After 56 long days, we've finally come to the last stretch of the circuit breaker period. Singapore is set to reopen and *fingers crossed* gradually return back to 'normal' life. In the past eight weeks, we've seen so much happen – From neighbours banging on pots from their balconies to the people we live with using a pan for the first time in their life. We take a look at what Singaporeans have been up to during the circuit breaker. No judgement, you do you, boo.
RECOMMENDED: Which 'circuit breaker' cliché are you? and what you can and cannot do in Singapore after the 'circuit breaker'
Undoubtedly, Dalgona coffee is the biggest trend to come out of the 'circuit breaker'. It's fancy looking, relatively easy to make and chances are that you have all the ingredients in your kitchen.
RECOMMENDED: How to up your coffee game at home
In uncertain times, we all turn to comfort food to make us feel better. Interestingly enough, this is not the first time banana bread has become popular during a difficult time. The last time people started baking banana bread a lot was during the Great Depression, according to food historian Sarah Wassberg Johnson.
I mean... it makes sense. Bars everywhere are shut – and have been closed for a long time – so we have to take to drinking at home. Thankfully many bars have stepped up to roll out cocktails that you can drink from home (along with bar bites!). The Time Out Home Bar Series is also a resource which has all the information you need to mix a drink like a pro from home.
Well, it looks like we won't be travelling anytime soon. The next best thing? Scrolling through our social media archive and posting snaps from old vacays even when it's not #ThrowbackThursday.
RECOMMENDED: The best virtual experiences from home and where the Time Out team wants to go to once it's safe to travel again
Making sourdough takes time and dedication – and now that most of us are at home, we now can turn our attention to more time-consuming recipes. From creating a starter to maintaining it and learning terms like 'autolyse' and 'bulk fermentation', mastering sourdough bread deserves a certificate.
When it was announced that all gyms, stadiums and exercise corners were closed, a lot of Singaporeans suddenly turned into fitness buffs. More people were jogging and going for runs, parks were full of both young and old residents working out. Impressive.
From Singapore's youth footballers to socialites and influencers, everyone's doing some sort of TikTok challenge every day, clapping and singing from balconies, turning lights on for solidarity and more. Now if we could all be a little nicer to each other IRL too, that'd be great.
With everyone stuck at home in their horny prisons, dating apps are a source of um, relief. Flirt all you want, it cannot amount to a real physical date anyway, but if you want to take it off the app and still be within the boundaries of the law, we have some ideas on how to date in a pandemic.
RECOMMENDED: The best (and worst) dating apps in Singapore
Bored, feeling restless and in need of a change? You should totally get some bangs. If you're guilty of taking matters into your hands this 'circuit breaker', you might just come out of the house with a new look. If it went awry, well let's say that it's a good thing the hair salons are open now...
It's great that more people are getting more conscious about reducing food waste – and regrowing vegetables. Though you can probably only 'harvest' a small (okay, tiny) crop, it's a fun side project to keep. The best veggies to regrow are green onions and even bok choy.
All of us are coping during the period in our own ways. For the more fortunate ones, the 'circuit breaker' has given us some time for ourselves. Whether it is putting on a face mask on most evenings, taking a long indulgent shower in the morning or even having more time to spend with the loved ones in your household, some of us have had a little more time to tend to our mental and physical health.
As most plant stores moved their business online, it has enabled many to embark on the journey of being a plant parent. Cue stocking up on bushy ferns, indoor palms, peace lilies and all sorts of succulents and cacti to turn the home into an indoor garden. At least it'll look good in pictures.
Just because you're working from home, it doesn't mean you should be in pyjamas all day and night. You can still stick to comfortable and lounge-y outfits – but dress it up a little so it looks presentable. At least for your work meeting on Zoom. We've seen many get creative with their WFH outfits, pairing sweatpants with crisp shirts or tie-dyeing their sweatsuits to make it look a little less mass fashion.
Did you even live through this period if you didn't take a snap wearing the free mask from the government – or perhaps a fashionable batik one you bought from a local maker?
RECOMMENDED: Everything you need to know about face masks in Singapore
Whether it's gnocchi or ravioli, making your own pasta is actually easier than you think. Of course, there's all the work you have to do to produce a serving – but there's something so satisfying about eating pasta you made from scratch.
Learn how to make cacio e pepe and gnocchi from scratch from some of Singapore's best chefs during our webinars.
Fermenting seems to be something people have time to do during the 'circuit breaker'. From making pickles to kombucha, everyone's trying out DIY fermentation projects. It might not be the easiest thing to make but there's a lot of freedom in choosing flavours and experimenting around – something we all have time to do these days.
Can't hang out in person? No problem. The 'circuit breaker' has also made people connect in more creative ways. Work meetings and game nights with friends are also done differently these days. Even the old folks are fiddling around with gadgets and getting on video calls to keep in touch with the family.
Sure yoga has always been very trendy but now everyone – absolutely everyone – is suddenly a budding yogi. It's perfectly understandable why anyone would want to take up yoga. You don't have to leave home, you can pretty much wear anything at all and you can still get a pretty good workout from a session.
RECOMMENDED: The best digital classes from yoga studios in Singapore
Even if you don't have the game, or possess a Nintendo Switch, you've probably seen memes of it around the internet. The timing of its release is perfect – people are staying in so people have more time to play a game where they are animals hustling to have the perfect home and more. You know, just like real life.
Over the past months, we've seen people get famous – or infamous – on the news for all the wrong reasons. People breaking their stay-home notice to eat some bak kut teh, influencers having to download TikTok to remain relevant, politicians slipping on social media – it's all been very entertaining. It's nice to take a break from Netflix drama to tune in to real-life drama sometimes.
We already know Netfilx is for binge-watching shows but with the 'circuit breaker', telly binges have been out of control. 'Fess up, how many of you finished Tiger King in one sitting? Or rewatched Gossip Girl for the millionth time? Or have become an expert in trashy reality TV shows?
An important thing we've learnt is that Covid-19 is not a leveller. While anyone can get infected, not everyone is affected equally. During this period, we saw how while some of us are clapping at balconies, others are risking their lives at the frontline. And while some of us are having nice dinners at home, our migrant workers and other vulnerable segments in society don't have the same privileges. While social justice may not be a 'trend', the injustices and prejudices faced by some sectors is something a lot more people are aware of now. It's time to open our eyes.
Because of circumstances, even how we hang out with friends has changed. These days, wild nights drinking till late at the bar is swapped with wholesome game nights online. There are plenty of group games online these days like Codenames, Cards Against Humanity and the classic trivia games. Of course, we can still drink till late – but at least we'll be safe at home.
RECOMMENDED: The best online games to play with your friends
In terms of ambitious recipes, this one may look pretty complicated but is actually quite easy to bake. Of course there's the 'normie' version that is perfectly firm, but if you tweak the recipe a little (like add more cream cheese and mix it with blue cheese), you might end up with something amazing.
Last but not least, there's never a better time for kindness. From your delivery rider to the vulnerable segments in the community, it doesn't cost anything to be kind.
RECOMMENDED: Make someone's day with some of these kind gestures and ways to be kind to your delivery rider
Discover Time Out original video
