is available even when you're at home. Talkspace, an online talk therapy platform, can help you work through this uncertain time and give you the tools necessary to care for yourself.