Description: If you’re tired of COVID-19 and the quarantine, here’s how you can turn your mind into a learning machine. We listed some skills to wake up your learning desires and the platforms where you can find whatever interests you.
Don’t Let Quarantine Hold You Down—Educate Yourself
An idle mind is the devil’s playground. With the COVID-19 pandemic keeping people in lockdown, it’s no wonder so many people are bored and have lost the concept of how to spend their quality time.
But if you’re willing to learn, you might like to know that 75% of colleges in the US offer online classes and courses. If you’re looking to learn a new skill but want to avoid college, you can always attend courses on Udemy, Skillshare, and Coursera, some of the most popular online learning platforms in 2020.
But that’s not all. Education statistics say that online learning is beneficial for the environment. E-learning is going so far that humanity’s even developing a VR classroom.
Let’s take a look at the skills you can learn and what platforms you can use to learn them.
Cool and Useful Skills
You can learn almost anything online. In fact, there are a lot of free courses and e-books that can guide you through a new process. Just look at YouTube, for example. This platform can help you keep your mind occupied for days, and the skills you learn will stay with you long after the quarantine is over.
Cooking
Even in quarantine, don’t deny yourself a tasty treat. If you browse the internet, you’ll find a bunch of recipes that you can test out with any budget. Even better, the videos will show how the food should look.
Dog Training
If you have a dog, now might be the time to teach it tricks. It’s not that hard. All you’ll need is patience and your pet’s favorite treats.
Hair Cutting
Don’t let the quarantine affect your glow. We all know how important a good haircut is. But you don’t have to expose yourself to risk and go outside. Just look for hair-cutting tutorials online.
Fix Home Appliances
There’s nothing more annoying than a dripping faucet or leaky toilet. Plus, these can add to your water bill. Luckily, the online world is here to help you learn how to fix these small issues. Keep in mind, though, for any bigger problem, such as a power outage, it’s better to call an expert.
Card Games
Lockdown can be annoying, but you might feel better if you learn how to play cards with your family. An added bonus is time off screen.
Painting or Drawing
Even though it requires some creativity, painting is a skill that can be learned. There are many courses that can help you draw, too. All you have to do is think of a style you’d like to learn.
Speed Reading and Fast Typing
Speed reading takes time to practice, but it’s a skill that can save you a lot of time once you reach a certain level. Start small, but dedicate your time to it daily. Fast typing is similar. You’ll have to train your fingers to behave differently, but in time you’ll see the benefits. This skill might also help you with your job down the road.
A New Language
We’re aware it takes years to perfect a language, but why not start now? Who knows, maybe you’ll end up going to “real” classes after the lockdown is done.
Best Platforms to Learn From
In case you’d prefer to focus your attention on a specific platform, here’s a list of some of the best platforms available.
- Udemi
- Skillshare
- Coursera
- FutureLearn
- DuoLingo
- Memrise
Udemi is the most popular online learning platform. Its creators believe in education, allowing anyone to access its 20,000 subjects. A variety of content, professional teachers, and the ease of use might draw you in to take a look at the selection. You can find free and paid courses. If the prices deter you, be patient. Courses are often discounted.
Skillshare is an American online learning community for those who like to study with the help of educational videos. Courses are available through subscriptions and are focused on interaction with the goal of completing a project.
Stanford professors founded Coursera in 2012. It offers open online courses, specializations, and degrees, and it collaborates with 190+ leading universities and companies.
FutureLearn is a UK-based platform. It offers a selection of online degrees and free certificate courses. You can access it via desktop, mobile, or tablet. It’s one of the most affordable platforms with many short, free courses.
DuoLingo is one of the best apps for language learning. The courses are fun and easy. You can use it on your desktop or your phone, for free, unless you’d like some premium features.
Memrise is another language-learning app offering courses for 16 languages. It uses the repetition of flashcards to help you learn.
Summary
Education has never been closer than it is today, and learning has never been more accessible. There’s no more need for classrooms—all you need is time. With everything that’s within your reach, try shifting your focus away from the pandemic toward something that will benefit you. Don’t let the quarantine keep you down.
