Raise your hand if you are tired of being stuck at home.
Raise your hand if you are bored, miss your friends, and are feeling entirely worn out with this quarantine.
I’m guessing you can relate to at least one of those feelings. Our time in quarantine might have started out as an exciting one, but while we understand the importance of social distancing, many of us need something new and productive to work on. Welcome to the COVID-19 Spring Challenge!
Summary
This challenge is a fun way to stay productive during quarantine. We’ll be doing lots of activities and have some friendly competition while we’re at it. Sometimes writing down your ideas is all it takes to escape boredom. I’m going to provide you with a list of fun activities and then leave room for you to add your own ideas! For every activity you complete, you can color in one symbol. The person who completed the most activities wins the contest and this prize! (The prize is only available to people in U.S.A., but everyone is welcome to participate for fun!)
The Prize:)
A beautiful, handwoven seed-bead bracelet and my services to do one guest post on your blog (If you have one:) If you don’t, maybe we can figure something else out.)
How to Join
- Print out an activity tracker here (“CONTROL P”, or make your own!). You can print as many as you need.
- Fill out this super quick form to officially join the contest and stay up to date!
How to Participate
- Browse the activity list below and pick a couple to begin.
- For each activity, color in one symbol on your tracker.
- Take pictures of some of your activities. Let’s do this together! You can either use Instagram and tag it #COVID19SPRINGCHALLENGE or send your pictures to joyfulcreationsblog22@gmail.com. (P.S. I’m going to have to learn how Instagram works, so if there is a picture you really want me to see, the best way to reach me is by email.) I will be selecting some of them to post here on my blog! Think of this as a sort of verification to keep everyone honest and a way to encourage us to have fun TOGETHER! 😊
- Don’t forget to tell your friends and share your ideas!
Rules
- Only honoring, uplifting, and kind comments, pictures, and submissions. NO rude or blasphemous language.
- Honesty is the ONLY way. Only color in a symbol of you have done an activity!❤
- Added activities can only be unusual or creative, but not a chore or regular work. (E.g.putting on your socks WON’T count! 😂). If you have a question about this, feel free to ask!
- Only U.S.A. addresses for the prize. You can compete to get points and be announced the winner, but the prize is only available for the U.S.. Sorry, shipping overseas costs a lot of $$!!
- Violation of rules will DQ you from the contest, so play fair!
- Only activities done between March 23rd 2020 and April 6th 2020 are acceptable.
Activities!!! ❤
Don’t be overwhelmed. Start with one or two, and go from there.
CREATIVE
- Write a short story (3-10 p.g., check out some prompts here.)
- Write a one-paragraph story based on ONE emotion.
- Draw a portrait. (I love this one!)
- Copy a famous painting or drawing. (Like this.)
- Hand letter your favorite quote.
- Take a Bluprint class. (Now offering a FREE 14-day trial because of COVID-19.)
- Sew a pillowcase.
- Reorganize/redecorate your room.
- Make a friendship bracelet.
- Make your own earrings. (Like this!)
- Start a creative business.
- Start a blog/YouTube channel.
- Upcycle old clothes.
- Crochet hats for your local pregnancy center. (To donate after the quarantine.)
- Make up a new song on your musical instrument.
- Make a stop motion video.
- Outdoor/Indoor photoshoot.
- Plant flowers!
HELFUL
- Vacuum your house. (Surprise your mom!)
- Gather old toys/clothes to donate to a local charity.
- Commit to praying for one person every day for a month.
- Gather food to donate to a food bank.
- Watch your siblings. (And proactively PLAY with them!)
- Write a letter to a lonely elderly person or widow.
- Make masks for hospitals. (Read more here.)
FRIENDS
- Start writing to a friend and become penpals!
- FaceTime with a friend.
ACTIVE
- Go for a run. (Need some help? Read this and this from my blog!)
- Go for a family bike ride!
- Indoor workouts.
CHRISTIAN LIFE
- Memorize a chapter of the Bible.
- Memorize 5 verses from the Bible. (Don’t have to be 5 verses from the same chapter.😉)
- Read through Proverbs.
- Read that devotional. (You know the one… it’s been sitting on your bookshelf for a while and you’ve always wanted the opportunity to read it.😂)
- Write your own praise song to God.
LITERATURE
- Listen to “Frozen Fire” for FREE (TRUE STORY!).
- Read Do Hard Things.
- Read a book by Jane Austen.
- Read a classic.
BLOGGERS
- Share this challenge on your blog!
- Join a book review program. (I do Moody and Crossway.)
- Make a hair or craft tutorial.
FOOD
- Bake (check out some of my favorite recipes here.)
- Make dinner for the fam.
YOUR IDEA HERE: ( Feel free to comment and let me know!)
Stay on the lookout for special email updates! Make sure you’re on my email list (click on the flower photo.) to get all the updates!
I can’t wait to get started and see how you all complete the challenge! Remember to have fun and help others!
Stay healthy!
Love,
Rachel ❤️
So does the challenge end today or is today the last day of the challenge? Do we still count points for things we do today, or is it over and we wait for the form we’re supposed to fill out?
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Today is the last day to do activities that count for the challenge. You can count any points you earn today. I will be sending out the submission form tomorrow:)
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Hey, Rachel! Do we take pictures of our trackers today, or tomorrow when the challenge ends? Thanks!
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Today (Monday) is the last day to earn points for the challenge. I’ll be sending out a submission form tomorrow:)
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“Read through Proverbs” was one of the activities on the list. Would reading through another book of the Bible count as well?
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Yes!
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I realized that I didn’t draw enough symbols for my tracker, so I redid it and added some decoration and hand lettering. Can I color in a symbol for that?
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Yes, please do!
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I’ll have to send my pictures tomorrow, actually. It all depends on when the phone’s free!
