If someone had asked you to take a break from your work three months back, you would have envisioned having an awesome time. You would have even planned a short trip to the mountains or seaside. But, it would definitely not be anywhere close to what we are dealing with right now.
The Coronavirus lockdown has definitely been hard for everyone. Either by choice or by decree, you have to abide by the quarantine protocols issued by the governments. This is due to the fact that COVID-19 is a serious threat. And, if it has to be contained, then social distancing is the only way. The world has already witnessed 3,426,359 cases, and you ought to cooperate in this tough situation.
But, there are ways to address the ‘unhappiness’ in your life by engaging yourself in productive tasks.
1. Update your Skills
Honestly speaking, it is hard to stay motivated amide the COVID-19 pandemic. But you also have to realize that you won’t be getting this ‘ample time’ back once the lockdown is lifted. To make the most out of this time, you should upgrade yourself, irrespective of the field you are associated with.
For instance, if you are working on an AI project, you should look forward to honing your skills in Python programming. Moreover, you can go for online courses in Deep Learning, NLP or Artificial Neural Networks. On the other hand, if you are an artist, you can utilize this time to master your production skills or guitar or piano-playing prowess. You can check Markson Pianos for buying or hiring piano.
Meditate
Mediation is the answer to a lot of problems. If you are cooped up in your house for a long duration, it is natural that you might feel agitated or frustrated. To keep your nerves calm amid this tough situation, you should practice mediation twice a day, devoting 10-15 minutes in each session. You will find that you are happy, and you are able to focus on the positive aspects.
There have been reports regarding the deterioration of mental health, and increase in stress (WHO). In order to ensure that you do not get disturbed mentally, refrain from watching COVID-19 news. If you practice the 4-7-8 breathing, yoga or simple breathing techniques, you will see that you are feeling less anxious.
Improve your Communication or Writing Skills
This tip is equally beneficial for the students, business professionals, and writers. Communication is an essential part for the writers when they try to express emotions through their writing. It is crucial for business professionals as they have to maintain coordination among the team members. In addition to this, they have to explain strategies, modules through a presentation. If you don’t have strong oratory skills, you will never be able to convince your superiors. It will help if you try to improve your speaking skill to achieve greater things at work. Even you can improve your academic paper’s formatting using the tool APA reference generator for free. Utilize this time to enhance your pending academic works too.
Thus, you need to listen to podcasts, read journals or storybooks, and watch the news from authentic channels like BBC News. Furthermore, you should remain engrossed in blog posts and newspapers, so that you can keep yourself updated. This will especially serve well for the writers who are prone to running out of ideas and suffering from ‘writer’s block’ disease.
4. Help Out the Unfortunate
You can become a volunteer and help out the old and the unfortunate people amid COVID-19. If you look around, you will find that most of the people do not have access to regular groceries or medical supplies. On top of that, people belonging from an impoverished background, are not able to manage even two square meals a day.
In Canada, you can do virtual volunteering through Volunteer Connector. Moreover, the UN is directly working with some of the countries that have been worst affected by the COVID-19. You can enroll your name in UN Volunteers to help out the distressed people. In the UK, there exists London City Hall, Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK. In developing countries like India, where the population is around 1.37 billion, the chance of contamination is the highest. Thus, the Indian Red Cross Society, MyGov, etc. is helping out the people to keep the situation contained.
5. Exercise at Home
If you are constantly busy getting assignments from your academic places, the chances are that you don’t get enough time to exercise. Well, why don’t you squeeze in 30 minutes a day to keep yourself healthy? You can indulge yourself in freehand exercises or bodyweight training, popularly known as calisthenics. You can modify your training routine by adding weights, i.e., if you have access to dumbbells or barbells.
Similar to meditation, exercise will help you alleviate your stress. In addition to this, it will help in proper blood circulation, reducing the chances of coronary diseases. To some extent, it boosts immunity and aids in memory sharpening. You will stay in shape and fit, and you will be able to focus more on your task, working from home.
6. Watch Online Shows
With the Internet at your disposal, you can rejuvenate your mind easily. Online streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime lets you watch Films, TV Series, and various types of shows. Moreover, you have other entertainment options like YouTube, where you get to watch all the interesting videos.
In addition to this, you can spend your leisure time on social networking sites like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc. And, if you happen to like music, you can tune in to Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play Music to listen to your favorite artists. As per the statistics, COVID-19 has resulted in 70% more use of the Internet, with the streaming service gaining traction by 12%. It has been observed that the people are binge-watching TV series, reality shows, celebrity interviews, etc.
Play Games or Solve Puzzles
For a change, you can take 10-15 minutes off of your mundane daily schedule and play online games. Today, you can play high-definition HD games on your smartphones, like Clash of Clans, Candy Crush, etc. Or, you can play action games like PUBG Mobile, Asphalt 9, Blood and Glory, EA Sports: UFC, Call of Duty: Mobile. These games are extremely engaging and will take your mind of the office tasks. But, you must be careful not to become addicted to these games or else, your productivity will be hampered.
You can also enjoy nice time-solving brain teasers and riddles. You can play board games with your family or online. If you play games like Chess, Chinese Checker or even cards, it will stimulate your brain. Furthermore, if you check out the App Store or Google Play Store, you find thousands of interesting games.
As you can see, plenty of options are available if you want to stay positive and productive amid the pandemic. It all boils down to your preference. But, if I were you, I would choose skill enhancement any day. Although mindless activities are important; but, I believe you have time for that. But, if you hone your skills or learn something new, it will help you stand out from the rest, irrespective of your profession. Moreover, it would be the best utilization of your time.
About the Guest Author
Bella Jonas is an enthusiastic tech blogger from New York, United States. Apart from being a blogger and a complete gadget freak, Bella is dedicatedly associated with MyAssignmenthelp.com providing the best assignment service for the last five years. During her time of leisure, you will find her working on amazing wall arts and creative sketches.