It’s been a crazy time this year so far. All the sudden forced changes to our lifestyle have directly affected those aspects sitting at the bottom of the Maslow pyramid we can’t just go without. Now, there is social unrest too. If there is something that I’ve learnt over the past few months is that paying more attention to the present than to the future is the best way to bettering yourself.

How do we know if what we’re doing right now is what we need to do? Reflecting on times past, I’ve remembered that the little actions I took without over thinking did help me going forward. Hope the below helps you too. What has helped you during this period?

Bettering your skill set

One way I have kept focus is by taking courses and listening to podcasts. There has been a significant increase of online learning during the past few months. According to the World Economic Forum, online education is projected to reach $350 billion by 2025. Almost a quarter of the UK workforce have sought out new learning opportunities to boost employability.

Anyway, I’ve just loved how many companies and Universities have stepped up to help those out of work offering free or discounted courses all over the world. For example:

• DfE have launched The Skills Toolkit, with courses run by different companies like Google’s Digital Garage
• Companies like Blue Array have offered their specialist tecnical courses to those marketers out of work due to Covid

What else?

Many of us have interpreted this idea of bettering ourselves as learning new skills. Surpirisingly, I haven’t heard so much about enhancing our existing skill set or learning to relax.

Watching Netflix isn’t the only way to relax, and it can contribute to make us feel lethargic. It is great that some TV channels and streaming servies have offered free streaming and other perks. But, there is so much more out there. Here some of the activities that have helped me coping, apart from cooking!

• Free and paid for yoga and meditation courses on Zoom, like those run by Briony Gunson
• The National Theatre, fundraising for those badly affected by the lockdown, and the Royal Opera House are streaming some of their performances for free on You Tube.
• Instagram is streaming small gigs, monologues and ven cooking lessons run by the likes of Tan France from Queer Eye or Massimo Bottura, who’s been nominated for a Webby award for his fun and lovely Quarantine Kitchen series.
• Musicians have done fundraisers, like Lily Ray, a NY based dj who I recommend listening and dancing to.