For many of you, the Covid 19 pandemic may have disrupted your normal day-to-day activities. Safety health precautions may have forced you to work from home. In the same way, movement restrictions and lockdowns have made you spend most of your time confined in your home.
But it is not all dim. You can take advantage of these adjustments to improve your skills. Here are some of the activities you can engage in to boost your skills remotely.
1. Attend Virtual Meetings, Webinars and Conferences
With physical meetings being restricted to only a certain number of people, many organizations have shifted to virtual meetings. Video conferencing platforms like zoom and google meet have enabled webinars and conferences to be the new way of meeting.
You should take advantage of this new way of meeting and attend these webinars and conferences. You will continue to learn, network, and collaborate. With the links to these meetings available online, take advantage of this and attend these virtual meetings and learn from the leaders of different fields worldwide.
2. Keep in Touch with Your Mentor
Your relationship with your mentor is very important during this time. It would be best if you took advantage of video conferencing tools to keep in touch with them.
Talk to them about how their advice has shaped you and what you should be doing in the future. Ask your mentor how you should keep growing during these tough times and the activities you should do. Do not let the lockdown and restrictions limit your growth when you can do this virtually. You will gain a lot when you keep in touch with your mentor.
3. Take an Online Course
This pandemic time could be a great time to improve your CV by adding that online course. There are thousands of online courses currently ranging from business, design, marketing, and IT. Brush up your writing skills by taking a writing class, learn that coding language, or even use Duolingo to learn a new language.
There are also networking courses online. Right now is a nice opportunity for you to learn to connect with people from around the globe who can build you and walk with you. Now choose an online course relevant to you and take advantage of your stay at home to get that online course study and certification.
4. Learn to Use the New Technology
With this pandemic, you may have been forced to work with new technology that you may not have been conversant with. Use this time to learn about video conferencing and other platforms that enable you to work remotely.
These skills are indispensable, and you may require them in the long run with the new technology. Many businesses and organizations are upscaling their technology to suit remote working. So it would help if you are conversant with this new technology.
5. Listen to Podcasts
There are many podcasts for you to listen to, and they are all almost free. You can pick podcasts on investment and entrepreneurship, capacity building, resource management, among others.
It is a platform for you to listen and learn from people around the globe. Podcasts can help you make that important business decision that you’ve wanted to make for years. You get to listen to people who have walked a similar path before, and you learn a thing or two from them.
5. Read Top Business Books
Pick that great business book to help you gain relevant business skills and attributes to help you run your business effectively.
Gurus in the business world publish books, and you can learn from their experiences. You will also learn how to be a better manager and how to invest your money. All this information is available at your disposal, and now is the time to take advantage of it.
6. Make Use of Training Resources Provided by Your Employer
Your employer may have already provided you with some online resources and platforms to help you improve your skills, and you may not have had time to do so. You can revisit those resources now that you are at home. When you actively participate in training, you will be more productive and innovative. Your employer may have you in that organization for longer. Use this time to make use of those resources to horn your skills.
7. Have a Routine
When working remotely, you are likely to lose track of time. Make sure you have a routine that spells out your goals for the day. Try to incorporate time to learn and develop your skills while at the same time finishing all your work. With this, you will come out more productive, and you would have learned something new.
Although this is a difficult time, you can use your time effectively and productively to further your skills. Consider engaging in some of these activities that will help you make the best out of these tough times.