‘Don’t Rush’ and other quarantine trends

It is understandable how staying at home for long can trigger the boredom button in many of us. But the internet and social media have come to our rescue with lots of fun trends that we can follow, or at least watch others indulge in.

The quarantine has shown has that we are surrounded by many talented individuals. We hope the coronavirus goes away soon but leaves behind a creative pool of people who would continue to entertain us.

The Don't Rush challenge

We saw many versions of the "don't rush" challenge on social media – an African-American one, an Asian one, one had mothers with their toddlers, there was one with only friends or family members, while some even filmed the challenge with their pets. Another version even had the women's cricket team of England who donned their jerseys.

The challenge is a simple one; you appear in a video in your PJs and without any make-up, and in a split second you pop up again in your glam avatar! You throw something up in the air, like a make-up brush or a napkin, for the next person in line who pretends to catch it and keeps the challenge going. Kind of like a virtual relay race but a lot more interesting, minus the sweating and fatigue.

But the question is, who started this extremely popular trend? A young student at the University of Hull, Toluwalase Asolo, tweeted a short video with seven of her friends - all of whom effortlessly changed into beautiful outfits and make-up. The background music was the song "Don't Rush" by rappers Young T and Bugsey. Thus the "Don't Rush" challenge came into existence and has since blown up the internet.

Many people have been incredibly creative with the trend and have been successful in showcasing their traditional outfits. Some tried to make parody versions, with men showing off their muscles or changing into women's clothing, but none were received well.

The Quarantine Pillow challenge

As the name suggests, this challenge requires you to fashionably wear a pillow. You read it right – a nice, big, fluffy pillow. It is simply mind blowing how celebrities and non-celebrities alike have taken to this trend and posted rather nice pictures. Keep in mind though, cushions would not work. Who knew wearing a statement belt or a fedora with a fuzzy or velvety cushion could actually look good? It may sound bizarre, which is why you should go to Instagram to double check with that statement. Some influencers took it to the next level and draped themselves with blankets and curtains!

The Home Couture challenge

This challenge was dubbed "Instagram's most extra DIY trend" by Cosmopolitan magazine. The Home Couture Challenge is somewhat like the Pillow Challenge but here, you can recreate iconic red carpet looks by using whatever household items you can lay your hands on and not just pillows. People have been using plastic wraps, utensils, cardboard pieces, and what not! For example, if you have a white bed sheet, red dishwasher gloves, ample free time, and an imaginative mind, you can easily recreate Lady Gaga's look at the 2015 Oscars.

There have been other trends and challenges too, such as the Dress-up Friday, where people wore fancy clothes or a costume of their liking and simply dressed up to feel good.