STOP MOANING: Three Career-Enhancing Activities to Do during the COVID-19 Lockdown

The new coronavirus has undoubtedly altered the way we live our lives. Events have been cancelled, religious holidays have been celebrated in private, travel is prohibited, and movement outside our houses has been restricted to only certain, crucial for our survival activities and our urban centres are deserted and silent. And, on top of that, a global economic recession is already in sight as a result of this situation.

Life seems to have stopped. Or not? Well, many of us work or otherwise take care of our careers from home. There are a lot of things you can do, but I have only picked three. And, believe me, once you pick them up, you’ll be so busy, that you’ll never need your Netflix account again.

1. Learn new skills

The world has slowed down but has not entirely stopped and this is especially true when it comes to learning. You can find countless short-term or long-term online courses. With more and more universities taking their activities online and with more and more independent online learning platforms and universities appearing, you have now the chance to take any certification you need from the comfort of your own home. There are plenty of online platforms, of which my favourites are Professional Education, Testing and Certification Organization International (of which I have recently become an Author) and Future Learn, which includes courses that are offered by a high number of well-established universities.

Yet we are not going to be locked inside forever. So, why not applying for this full-time MA or PhD you have been considering?

2. Create a website or YouTube channel (or both)

This time is perfect for you to get share your knowledge and experience in the digital sphere through your very own project!

It may feel overwhelming at first, but thanks to the fact that the website platforms and YouTube are user friendly and the fact that most people in our field try to get informed from as many sources as possible, anyone can figure things out pretty quickly. You don’t need any programmings skills or money; all you need is time to research, create your content and engage with your audience!

There are plenty of platforms available, but the one that powers most of the Internet is WordPress and there are plenty of resources available online that show you how you to use it.

This activity has numerous benefits; fist of all, it will help you develop and prove your creativity skills, your writing skills, your communication and your public speaking skills. Additionally, you will have a place to share your scholarly work with the world in any format that you like. And, finally, if you are consistent, there might be monetisation opportunities for you, such as advertisements and income from one-to-one consultations, your very own online courses, donations and speeches.

3. Spend time networking online

A career in Politics heavily relies on online and offline networking, which should start from your very first semester at university.

This lockdown is a perfect opportunity to refresh your LinkedIn profile and connect online with new people from all around the world or renew contact with people that we already know. Except for LinkedIn, other networks that you can join are ResearchGate and Mendeley, both of which are platforms where you may find new literature. And what about joining PolisRoom on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn?

What can social networking offer to you? It can help you find new opportunities, find new literature and find inspiration. It can also offer you opportunities to share your work with the world and collaborate with other experts in your field of focus.

Here is video I have created for you with love: