While we stay home together, there are many opportunities that you might not have considered taking advantage of. We’re hooking you up with 30+ crowd-sourced ideas to flex your creative muscles while you’re staying safe indoors.
Get Your Dance On
Throw a live concert and dance solo or invite friends to join along virtually using a platform like Google Meet, Zoom, Facetime or any other favorite video call. Invite friends to join with templates like these. Your groove can be as creative as you like, the crowd can amp you up, and you can get your blood pumping. Some of our favorites are Beyonce’s Homecoming on Netflix or Rufus Du Sol’s live recording from Joshua Tree on YouTube. You could even try your hand at making it into a TikTok. Or not. Just boogie!
Send Letters or Postcards
Maybe you want to meet your inner Shakespeare, or simply just want to send a sweet note to your friends and family. Show others that you’re thinking about them with a postcard or letter. It can be short and sweet and doesn’t require traveling anywhere except your living room. Grandparents might find this endeavor particularly thoughtful. Regardless, it’s sure to bring a smile to someone’s face. Check out more designs to choose from and send now!
Make a Vision Board
Whether it be for the places you want to travel, your dream job, fitness goals, or anything you want to achieve–get inspired. If you don’t have the supplies at home to print images or magazines to cut them out, make it a virtual vision board. I use Pinterest to build mine because I have endless content to choose from right at my fingertips. Here are some templates to get you started on your own mood board plus tips for creating the perfect design.
Take a Virtual Museum Tour
You might be surprised to learn that there are still ways to enjoy the cultural experience of a museum from your home. Google Arts & Culture teamed up with museums all over the world to bring you virtual tours of their exhibits. Here are some options to explore. Virtual European palace tour anyone?
Host a Virtual Wine Tasting with Friends
Host a group chat via your favorite video calling platform like Google Meet, Zoom, or Houseparty.Have each person choose a bottle of wine, pop it open, and toast each other on screen.You can share your favorite and discover new vintages. To take it up another level, make a template on Spark with tasting notes to share. Here are event flyer templates to get you started.
Have a Social Distancing Gathering with Neighbors
Spend time with your neighbors, but from the safety of your own window, patio or yard. You could try having a beverage together, singing, dancing, working out or even playing ping pong. People all over the world are finding unique ways to connect with their communities. Check out some invite templates to get your social distance gathering off to the right start.
Cook and Share a Meal
Want to turn your creation or a family recipe into social media gold? Try whipping up a fun cooking video and sharing it with followers. Here are some helpful tips to make your recipes shine online. Before you know it, everyone will be complementing your Master Chef-esque skills! Amp it up even further with a fun digital cooking invite for quick and easy sharing.
Support a Small Business with Online Classes
Support your local small businesses by taking a class online. You can find everything from yoga, cardio workouts from your favorite fitness studio, and craft schools trying to take their classes online during this time to make ends meet. Have a small business you want to promote? Check out these helpful tips. Here’s a spreadsheet of the fitness studios in San Francisco and Seattle who are going digital.
Write That Thing You’ve Always Wanted to
Write a novel. National Novel Writing Month happened in March but any time is a good time to write. Are you more musically inclined? Write a song. Cappuccino Brown wrote a song about the current state of things and shared it on Instagram. It’s called, Quarantine and Chill.
Is playwriting more your style? Try your hand at writing a script. Final draft offers a 30 day trial to try out your script writing skills and to see if you love it. They also have helpful info to get you started like this: How to Format a Screenplay.
Learn a Language
Tienes mucho tiempo en tus manos! You have a lot of time on your hands! Many of us have always wanted to learn to speak another language. With this extra time, the stars could be aligned for you to finally do it. The app Duolingo (found in your app store) will send you notifications to help you stay on track throughout the day. Plus, it’s fun and free!
Reorganize Your Furniture
Did you know that you can give your space a whole new look and feel just by moving your furniture around? Check out some creative interior design blogs, and figure out ways you can take what you already have and love, and make it into a totally new experience. Design on a dime? Try “Design with what’s mine!” This video gives you some of the top hacks for rearranging your bedroom.
Expand Your Mind by Taking a Course Online
Many schools are now offering courses online. Whether you want to beef up your existing skills or dabble in something new, you’ll find tons of options to explore available online. Check out Coursera, Kadenze, Edx, Code Academy, and even Khan Academy for inspiration. Spread the word with a colorful social post encouraging registration and to show your support.
Start a Virtual Book Club
You don’t need to be in person to host a successful book club with friends. Virtual book clubs are forming all over. Whether it be with old friends or new ones, it’s a great way to keep your mind active while you stay safe at home. Craft an invite to get friends excited. You could even try joining Seattle’s The Stranger’s Quarantine Club. Time has a great article that helps you with everything you need to start or join a virtual book club.
Teach Someone Something
What do you know well enough that you could teach to others from the comfort of your couch? Share your gift of crafts, friendship-bracelet making, yoga practice, sign language, gardening, or whatever else your talent is. There’s sure to be an audience ready to watch on their phones or computers. Think to yourself, what would you want to learn?
Share Your Social Distancing Life on Instagram Stories
Interact with your friends and gain the attention of new followers. Share a little bit about yourself with Spark’s ‘about me’ templates and then tag others to share their answers as well. Check out more Instagram story choices.
Write In a Journal
Create a digital journal or put pen to paper. Share your thoughts, observations, or whatever comes to mind. Journaling can be a good way to let go of anxieties or thoughts that have been stuck in your head all day long. Plus it can be therapeutic to let it out. You can even have some fun like this online one, a la Tom Hanks in Cast Away.
