How to stay creative during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Instagram feed features users posting their outfits using the Fashion at Home hashtag. Screenshot by Mariah McBride.
President Trump announced on March 29th that the federal stay-at-home guidelines have been extended to at least April 30th. During a March 31st briefing Ill. Gov. J. B. Pritzer announced that the order will be extended for Illinois as the number of those affected by coronavirus rapidly increases in the state. For some Americans, this extension will mean an extra month of practicing social distancing and only traveling for essential items and services. While this period of social distancing can give many Illinoisans and Chicagoans another opportunity to nap or binge watch television, others may be wondering how they can stay active and creative while remaining indoors.
Here are some ways that you can use your time while social distancing to produce your own content rather than consume it.
1. Join Tik Tok
Screenshot of Tik Tok app download page found on apple app store. Screenshot by Mariah McBride.
Tik Tok is a social media app that allows users to create dances, lip-sync to their favorite songs and act out comedic scenes on their mobile devices. If you like to dance, act or sing, this app will allow you to do that while giving you a public audience to share your material with.
2. How about painting?
Twitter user’s from Chicago tweets about painting during her quarantine on Mar. 24. Screenshot by Mariah McBride
If using technology to edit videos seems too difficult, trade your phone in for some paint brushes. One Twitter user from Chicago, shared a picture of the painting that she created during her personal quarantine. She tweeted, “Day idk of quarantine yet I still go to work: started painting and believe that I am Picasso lbvs [laughing but very serious].”
3. Post in a creative art thread online
One roommate from the Instagram account Covid Classics recreates The Old Guitarist painting by Picasso while practicing social distancing. Screenshot by Mariah McBride.
Many people online have been recreating famous paintings from their homes. One group of four roommates, practicing social distancing at home, even made an Instagram account called Covid Classics featuring pictures of them dressed up recreating famous paintings. Many people have joined the online thread, or forum of responses, by sharing their pictures of them dressed up and posing like some of history’s greatest paintings.
4. Create a Journal, blog or Vlog?
A history teacher on Twitter shares how he would like to start a new blog for history records. Screenshot by Mariah McBride
The Covid-19 pandemic will forever be a part of world history. This is a good time for people to write about how this period has changed their lives and the lives of others. One user shared his new blog on twitter explaining, “The history teacher in me wants records of the events of the past two weeks.”
5. Explore some fashion trends
Instagram feed features users posting their outfits using the Fashion at Home hashtag. Screenshot by Mariah McBride.
Although there are no concerts, dinners or celebrations for people to get dressed up to attend right now, some people online are using the Instagram hashtag #fashionathome to post their outfits. This is a creative opportunity to play around with style and allows other people to see your favorite outfits while social distancing.
6. Perform creative acts of kindness.
Benedictine Health organization tweets about how their residents would love to receive letters, cards or artwork. Screenshot by Mariah McBride
Nursing homes and other living communities for senior citizens have been closed to the public in recent weeks; however, there are other ways that people can safely interact with seniors. People can send the elderly letters, drawings or other creative artwork as the CDC website shares “there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures.” Workers at these places are even encouraging these creative acts because it can show the elderly that they are not alone during this time. Benedictine Health, a nonprofit Catholic-based healthcare organization with 30 senior care communities in the Midwest and one location in Illinois, shared a tweet March 20th saying their residents would love to hear from others. For other options, people interested can call their local nursing homes and request information on how to send mail to their residents.