How to make the most of your lockdown

The lockdown measures imposed by governments in response to the coronavirus outbreak are a necessary precaution. Although quarantine is an inconvenience, it is far better than the alternative. While there are restrictions on some of the things we can do, the lockdown has unlocked so many other possibilities. Here is a look at some of the great things to accomplish while at home.

Learn

One of the best uses of spare time is to learn skills. Try new recipes or experiment with variations on familiar ones. Download an app such as Duolingo, and you can teach yourself a new language. Take an online course that interests you and can give you a professional edge. Courses in computer networking, data science, social media marketing, mass communication, and cloud computing are good bets right now. Free video tutorials abound on platforms such as YouTube. You may have to wait till the quarantine lifts to visit a test center and get a certification, but now is when you can really polish your skills.

This is also an opportunity to deepen your knowledge about subjects related to your profession. The internet has vast repositories of research papers, documentaries, and all manner of encyclopedic content. Give free rein to your academic curiosity. Learn about the inner workings of everything from toasters, to smartphones, to clusters of galaxies. Of course you can also read all the books you want, from classics such as Moby Dick, to manuals on neurosurgery.

Care for self

The lockdown is a chance to spend extra time on personal care, grooming, and wellness. We now have more time to cook healthier. The spare time also allows us to get into a fitness regimen that may include yoga, Pilates, aerobics, skipping, and body-weight exercises. Meditation can be a great way to de-stress and pursue psychological wellness, but it takes time to master. Purposeful daily physical activity helps ensure that when we go to bed at the end of the day, we do so with a sense of some accomplishment.

Earn more

The work from home model was popular long before the lockdown began. Now that employers cannot have people working from offices, more of them are forced to get work done online. This is your opportunity to showcase your skills. Platforms such as Freelancer and Upwork are exploding with offers of remote work. Working freelance can give you a brutally honest assessment of your competence. Employers have an almost limitless range of people to choose from, and will only rehire you if you do exceptional work. Get out there and exploit your inner talent.

Get stuff done

No matter how organized we are, all of us have pending items on our lists. There may be a book that you have been planning to read for some time. Perhaps your hard drives, mailboxes, and social media accounts can do with some housekeeping. Some spring cleaning and handiwork around the house may be in order. Make a list of things you have been avoiding or putting off, and get them done one by one. Another useful idea is to plan for what you want to do when the lockdown lifts. This may consist of making shopping lists, or exploring investment options, which can both involve much research. Overseas workers can plan to send money online for investment purposes. The prevailing forex rates make this a great time to invest. Planning your next vacation is sure to lift spirits as well.

Now is also a great time to think long term. You can do all the research you want for the book you want to write. Better still, you can prepare a business plan to start a new venture of your own. Reach out to people on phone and email, negotiate deals, setup a supply chain, and get the infrastructure ready.

Spend time with the kids

If you find yourself in the happy situation of being locked-in with children, you’re probably having the time of your life. Combine fun and learning with board games, word games, and story books. Invoke their creativity with Lego or other kinds of building blocks. Paper craft such as origami are a fun way to involve the whole family. There are unlimited ideas on the internet on how you can make all manner of things just from paper, crayons, and a little glue. Take some time to help the children catch-up with schoolwork. It is a good opportunity to find out exactly what kids learn at school. Get the young ones involved in house chores wherever possible. Children who are taught to clean-up after themselves are less likely to make a mess. Assign days for activities to ensure a sense of weekly rhythm. You can have Lego Tuesdays, arm wrestling Wednesdays, laundry Thursdays, origami Fridays, and so on. Make sure to have enough variation between intellectual stimulation and physical activity to ensure the kids’ holistic well-being, and yours. Spending time in activities with children will forge strong bonds for life. There may never again be a luxury of time such as what we have right now.

About the author:

Hemant G is a contributing writer at Sparkwebs LLC, a Digital and Content Marketing Agency. When he’s not writing, he loves to travel, scuba dive, and watch documentaries.