Humorous Look Back What Useless Skills We Picked Up During COVID

COVID-19, the pandemic that changed the world, also changed our hobbies, habits, and skills. We were stuck at home, bored, and desperate for something to do. Some of us baked sourdough bread, others binged Netflix, and some, well, we learned some pretty useless skills. But hey, at least we were entertained, right? This article will take a humorous look back at some of those useless skills we picked up during the pandemic, celebrating the absurdity and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unprecedented times.

The Rise of the Pandemic Hobbyist

When the world went into lockdown, we suddenly had a lot of time on our hands. Commutes vanished, social gatherings were canceled, and the four walls of our homes became our entire world. This newfound time, coupled with the anxiety and uncertainty of the pandemic, led many of us to seek out new hobbies and skills. We needed distractions, outlets for creativity, and a sense of accomplishment in a world that felt like it was falling apart. The internet became our classroom, and YouTube tutorials our teachers. From knitting to gardening, online courses to language learning apps, we dove headfirst into a wide array of activities. But let's be honest, not all of these skills were created equal. Some were genuinely useful, while others… well, let's just say they were more entertaining than practical. But hey, who are we to judge? In the midst of a global crisis, a little bit of fun and distraction was exactly what we needed. So, let's take a trip down memory lane and explore some of the most amusingly useless skills that emerged from the pandemic era.

Why Useless Skills Matter

Before we dive into the specifics, let's take a moment to consider why these “useless” skills even matter. In a world that often prioritizes productivity and practicality, it's easy to dismiss hobbies that don't directly contribute to our careers or financial well-being. But the truth is, these skills can be incredibly valuable in their own way. They can provide a sense of joy, reduce stress, boost creativity, and even improve our mental health. Learning something new, even if it seems silly or impractical, can give us a sense of accomplishment and purpose, which is especially important during challenging times. Plus, who knows? That useless skill you learned during lockdown might just come in handy someday. Maybe you'll need to communicate with someone using only animal sounds, or perhaps you'll be called upon to judge a competitive thumb-wrestling match. Okay, maybe not, but you get the idea. The point is, there's value in the process of learning and creating, regardless of the outcome. So, let's celebrate the weird, the wacky, and the wonderfully useless skills we acquired during the pandemic.

Top 5 Useless Skills We Mastered During Lockdown

Okay, guys, let's get to the good stuff. We've compiled a list of the top 5 most hilariously useless skills that people seemed to pick up during the pandemic. These are the skills that might not land you a new job or impress your boss, but they'll definitely give you a good story to tell at parties (remember those?).

1. The Art of the Perfect Dalgona Coffee

Ah, Dalgona coffee. The frothy, whipped coffee drink that took the internet by storm in early 2020. This seemingly simple beverage became a symbol of pandemic life, with everyone from celebrities to your next-door neighbor posting their Dalgona creations on social media. The process involved vigorously whipping instant coffee, sugar, and hot water until it formed a thick, caramel-colored foam, which was then spooned over a glass of milk. It was aesthetically pleasing, undeniably delicious, and… completely unnecessary. I mean, come on, it's just instant coffee! But for a brief, glorious moment, Dalgona coffee was the hottest trend in the culinary world. People experimented with different flavors, toppings, and presentations, turning a simple coffee drink into a work of art. The real kicker? It tasted pretty much like any other sweetened coffee drink. But hey, we had time to kill, and whipping coffee was a great way to relieve some stress. Plus, those Instagram photos looked amazing. While the Dalgona coffee craze has largely subsided, it remains a fond (and slightly embarrassing) memory of the early pandemic days. It's a reminder of the lengths we went to find joy in the mundane, and the power of a good food trend to unite us, even when we were physically apart. So, if you happen to find yourself with a jar of instant coffee and a lot of free time, go ahead and whip up a Dalgona. Just don't expect it to revolutionize your coffee-drinking experience.

