Like all of the posts that we’ve published over the last month, this was written from home. COVID-19 has given most of us more time within our four walls than we know what to do with—and while it might be tempting to work all day and night, that’s a recipe for big-time burnout.
Social distancing is a struggle, but it helps to look at these strange times as a weird-yet-important reminder for us to stop buying, quit chasing the unattainable, and learn to relax with what we have at home. This is an unprecedented opportunity to expand your skillset, try things you’ve always dreamed about, and get out of your box. Yes, maybe you CAN knit a sweater!
Hopefully, the world will go back to normal and we’ll all be able to healthily and happily go outside again soon. Until then, here are some suggestions for low-cost, high-fun skills to learn:
1. Video editing
Video editing is a required skill in many workplaces and industries, and you can learn it online with thousands of videos and tutorials that you never had the time to dedicate yourself to. It’s a great talent to have in your toolbox, whether you want to earn some fast cash editing wedding videos or turn the documentary you are secretly filming about your dog into reality.
To start video editing, all you need is a computer and editing software.
Check out these great tutorials for beginners:
Video Editing for Beginners (Windows PC)
And another great beginners video
2. 30-day yoga challenge
If you always wanted to do that web challenge or, alternatively, thought the yoga at home people are weirdos with too much motivation, now’s the time to see if you belong. Is there anything more awakening than some power yoga during your workday? Maybe 20 cups of coffee. Become that yogi you always wanted to be.
When people use the thirty-day challenge they are helping themselves with the idea of a small, short change they can incorporate for the next 30 days. It can be easy and life-changing to choose one habit at a time and bring it into your life.
To get started, check out these videos:
20 min Full Body Yoga For Stress and Anxiety Relief
3. Cooking and baking
For those of you pretending you forgot your lunch when the truth is that you can’t boil water—this is your time to shine!
The internet, your kitchen, and some cookbooks are just waiting for you to explore them. By cooking more at home you’ll save money, save the planet, save your body, and make your friends and family love you. A win-win situation.
Some of our favorite quarantine cookbooks:
Coronavirus Recipes from the New York Times
Munchies: Late-Night Meals from the World’s Best Chefs
Now’s the time to try out those multi-step recipes:
Quarantine Munchies – 5 quick and easy recipes from the pantry
How To Master 5 Basic Cooking Skills By Gordon Ramsay
4. Mind-mapping
Isn’t it amazing how, even when you have way too much time on your hands, it can still feel like you don’t have enough time to get anything done?
This is the perfect time to learn how to control your mind, thought process, and imagination. Learning techniques like concept mapping or spray diagrams can improve your learning skills and information recording.
By training your brain to become more organized, you can discover how different ideas are related, and explore new information from a different perspective.
These are some rad, free mind-mapping tools:
How I tricked My brain to like doing hard things
These are some great articles about the benefits of mind-mapping:
Recommended For Further Reading
5. Dog Training
Now it’s time to prove to the world (and your Instagram followers, co-workers and friends) your dog IS a circus genius after all, and most importantly – your best friend for life. Therefore, now is the time to train the heck out of them. Not “one day”. Now!
How To Train Your Dog To Walk To Heel
Or you can just learn how to sit still
You are doing your best trying to time-manage your life during these weird global times. But don’t forget it’s also ok to just stop. We were given a rare opportunity to finally get some rest. You can take the time you secretly asked for, read a book or clean the freezer, heal your past and dream about your future.
Good luck <3
