Being in partially online classes and constant video calls can become exhausting. However, Zoom doesn’t have to just be used for biology lectures and journalism class breakout rooms. The platform has endless opportunities for socially distant, digital fun with friends. Whether you’re quarantined or just want to stay on the safe side, here are some ideas to take your Friday night campus hangout to your computer screen.
Game Night
Bring back the childhood nostalgia of a board game — minus the hassle of a physical deck of cards. Many of the traditional games you know and love now offer online versions and apps that allow you to play simultaneously with friends. If you want to try your hand at comedy, download Cards Against Humanity, but if you’re wanting to see who’s brushed up on their trivia, check out QuizUp. Pictionary is also a classic choice that doesn’t require anything but a Zoom link and a few pieces of paper!
Powerpoint Party
Powerpoint parties are already taking over TikTok, so why not incorporate them into your next get together? Essentially, each person selects a hyper-niche subject they have a special interest in and presents a few slides about it to their friends via screen-share. I’ve seen topics ranging from how long each member of a friend group would last on the Bachelor to a definitive ranking of every type of pasta broken down by country of origin. Knowledge-sharing doesn’t have to be limited to the classroom, so get creative!
Dinner and Cooking Soiree
If one of your friends is the next Gordon Ramsay, have them lead you in a cooking lesson over Zoom, where you can each be following along in your own kitchen. Then, sit down and virtually enjoy your dinner together, whether it be microwave ramen or a four-course French meal. Live broadcasting the cooking journey alongside friends or family can strengthen bonds as well as improve your culinary skills — especially if you’re notorious for always burning your batch of brownies.
Book Club
Your high school English teacher would LOVE to hear that you’re continuing your literary pursuits via a virtual book club. Get together with your pals to decide on a book, create a schedule, and then set up a Zoom each week to discuss (no essays or annotating required!). If you’re in need of some inspiration, some of my current favorite reads include The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander, Unbothered by Glennon Doyle, and Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell.
Get Fit
The Mizzou Rec might not be your scene right now, and that’s ok. For working out in the comfort of your apartment or dorm, opt for a workout YouTube video that you can screen-share with your friends while busting out some jumping jacks and burpees. If you want something that your downstairs neighbors won’t hear, yoga, meditation, and dance are other great, relaxing options that achieve the same effect. Personally, my friends and I like to get our Hamilton fix with a Broadway dance workout. Who said fitness couldn’t be fun?
Comments