Try Online Dating
Online dating has changed overnight. Instead of matching and meeting, you can now get to know someone via video chat or phone calls. Most apps like Bumble, Tinder, Hinge, and The League now offer this feature. Who knows, maybe you’ll even find a better connection. Maybe the Netflix series Love is Blind had the secret to successful relationships all along.
Hold a Photoshoot
When showering is optional and sweatpants become 98% of your attire, it’s hard to feel your best. Treat yourself to a fun and empowering photoshoot! Don your best duds and take pictures of yourself that make you feel stunning. You could even watch a makeup tutorial online (who better than Rihanna to show you how). You won’t even need professional gear with these quick tips.
How about sharing your photos with your friends and maybe even invite them to have a photoshoot challenge? #Quarantinephotoshoot anyone?
Social Distancing With Kids
If you’re like so many parents staying at home with kids, don’t fret, we’ve got you covered with even more options to choose from!
Explore a Virtual Zoo
Gather the family together on the couch and check out zoos with cameras for the public, like the Cincinnati Zoo’s Virtual Safari. It’s interactive, educational, and fun for everyone.
Start a Wall Mural
Feeling artsy? Choose a wall in the house to paint (or use a large piece of paper) and start a wall mural. Keep it simple or go all out. The choice is yours but just get creative. Here is an example of a simple DIY wall mural.
Build a Giant Kid-Friendly Fort
Bring back childhood nostalgia. Grab a handful of sheets, blankets, and pillows and build a fort. It’s an easy way for everyone to be involved and get active indoors together. Be sure to share pictures of the final product on social media to challenge your friends to build their own! #fortchallenge
Learn to Play an Instrument
Have an instrument you don’t get to play often? Now’s your time to shine! Blow off the dust and share your music with neighbors, friends or family. Always wanted to learn to play? Check out Garageband or Magic Piano. For younger kiddos, give Loopimal a go. Looking to try a fun beginner analog instrument? Try the kalimba!
Teach Your old (or Young) Dog a New Trick
You’ll be amazed by how many fantastic dog training videos there are on YouTube! Grab a handful of treats, pick something new to try, and spend some quality time with your favorite pooch. Get the kids to help along or pick the trick they want to teach.
Make a Scrapbook
Look at old photographs, organize your photos and make photo books! Many book printing websites offer online discounts and have easy software to create books easily. Relive your vacations by sharing fun memories with friends and family or finally get those thousands of digital snaps organized!
Host a Virtual Hangout
Redefine togetherness with technology. Dress up in costumes, eat snacks, sing, laugh and connect in whatever way works best. Check out these tips for family chatting online. Help older relatives or friends get set up so that they can join too. Have the kids help create an invite to share on social media to help everyone be a part of the fun.
Get Crafty
Use what you already have in the house to create craft magic with your kids. There are tons of videos on Youtube with great ideas to try. Make their imaginations come to life! Check out some more ideas of quick and easy crafts.
Tik Tok with Your Kids
Follow Jessica Alba’s lead and get your Tik Tok on. She’s been recently joining her daughters in their videos and showing off her dance moves. Not sure where to start? Let your kids show you the way. It’s a quick and easy way to connect with them. Plus, it’s a guaranteed giggle.
Try At-Home Science Experiments
Awaken your inner Bill Nye with some easy at home science experiments like these. Messy but fun projects should keep you and your kids busy for hours. Here are some more fun choices.
Start a Family Blog or Newsletter
Share what you’ve been up to during your time together at home with family and friends. Let the kids help by creating their own templates or updates. Make it silly and fun. Spark has great templates to get you started.
Inspiration, Resources, and More
Donate Your Time and Promote Your Favorite Cause on Social Media
Non-profit organizations need your support now more than ever. While you’re not able to donate your time in person, help share the love for them on social media. Create quick posts using Spark. The only limit is your imagination. Your favorite organization will surely appreciate it! Want to help but not sure what to do first? Start with some tips on how to help share your support and then remix to create a template of your own.
Foster a Dog or Cat
Many shelters and pet rescues need help, since they’re closed to the public. Contact them to see what cuddle buddies are available. Fostering will enrich both your life and theirs. Can’t foster? Create a social post to share awareness for a local shelter.
Mentor Someone
It’s such an important time to band together and make a positive impact. If you have the capabilities to help someone, why not? Consider being a mentor, which you can do virtually via video chats or phone calls. Here are some tips on how to be an amazing mentor.
Run for Office
While a run for President isn’t in the cards, it’s never too early to start thinking about the next local, state, or student election. What would you like to see changed? Get your ideas down now while you’re freshly fired up. Boom! There’s your platform. If student council is your goal, here is everything you need to get that win.
Offer a Free Fitness Class to Bring the Community Together
There’s a fitness organization in Spain called Calizumos & Midnight Runners that is being innovative in their approach in light of the current situation. Their trainers are banding together to offer free live training that is interactive and fun:
Share your fitness passion with the world by creating a fun workout for others to follow along to virtually.
Do a Daily Family Art Project
Have you heard of the #The100DaysProject? It’s the brainchild of artist and author Elle Luna, and writer/community-builder extraordinaire Lindsay Jean Thomson. Their goal is to inspire and motivate makers of all kinds to create art daily. Participants choose an action and unique hashtag to share their project on Instagram, and receive weekly prompts to get their creative juices flowing. Other fun ideas to participate in include drawing every day.
Or taking a daily selfie (to see how you change), and taking a picture of the same thing everyday to showcase how your perspective changes.
So, creatives stay in and create, parents act childlike, yogis do your yoga, and introverts call your extroverted friends to check in on them. Do whatever it takes to stay connected and stay creative. The clouds will part, and the sun will come out again. How are you being creative while social distancing? Share by tagging @adobespark!