2. Becoming a TikTok Dance Sensation (in Your Living Room)

Tiktok dances, these short, catchy routines became a global phenomenon during the pandemic. Stuck at home with nothing to do, millions of people turned to TikTok for entertainment and connection. And what better way to connect than by learning a ridiculously choreographed dance routine? From the “Renegade” to the “Savage,” these dances swept across the internet, with everyone from teenagers to celebrities attempting to master the moves. The appeal was obvious: they were fun, easy to learn (sort of), and provided a much-needed dose of physical activity. Plus, posting your dance videos on TikTok was a great way to connect with others and feel like you were part of something bigger. But let's be real, most of us were terrible at these dances. We stumbled, we fumbled, and we often ended up looking like a cross between a confused robot and a caffeinated octopus. But that didn't matter! The point wasn't perfection, it was participation. It was about letting loose, having fun, and laughing at ourselves. And who knows, maybe you even impressed your grandma with your newfound dance skills. While your TikTok dance moves might not be applicable in the real world (unless you're planning on auditioning for a K-pop group), they served a valuable purpose during the pandemic. They gave us a way to express ourselves, connect with others, and burn off some pent-up energy. So, next time you hear a catchy song, don't be afraid to bust out those TikTok moves. You might just surprise yourself.

3. Mastering Animal Sounds

Animal sounds, during the pandemic became a surprisingly popular pastime. Perhaps it was the lack of human interaction, or maybe it was the sheer boredom, but many of us found ourselves attempting to mimic the sounds of our furry, feathered, and scaly friends. From perfecting the meow of a cat to mastering the bark of a dog, we honed our animal imitation skills with varying degrees of success. Some of us even went beyond the basics, attempting the calls of exotic animals like lions, monkeys, and even dolphins. The applications of this skill are, admittedly, limited. You might be able to impress your pets, confuse your neighbors, or maybe even land a voice acting gig in a cartoon about talking animals. But in most real-world scenarios, your ability to imitate a rooster will be met with blank stares and polite smiles. However, there's something undeniably fun about making animal sounds. It's silly, it's childish, and it's a great way to break the ice in awkward situations (or make them even more awkward, depending on your audience). Plus, it's a surprisingly good workout for your vocal cords. So, if you find yourself feeling bored or stressed, try letting out your inner animal. You might just surprise yourself with your hidden talent for imitating a squirrel.

4. Becoming a Home-Baking Expert (of One Specific Thing)

Home-baking, the pandemic saw a surge in home baking, with sourdough bread leading the charge. But beyond the sourdough craze, many of us became experts in baking one very specific thing. Maybe it was banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, or even a complicated French pastry. We perfected our recipes, experimented with different ingredients, and proudly displayed our creations on social media. The reasons for this baking boom were clear: it was a creative outlet, a way to relieve stress, and, let's be honest, a great excuse to eat delicious treats. Plus, the act of baking itself can be incredibly therapeutic, providing a sense of calm and focus in a chaotic world. But while we might have mastered our signature baked good, our overall baking skills might still be lacking. We might be able to whip up a perfect batch of cookies, but ask us to make a cake from scratch and we'll probably break out in a cold sweat. That's okay, though! Specializing in one thing is perfectly acceptable. It's like having a superpower, but instead of flying or invisibility, your superpower is making the best darn banana bread anyone has ever tasted. And in a world full of mediocre banana bread, that's a pretty valuable skill, even if it's not exactly useless.

5. Talking to Plants

Talking to plants, this might sound a bit out there, but during the pandemic, many of us started talking to our plants. With limited social interaction, our houseplants became our companions, our confidantes, and our silent listeners. We watered them, we fertilized them, and yes, we talked to them. We shared our hopes, our fears, and our deepest secrets with our leafy friends, hoping that maybe, just maybe, they were listening. The scientific evidence on whether plants can actually understand us is, shall we say, inconclusive. But that didn't stop us from trying. We reasoned that if nothing else, talking to our plants was a good way to relieve stress and connect with nature. And who knows, maybe our plants did appreciate the attention. Maybe they even thrived on our conversations. Or maybe they were just silently judging us. Regardless, talking to plants became a quirky but comforting ritual for many of us during the pandemic. It was a reminder that even in isolation, we could still connect with the living world around us. And if nothing else, it gave us something to talk about when we ran out of things to say to the cat.

The Enduring Legacy of Useless Skills

So, there you have it, guys! A lighthearted look at some of the useless skills we learned during COVID-19. While these skills might not be particularly practical, they represent something important: our ability to adapt, to find joy in the mundane, and to connect with others, even in the face of adversity. The pandemic forced us to slow down, to re-evaluate our priorities, and to embrace new ways of spending our time. And in the process, we discovered hidden talents, quirky hobbies, and a newfound appreciation for the simple things in life. So, let's raise a glass (of Dalgona coffee, perhaps?) to the useless skills we learned during the pandemic. They might not make us rich or famous, but they certainly made us smile. And in a world that can often feel overwhelming and uncertain, a little bit of laughter and levity is exactly what we need.

What useless skill did you master during the pandemic? Share your stories in the comments below!