Five Productive Things to Do During This Time

Truthbomb: There's only so much Netflix you can watch.

If you’re freaking out over the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re definitely not alone. Most people I’ve talked to, myself included, have been living in a state of low-key anxiety—quietly stocking our pantries and waiting for the next development. If you’re from Hong Kong like me, the past 11 weeks have been a true test in self-isolation, especially in 300sq ft for most of us.

I have been trying to create a roadmap out of this situation as I'm sure everyone else is, and we WILL get there. All of the jobs lost right now, they will come back eventually. But it will get worse before it gets better, and that honestly scares me. Not knowing, feeling woefully inadequate compared to everyone else who is the exact same position as me, scared about the next phase of COVID-19... it's really easy to start spinning out. ⁠
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But I'm working on finding the positives, and focusing on being productive. But let’s talk about some of the other productive things that you can get done if you find yourself at home for an extended period, and hopefully the uptick in productivity will help with the inevitable anxiety.

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What are five things you can do today?⁠

1. Update Your Resume

I’m going to be honest here, the articles saying that 16 million people in the States are out of work right now genuinely terrifies me. Sometimes it makes me question why I should even try - but this is just anxiety. The best way to push through it is ACTION. Updating your resume gives you a chance to reassess your professional strengths and weaknesses, improve your skill sets, reach out to your networking contacts and refresh your industry knowledge. Hiring may be down right now but don’t give into endless days on the couch. Be pro-active and prepare yourself for when the job market bounces back - because it 100% will. Eventually.

2. Catch Up on Your Reading

2020 is already the year where new terms came into our everyday language – self isolation, social distancing… thanks coronavirus. But like everything, this too shall pass. In the meantime, we have the opportunity to spend more time with family, and to read. In fact, this is the perfect time to catch up on reading. Thanks COVID. In all seriousness, this is a stressful time and immersing yourself in a great book will really help alleviate that stress. If you have books on your shelf that you have bought and never read - now’s the time!

3. Support Another Small Business

There are many ways in which your dollars—not being spent on bars or movies—can be diverted to small businesses. Just to name a few, you can start by purchasing gift cards, writing product reviews, ordering online, getting food delivery, or support your favourite local businesses on social media. The big brands will be able to ride this out but small business owners are the life and soul of our communities.

4. Sort Out Your “Life Admin”

When’s the last time you cleaned up your emails? Or organised your drawers? Sorted out your financials? Have you been meaning to build your personal website? Got a half-finished scarf or painting languishing in your craft space? Working on a book or learning to code? Whatever “Life Admin” is to you, now is the time! Everyone has at least one thing that they’ve been trying to finish for what feels like forever. These are the kinds of activities that often take a backseat to more pressing matters when competing for the day’s limited hours. It’s easy to find excuses when there are more pressing matters: The tub doesn’t need to be re-caulked immediately—you have laundry to do and friends to meet. But a quarantine or self-isolation can provide you with the time to tackle those projects that you’ve been meaning to get around to for what feels like forever.

5. Upskill!

There are so many different online course programs that can teach you just about anything you’ve ever wanted to know about just about anything. Want to brush up on the latest advancements in your industry or learn from the experts? Skillshare and Masterclass have an incredible amount of resources and classes that can help you. Want to get some job qualifications? Linkedin has a new tool that lets you select a certain skill-set and quizzes you on your knowledge. If you pass the quiz, you get a shiny new badge on your profile that says you are certified in whatever skill you’ve chosen, like Powerpoints for example. Keep those skill-sets sharp!

Staying at home for extended periods of time can be a challenge. So wash your hands, regularly wipe down the things you touch frequently, and try to use the time to accomplish something productive.