HOW TO BE PRODUCTIVE DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

I know this is a stressful and scary time for all of us. As the world faces the coronavirus pandemic and most jobs are now officially  remote, it might leave some of us feeling uneasy with what to do during this time. I personally have been working from home for quite some time, so this isn’t new to me. However, my schedule normally consists of 3 maximum remote days with the rest being dedicated to attending events and meetings, shooting content, etc. New York City has declared a state of emergency a few weeks ago and as of yesterday, we are on lockdown. Social distancing is highly encouraged and I am basically staying home, trying to make the best of this quarantine and hope you guys are as well.

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Aside from still doing work (if you are working a 9-5), I think we should look at the bright side and utilize this “free time” to be productive, instead of wasting our days watching Netflix shows (though I think it’s fine to set up some time do do that as well!). As much as I love solitude, it can take a toll on you especially if you have too much of it. I have to constantly remind myself to try and be productive and see this as a blessing in disguise.

If you’re feeling a bit antsy, here are five ways in which you can be productive during this crisis:

1. Read a book: This might be a given and some of you might dread this idea, but when was the last time you’ve read a book for the sake of it? I think it would be beneficial to dedicate at least 30 minutes a day to a book of your choosing. You can utilize this time as a break in between your work or even as an unwinding/ distraction method from the news and chaos in the world. I am currently reading Writers & Lovers by Lily King and I am enjoying it. If you have any other book recommendations, do leave them in the comments below!

2. Work on a skill/ hobby: A lot of us have hobbies that we enjoy but haven’t had the time to actually practice them, but guess what? Now’s the time to do so! One of my main goals for 2020 is to become fluent in Spanish so I’ve been taking Duolingo classes since January. The platform is extremely easy to use and is totally flexible in terms of how long you want to spend on the platform practicing your skills. If you are interested in a new language or want to brush up on one, I highly recommend Duolingo. Use this time and ask yourself is there’s something you always wanted to learn or improve on but pushed to the back burner? Whether that’s painting, writing, or whatever, start to dedicate some time to it because not only will your skill improve but I’m sure you’ll feel more alive doing so!

3. Try new recipes: Since we are most likely cooped up in our apartments, this is the perfect time to try new recipes. If you have kids, this is also a great activity to do to bond with them. Research some recipes that you’ve always wanted to try and put your cooking/ baking skills to the test! You can also get creative by only using what you have in your kitchen/ pantry or even broadening your taste preference by trying something completely out of your comfort zone! Feel free to also watch youtube videos or cooking tutorials to make it more enjoyable 🙂

4. Online Classes: Did you know that you can take free online class from an Ivy League right now?! I stumbled across Feed Code Camp from Facebook and I was completely shocked but happy that this is an option! Simply visit this website and you can see what classes are offered and how you can access them! There is everything from computer science to health and medicine to engineering. I enrolled in four courses to maximize my down time and those include Improving Communication Skills, Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills, Branding Management: Aligning Business, Brand and Behavior, and The Arts and Science of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs. Similar to reading a book and practicing a new hobby, I think this is a great way to keep our brains working and constantly expand our knowledge.

5. Organize/ Clean: I always find that a clean space helps with being more productive. With that being said, this is a great time to tidy up your apartment and also organize any mess that is lying around. This also can branch to organizing your computer and inbox as well as your phone/ apps. Minimalism is key because less is always more! You will feel much better once everything is organized and clean and therefore can focus and work better.

These tasks should definitely keep you busy during the next few weeks, or however long this coronavirus might last. I want to send you all best wishes and please remember to stay safe and stay at home!