The following article was written during the height of the pandemic. Its goal was to motivate people to learn new skills during the downtime. I have made some changes to update the list to reflect the newer challenges we are facing today. Hope you find it useful.

I realized that something was wrong when I spent over 30 minutes on Amazon Prime, hunched in my chair before the TV, looking through nearly a hundred movie descriptions, trying to find the one that would make me happy. Or, at least, distract me for a while. It was then that I realized that if I wanted to improve my mood, I would have to take a much more active role in making it happen.

I think the term “disruptive” seriously understates how the virus and the lockdown are affecting us. Given the predictions that this altered way of life may continue until 2022, it can seriously affect everyone’s physical and emotional health, even if you don’t catch the virus.

According to references in one article, the COVID lockdown is the world’s biggest psychological experiment source. “…people who are quarantined are very likely to develop a wide range of symptoms of psychological stress and disorder, including low mood, insomnia, stress, anxiety, anger, irritability, emotional exhaustion, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms.”

We all need to start thinking of this time as a time of personal and professional enrichment. The time saved not commuting and staying home in the evenings can be used not only to keep you healthy but also to assist you in enriching your life and preparing you for great things when the lockdown is over.

There is no shortage of information available on the Internet that you can use right away to start your time of enrichment. It just takes a bit of effort in the beginning to stop thinking about what we don’t have and start enriching what we do have.

Below is a list of 15 activities you can start right now that will keep you physically and mentally healthy, prepare you for the future, and make you happy.

1. Plan out your day — Having something to look forward to every day adds certainty and a lift to your spirits. Plan regular activities at specific times during your day.
2. Organize your closet — There was never time to clean out your closet of all the old things you never plan to wear again. That was true until now. A good rule is that if you haven’t worn it in a year, bag it up for donation.
3. Learn to play an instrument — This is one I am doing myself. I have chosen to learn the guitar. I have always dreamed of being a guitar hero. And now that I have the time to practice a few minutes a day, I should be able to jam in a band when the lockdown is over. In a TED talk entitled “The first 20 hours — how to learn anything” by Josh Kaufman source, Josh pointed out that if you just want to strum along to any recent pop hit, you only need to learn 5 or so guitar chords. I decided that I can learn that.
4. Update your resume — The bad news is that jobs will be very competitive after the lockdown. The good news is that you can stand out (in a good way) if you are prepared for employment. Work on your resume, remembering to include all the volunteer and learning opportunities you took advantage of during this time. Take online classes and seminars. You can never have too many professional certificates!
5. Get social — Be honest, now that the virus is under control, it is safe to walk out of your house. Sure, your social skills are rusty. Don’t let that stop you from getting out and having fun meeting new people.
6. Get fit — Now is the time to set health and fitness goals. Health concerns have a way of sneaking up on you as you age. Do a bit of fitness now to reduce physical problems later.
7. Do some gardening — Find an excuse for getting outside in the sun. Whether it is planting flowers or growing container herbs, including a change of scenery can always get you motivated.
8. Get back in contact with old friends and family — Been thinking of some old relationships from elementary school or the old neighborhood lately? Use the Internet to get back in touch with them. See what they are up to and share your experiences. You will probably spend a lot of time laughing about the old times.
9. Learn to code — Interested in a career as a computer programmer and wondering how you can get into the business? There are a lot of code schools on the internet you can utilize. As a coder myself, these are the skills I suggest learning to be ready for when you land that first programming job. HTML is how to make basic webpages. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is how to make those web pages look great. And JavaScript is how you make webpages smart. Did you know that phone apps are written in JavaScript? Visit W3Schools for free tutorials and certification testing.
10. Join new online groups — As Google is to search engines, Zoom is to interacting online. Search out webinars by industry leaders and attend. Learn from the best wherever they are.
11. Write a journal — This is a good one. Take a few minutes out of every day to write down your experiences and thoughts. You will be amazed at what you have forgotten when you reread it in the future. Also, your grandkids would learn from it too.
12. Learn a language — Now is the time to brush up on languages you learned in school or to learn a brand new one. Again, the Internet is your best friend for finding free resources. Also, you can start a Zoom group of people with the same interest in learning the same language, and you can practice together. You can even hire a fluent speaker to join you online to make suggestions and corrections.
13. Learn to cook — Want to develop a skill that will enhance your life? Many people are intimidated by working in the kitchen. Take this time to learn some basic recipes. Invite your family or roommates to dinner cooked by you. It makes a big impression!
14. Volunteer — You don’t have to leave your place to help others. Volunteer to call elderly family members and others every few days to ask them how they are doing. Knowing that someone will be checking up on you to see how you are doing makes the elderly feel great. Also, this looks good on a resume.
15. Get your paperwork together — You tell yourself every year that you will have your bills and business papers organized so that you can find anything you need in just a minute or two. You say this every year because you keep putting it off. So, make a mid-year resolution to put papers away as soon as they arrive. This change will help keep you calmer each time tax season rolls around.

These are just a few suggestions. There are plenty of others. Keep in mind that this situation is not permanent, and it is a great opportunity to enhance your health, attitude, and job prospects. It is what you make of it!

Take Charge of Your Enrichment Today!

Now that you have these valuable suggestions at your fingertips, it’s time to embark on your journey of personal growth and enrichment. Don’t let this unique period go to waste; use it as an opportunity to enhance your health, skills, and well-being.

Choose at least one activity from the list and commit to starting it today. Whether it’s learning an instrument, improving your resume, or connecting with old friends, taking action is the first step towards a brighter future.

Remember, this situation is temporary, but the benefits of your efforts can be long-lasting. Seize the moment, invest in yourself, and emerge from this challenging time stronger, more skilled, and with a positive outlook. Your enrichment journey begins now!