Posted by guest blogger and marketing partner Maria Mejia from Affirma
Before jumping into a list of meaningful activities to help pass the time as many of us move to working from home, Affirma would like to thank all of the essential workers that are helping to keep our hospital systems up and running, groceries stores stalked, and packages continuing to arrive at our door.
While it can be easy to slip into a remote work fog- isolation, binge-eating, sweatpants 24/7- the list below is meant to inspire personal and professional activities for growth during a time where most of us feel stalled. Whether you’re having difficulty in moving your sales pipeline along, creating new content, or just simply in a funk, check out the list below for creative ways to pass the time.
1. Take a New Linkedin Profile Photo
It’s been about three weeks since most of us have been self- quarantining and if you are like the rest of us, you probably have let yourself go a little bit. Maybe you stopped washing your hair a few days in, sweatpants are all that fit you now, and your gym routine is about as steady as your dating life. If you want to put yourself back together but just need a good enough reason, consider taking a new LinkedIn photo. Wash your hair, put on a nice shirt, and make yourself presentable.
Taking a new LinkedIn photo is probably something that has been on your to-do list, but it hasn’t been something you could necessarily prioritize. Now with all this time on your hands, it can be. An updated profile photo of yourself might help you find new opportunities- plus, when you are connecting with recruiters for a new role, it will only help you to come across as more professional. Same thing applies for your Tinder profile once Quarantine is over.
2. Virtual Parties with Friends, Family, and Coworkers
Just because we have to self-isolate doesn’t mean we need to virtually cut ourselves off. Whether it’s celebrating a birthday with your family across the country through Facetime or having a movie night with your friends; it’s safe to say technology is keeping us well connected. Mix up your favorite cocktail, grab some pens & paper, and break out your Pictionary skills. Or if you’re looking for a simple movie night, check out Netflix Party or twoseven so you and your friends can simultaneously watch Netflix or HBO, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.
3. Master a new Skill: Personal or Professional
There’s no better time to pick up a new skill and add a certification to your resume. If you’ve been letting your $80 LinkedIn Premium subscription go to waste, now is the time to check out the LinkedIn Learning courses. With every course you complete, LinkedIn will provide you with a certification that shows up on your profile to flaunt your expertise. If you’re in the market for a new job, this is your wake-up call to check out the courses so recruiters can find you more easily with your new certs.
If LinkedIn Learning isn’t your style, I suggest checking out online courses through MasterClass. Show up your friends on the court once quarantine is over with Shooting and Scoring by NBA legend Stephen Curry, spice up family dinners with Aaron Franklin’s Texas Style BBQ, or bring bedtime stories to life for your kids with David Sedaris’ Storytelling and Humor Stream courses. They have over 80 classes and are accessible through your mobile device, desktop, and home theater apps with a one-year subscription for $15 a month. There’s currently an offer for buy one, share one free so you and your friends can challenge each other in the kitchen or on the court.
4. Clean Out Your Closet
You’re probably going to be spending a lot of time at home over the next few weeks and a little home improvement can’t hurt. While a lot of things in life feel up in the air right now, getting a jump on Spring Cleaning can bring back a sense of control and reduce stress. Whether it’s cleaning out your closet, fixing lose cabinets, or planting a new garden that was neglected during the great social life of 2019, this isloation period is the time to get caught up.
5. Learn a New Language
After downloading the Duolingo app a few years ago and feeling extremely harassed by Duo, the Duolingo owl, you may have reconsidered how quick and easy it can be to learn a new language. But now that your days of long walks on the beach or getting swole at the gym are over, consider redownloading the app or opening up that old Rosetta Stone subscription and picking up where you left off. Buena suerte!
