Fight COVID-19 By Learning A New Skill At Home
Improving your abilities is a great way to spend time while minimizing the spread of COVID-19
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If you’re like me, you probably weren’t thrilled at first to learn of the necessary social distancing measures. Most people I know value social contact as highly as life itself because life and social life are ultimately inseparable. However, by temporarily isolating as much as possible, we can greatly reduce the risk of infecting the people we love. But undoubtedly the absence of social contact, while necessary, leaves a colossal void. To make our lives whole again and live sustainably until the threat of infection has passed, we can learn and do new things which will bring us out of this era stronger and more effective than ever before. Here are some things which have helped me focus and grow during this dark interlude:
Start writing
I took up writing on Medium less than a week ago and was thrilled by the immediacy of the results. Relatives I hadn’t spoken to in years commented favorably on my work and struck up engaging conversations. I felt an instant sense of connection and mutual benefit. In writing, I have found a passion that inspires me to work harder and learn more, simply to be able to write about the journey. If you have not tried your hand at writing, I strongly suggest that you start. You may discover a new side to yourself that possesses previously unknown capabilities. Medium provides a great platform to share your ideas and hosts a vibrant community of writers.
Learn a language
Duolingo offers free courses in many languages which can drastically improve your ability to read, write, and speak in the foreign language of your choice! I chose the French and Russian courses to get started. Another thing you can do to improve your language proficiency is to listen to Pimsleur audio courses for free on Libby. They are more geared toward conversational learning and are a bit longer than a session on Duolingo so expect a challenge when taking that route.
