Keep Moving Forward
Subscribe

10 productive things to do during social isolation - part 1

Staying indoors 24/7 can be incredibly challenging, but trust me you’re doing the right thing by isolating yourself in your house. I know it’s tough but staying home and practicing social distancing is the best and most effective strategy to stave off this COVID-19 pandemic and “flatten the curve.” 

This global health crisis is serious and we all must take care of ourselves and others by staying indoors. This means you would be either working from home, or worse, not working at all because your workplace is shut down.

Just because you’re tied to your couch doesn’t mean that time needs to be wasted by binge-watching shows and movies on Netflix or Disney Plus. Of course, you can watch shows and movies to relax and distract yourself from feeling anxious and stressed about these uncertain times, but my sincere suggestion is to use your precious time and attention wisely. Try to focus a major portion of your time on uplifting and productive pursuits.

Here are 10 positive and constructive things you can do while you’re cooped up inside the four walls of your home:

  1. Read a book: You can use this time to invest in yourself and accrue knowledge and wisdom via books. Reading is an incredible activity; it’s both enriching and uplifting. So, in these difficult times, it can surely be something worthwhile with a lasting ROI. So, try to focus a major portion of your time on self-education and personal development. Whether you’re a bibliophile or not, you would already have a few books in your mind. Chances are you would have always wished to read more but you didn’t have the time. Well, your wish has been granted. Now you have all the time in the world. So set aside time every day to either read or listen to a book. Let go of the easy novels and beach reads, and read something related to self-improvement or a certain topic that you have been curious about. Go deep, and read something that is both educational and enjoyable. Maybe even spiritual. And if you’re clueless about where to begin and what to read, don’t worry, I have got you covered. You can go through my book recommendations in this essay.
  1. Learn a new skill: The modern business landscape is rapidly changing and new skills are needed constantly, but it can be nearly impossible to learn something new when you are immersed in the daily grind and have a packed schedule at work. So use this opportunity to learn something new. Take that online coding class, practice your podcasting or video editing skills, or start learning a foreign language now. Imagine the surprised faces of your co-workers when you return from this extended break knowing how to design marketing materials or speaking Spanish! There are several resources available to teach yourself with blogs, apps, learning platforms and online courses at your fingertips. As Jim Rohn says, “Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on your job you’ll make a living, if you work hard on yourself you can make a fortune.” If you learn a useful skill while away from the office, you will return to what may be a struggling economy and a difficult job market with a leg up on your competition.  
  1. Watch a documentary or a docuseries: A great alternative to fill up your wisdom tank is to watch documentaries. Documentaries and docuseries can be a very effective way to introduce yourself to new topics, as well as gain more perspective on certain topics you may already be knowledgeable in. As they give your mind new information to absorb and think about, they keep your brain active and engaged. Documentaries allow you to develop a more “well-rounded” base of knowledge, rather than just specializing in one area. In addition, they are often fun and entertaining to watch. Documentaries are one of the easiest ways to learn new information due to our attraction to enticing visuals, music, and story-telling. And it has been observed that many people are more likely to pay attention to a documentary than reading a book or listening to a lecture.