Many people consider this lockdown boring and dull, but it’s up to them to make it lively and exciting. At first I was so excited, I mean no school, no work, just a lot of time to relax and catch up on all the series I had missed out on.
My dad was constantly on my neck to get up and do something productive. And so I decided to learn a new skill, something that I would be interested in and do happily (without complaining).
Things One Could Learn Staying At Home
I went online and made a list of things that I could do at home, at a low cost and then I narrowed it down further. What materials did I have available at the moment and what was I amateur at.
I could either hone my skill or start something fresh, something I hadn’t done before. After a lot of deliberation, I decided on two things, styling hair (I had a mannequin head lying around) and baking (because why not?)
Must Read: A Guide to Productivity Apps
Learning Something New
I know that it costs a lot to get hair done, so why not be productive and learn something that cost next to nothing but that will give me lots of money (well not lots but some). Plus, who doesn’t like a nice slice of cake? With YouTube as a companion it will be easier right? Wrong.
It takes more than just thinking about it to be productive, action is also involved. At the time, I had no real motivation to learn, what was the point? Besides there was no school. So why should I have to learn anything? I kept procrastinating.
Whenever I had the sudden energy to be productive, something always distracted me or wasn’t present. Either there was no milk or I couldn’t find the mannequin head.
Days passed until my dad enforced an electronic ban and very soon I was bored out of my mind. That’s what gave me the push to do something with myself.
At first it was tedious burning this and missing that, but then slowly I began to get better at baking. I’m still not an expert but I think I’m proficient.
Hair styling was even harder. I couldn’t get the braids right and even when I did they were too rough or too loose and I kept tangling the hair. Getting the steps where difficult especially because I only had YouTube as a guide and the hair kept getting frizzy.
At least baking it was mainly about proportions and measurements (thank goodness) but I couldn’t use a scale to make the hair perfect but through determination and hard work, I was able to make a decent head of braids.
I’m still not an expert in baking or hair styling, I’m still learning and learning some of these new things helped me get rid of boredom. You too can fight boredom, all you need is a little push, a list of your interests and of course, dear old YouTube.
Here are some tips on how to achieve your productivity goal:
Firstly think about your interests. Brainstorm on what you think would appeal to you. Make a list of all the possible activities that you could participate in, how productive would the activity be and what you would gain in the long run.
Think of resources and opportunities available. Make full use of these. Consider applying for scholarships in case you can’t finance your studies.
You also have to think about the cost of learning. You may have to pay for an online course or it could be free. Don’t just think, DO. Actions speak louder than words.
And of course you need to stay motivated till the end. You can’t just give up halfway. If you want to be truly productive, follow these tips. You are sure to gain something by the end of the lockdown.
