By Stella Vasileiadou,
Undoubtedly, the pandemic was not just a matter of weeks or months. It has been almost a year since most governments opted for the first lockdown last March in order to protect their citizens.
Good news is that for most of us this “stay-at-home” period has given us more time than we have almost ever had. So why not grab the opportunity to do the things we have always wanted to but never had the chance to do? Plus, being productive by doing things that are meaningful to us, especially during this pandemic can help us maintain our positivity and our good mood.
So, let’s brainstorm on some productive activities which you can undertake.
- Exercise
What about a casual walk around the neighborhood? A ride on your bike to the sea? Plus, you could enroll on free online fitness classes or watch videos on YouTube for stretching, strengthening etc. Come on, you have no excuse this time! You do not even need any special gym equipment!
- Books, books, books!
With all this free time, we can fully concentrate on a new book or revisit an old favorite. Go buy books by your favorite author or book genres and enter the world of imagination, relaxation, and brain exercise, all-in-one! You can also find low-cost used books on Amazon, so there is no need to worry about your budget. P.S: Do not forget that during this pandemic, most online stores choose not to charge shipping costs at all.
But what if reading is not your thing? Fortunately, audiobooks are the way forward for you. Give them a shot!
- Try to stay in contact with your loved ones
Isolation does not mean no communication at all. Nowadays we should feel so grateful for having social media and mobile phones in our lives, because in this way we are able to keep in touch with people without putting our health at risk. Imagine living, for example, in the 18th century and having to deal with this. Life was so different back then.
So, try setting up a meeting for a virtual coffee, tea, or drink. In addition, you could make an attempt to reconnect with people you haven’t had the chance to speak to in a while. For instance, old colleagues, relatives, friends that moved to another city or even country, could be an option. Now’s the time for that!
- Enroll in a free course
Boost your CV and gain knowledge at the same time! Sounds great, right? Platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, Google, The Open University etc. offer a great variety of courses for literally everyone from anywhere! Most popular choices among students should include law, economics, physics, math, and politics. You can also set a learning goal for each week and earn a certificate at the end of the course.
- Meditation
Now, you have the time to improve your well-being. In fact, meditation makes you feel free and relaxed, alleviates the symptoms of depression and anxiety and provides you with an energy boost. To do so, it is important to find a quiet space where you can feel safe to clear your mind with some kind of music and start with some basic meditation exercises, for example on YouTube. A few candles could help you get in the mood too!
- Learn a new language
Feed your brain, boost your confidence and connect with people of another nationality. With applications such as Duolingo and Memrise you have the chance to learn the language you have always wanted at no cost. Alternatively, you could also try finding a private tutor to help you and having courses via Skype for example.
- Stream a concert, a TV show or a theater performance
Performers have been trying to find a way to share their art during the COVID-19 pandemic. That said, several theatre performances are available online and you could book your ticket on www.viva.gr. Also, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center is often hosting events for free that are open for everyone from the comfort of your own home.
So, get started with some of these activities right away and notice the difference in your mood! Of course, there are a lot of things you can do, that are not mentioned in this article, but always remember that you must make sure that you make a wise use of your time. Stay safe and healthy -physically and mentally!
References
- Central Jersey Urgent Care, 10 Safe and Healthy Things to Do During Quarantine, Available here
- Roberts, G., 21 Productive Things to Do While at Home or in Quarantine, Available here