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Okay. No worries!
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Great! ❤
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I’ve never been on a team, but I did run a 1/2 mile dash a couple years ago, and I train on the country road in front of my house which has a lot of little hills, so when I run I have to save my strength for the hills at the end!
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That’s fun! Yeah, running hills can be difficult, but they build up a lot of strength!
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Hi this is Miriam. I just finished my faces of history paper. Can I use it as my short story?
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The idea is to do activities that are not a part of your assignments, school, and chores. Instead of using it for your short story, use it as inspiration to put on a play with your siblings or something similar. Have fun with it! Who are you for FOH this year?
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I have been reading Emma by Jane Austen for the challenge, but I’m homeschooled, so I don’t have as much free time as the public schoolers in quarantine, and there’s no way I’m going to be able to finish it before the deadline (it’s rather long!). Do you have to finish the book within the challenge period to be able to color in a symbol for that (does my question make sense?)?
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I totally understand where you’re coming from. I’m homeschooled too, and my schedule is still packed! ❤ To judge how much reading is enough, look at some of the other activities. Most take about an hour or so. If you do another activity (such as reading) around the same level of difficulty as the others, you can color in a symbol.
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So every time I read some of it, as long as it amounts to the same level of difficulty as most of the other activities, I can color a symbol, and if I do it again the next day, I can color in another one, and so on?
Oh, I’m also trying my hand at composing a song on my instrument (piano). It is hard to transfer what is in your head to the notes on the staff and counting out the eighth notes and playing it over and over again! It’s interesting, though, and it’s probably improving my music learning! You had a lot of great ideas on your list! ❤
Oh, and I’ll try to send in my pictures sometime today! I have to wait for the phone to be free, though. My mom loves to listen to podcasts during the day!
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Yes, that’ll work! It’s so neat that you’re composing a song. If you can, could you maybe email me the recording of it when you’re done? I would love to hear it! My mom does the EXACT same thing. She loves to listen to podcasts all day! 😂
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Ok. They might come out s little dark though.
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Okay! ❤
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Rachel, when do you want me to email my pictures to you???
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Whenever you take them! I’m collecting photos for a page on my blog, so feel free to send me lots of pictures of what you’re doing!
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I am enjoying doing this challenge, Rachel. It’s a lot of fun! Jogging is one of my favorite things to do! I haven’t done it in a while though, so I need to get back in shape! 😄
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I am SO glad you’re enjoying it, Moriah! Jogging is one of my favorite things to do too. Let me know how it goes! It’s so cool to “meet” Hadassah’s sister. Your sister is amazing, btw. I met her at summer camp,and I’ve gotten to know her better this year through my blog. Thx for joining the challenge!
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Aww, thank you! ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ I haven't ran in a while, but this challenge has helped me get back into it (much to the groaning of my aching muscles 😉)! Are you a long distance runner or a sprinter? I'm a sprinter!
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That’s great! I’m more of a distance runner, but I love sprinting. Have you ever been on a team?
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Rachel, are we supposed to send in our pictures at the end of each day? I thought we just sent them in all at once at the end. Sorry, I should have made sure earlier! 😬
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No, you’re fine! I think I must of not been clear enough. You don’t have to send them every week, but the idea is take a few pictures every week and send them in as soon as you complete the project. That way, we can all do the challenge together! I’m sorry that that detail was confusing. Let me know if you have any other questions! ❤
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You’re fine! Thank you for answering my question! Since I’m using my mom’s phone I can’t always access it at certain times, so I wouldn’t be able to send in a picture every time I finish a project. So I can send in all the pictures from this week together at the end of the week?
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That’ll work!
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Thanks but I do have to tell you something one time I used someonelses picture but I won’t do it this time.
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Okay;) .As long as you’re honest with this, you’re fine! Thanks for trying to stay honest. But remember, the goal isn’t really the prize… It’s to have fun!😘 So enjoy the challenge and be creative.❤
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Hey! could you make up a song or dance if you don’t play an instrument or don’t have access to one?
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For sure!! Have fun! ❤
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Can I join?
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Of course! If you go up to ‘How to Join” and click on the sign up form, you can join!
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Hi, Rachel! My mom said I could join, and I told my sister about it and she joined too! Also, I had an idea: starting a family newsletter and sending it to your relatives and friends!
I have a couple questions:
So, what if you did write letters to a friend before, but haven’t in a while. If you started again, would that count?
I don’t have an Instagram account or a phone. Can I take pictures from my mom’s phone and have her email them to you? Would that be okay for my sister, too?
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Hooray! Ooh, that’s a great idea! You can totally count restarting your letter writing. And you and your sister are welcome to send your photos by email. Thanks for joining the challenge! I can’t wait to see what you and your sister do!! ❤
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So once we’re finished do we send you a picture of our completed trackers so you can see how much we did?
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Yes. I’ll be making a form for that at the end of the challenge.
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Great idea, Rachel! I can’t wait to get started!! I have to ask my mom first, though!
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Okay! I hope you can join us!❤
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That sounds great!!! We can add our own too right? Like painting a place we have been?
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For sure, Marie! ❤. Add as many ideas as you want! And to answer your other question, you can color in a symbol for each time you complete the activity. So, yes, ten runs would count for ten symbols!😂😁
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Awesome! Thanks so much for doing this!!!
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Of course! Have fun!
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Rachel, those are GREAT ideas ..I especially liked the “surprise your mom, vacuum the house”!!!
When your mom was your age, she memorized Matthew chapter 5,6, and 7…. AND Romans 6,7, and 8…. can you do that?
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Thank you! Ooh, I should try that! I’ve memorized a few chapters of the Bible, and I’m always up to learning more:). Thanks for the suggestion! ❤
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