How to Use Virtual Team Activities to Boost Motivation During Lockdown

With remote teams, it can be difficult to match the energy and camaraderie of the office environment and, unfortunately, sometimes motivation can be lacking. Try these virtual team building activities to introduce some fun and connectedness, and you'll be sure to see a resulting boost in morale! 

It's no doubt that the Covid-19 lockdowns have been a challenge for everyone. As new variants have sprung up and so many of us have adjusted to a "new normal" of working from home indefinitely, it's more important than ever to show your team how much you appreciate their dedication and hard work throughout the initial United States lockdown and beyond.

These virtual team building activities will put a fun twist on your company’s next team bonding session, providing novel experiences that will make all your team members feel special and highly engaged. Forget about doing yet another Zoom happy hour, and take it up a notch with online cooking classes, cocktail making kits, virtual paint and sip experiences, and other awesome activities that will put a smile on everyone’s faces!

Aside from being excellent for virtual team building, our classes also make memorable Zoom party ideas for birthdays, company anniversaries, lockdown Christmas celebrations, and other special occasions.

Keep your team’s spirits up with some of the best remote team building activities below!

Share a homemade feast with these virtual team activities

The break room is a special place in the office for a reason — sharing food with your colleagues while catching up is a great way to destress and get closer to each other.

Now that many people are WFH, online cooking classes offer a way to bring the break room experience to everyone’s home, with a little something extra too.

Featuring different cuisines worldwide, you and your colleagues can explore international flavors in your very own kitchens. Friendly chefs will teach you how to make authentic Japanese ramen, different types of Italian pasta, plus all sorts of baked goods and desserts (homemade chocolate, anyone?). Learn impressive cooking techniques, from using aromatics to add flavor, plus the right way to slice meat, vegetables, and garnishes.

Don’t worry about shopping – everyone will receive a curated DIY kit full of gourmet goodies. These kits are packed with ingredients, tools, and recipe cards, all sent to your doorstep before the class. Once you have your supplies in hand, tune in and let the feast begin!

With Covid-19 lockdowns, even the most die-hard diners have had to take a step back from eating in restaurants as much as before. For those team members who aren't exactly the most skilled home chefs, our cooking classes provide an opportunity to learn to cook online in a festive, supportive environment. Our classes are almost all beginner-friendly, and our instructors provide easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, with plenty of opportunities for answering questions that come up or providing one-on-one assistance. 

After the online class ends, it's time to relax, enjoy your homemade dishes, and don’t forget to thank each other for everyone’s contributions to the team, perhaps doing a virtual cheers with your favorite cocktail or glass of wine or beer.

Boost creativity with paint and sip online

Another virtual team activity you can do with your team is a virtual paint and sip class. The concept here is simple enough— paint, sip cocktails, and have a grand time!

These events typically feature boozy drinks, but you can absolutely bring a mug of fresh coffee, hot chocolate, or your favorite mocktail if you prefer.

Don’t have art materials at home? Not to worry! Much like our online cooking classes, we will be sending over art kits containing all the supplies you’ll need for the activity. Our painting kit will include the canvas or craft paper, brushes, and of course, the paint.

There are different types of paint and sip online classes for you and your team to try. Missing the beach? Paint an oceanside scene while enjoying summer cocktails like pina coladas and margaritas. Add color to the lockdown by painting flowers, birds, and other natural scenery, then hang it up to brighten up your home office! Take your favorite vino, your favorite cheeses, and paint a panorama of the Italian countryside. You can also request custom themes for corporate functions, so don’t hesitate to inquire about your options.

There is no wrong way to paint in these beginner-friendly online art classes. Can’t execute Van Gogh’s style flawlessly? That’s fine – feel free to make it your own! Under the guidance of experienced painters, this virtual paint party is sure to cheer everyone up and encourage them to unleash their creative side.

Toast to your team in virtual cocktail making classes

Before the United States lockdown, after-work drinks used to be part of most office cultures. Getting together over drinks allows everyone to be themselves, open up, and shake the stress of the workweek. Treating the team to a round of drinks is also a popular way to recognize everyone’s efforts, especially after a big project or presentation.

Now that most people are working from home, it’s gotten harder to gather up your colleagues for a night of laughs and tasty alcoholic beverages at the local watering hole.

If that’s the case, why not go for an online cocktail making class as your virtual team building activity?

Led by expert mixologists, these virtual cocktail making classes will make everyone feel like the world’s finest bartenders. Learn how to muddle mint for mojitos or achieve the right ratio of vodka and espresso in an espresso martini. Got a particular spirit you want to try? You’ll find classes designed around specific types of alcohol like whiskey, gin, and more!

Those team members who don’t drink can still join the fun by making mocktails instead – same delicious cocktail flavors with none of the buzz! They don’t have to add alcohol to their drinks if they’d rather not. The most crucial ingredient in the activity is everyone being together for team bonding and having a good time.

Like the other activities mentioned earlier, our virtual mixology classes also come with kits that include cocktail making materials and ingredients necessary for the activity. We want to make sure you’ll have as much fun as possible without the hassle of having to go out and search for the items needed.

Participants will get a box packed with basic bartending tools like a shaker, jigger, your choice of alcohol, plus beautiful garnishes like dehydrated orange peels. Take pictures of your gorgeous handcrafted drinks, and post them on your upcoming newsletter or your social sites!

Again, no prior bartending experience is necessary! Wait for your kits to arrive, pick out your swankiest outfit (or don’t— feel free to come as you are!), and get ready to have the time of your life with your office mates. Learn the best easy cocktails to make at home, master your margarita recipe or experiment with a whiskey sour.

All of these activities can be refreshing for everyone because you’re all just enjoying each other’s company without the stress and pressure of the daily workload. Additionally, spending some casual downtime with other people at work paves the way for better communication and teamwork later on.

Finally, virtual team bonding is a thoughtful way to thank remote teams for a job well done, especially during such a trying time as the Omicron variant lockdown in the United States.

Ready to treat your office to some of the best experience gifts around? Browse our various remote team building activities today to find your team’s perfect match!