5 Ways to Make the Most Out of Your Time in Quarantine
By Catherine Hauck
If you’re like me, when the stay-at-home order went into effect in March, you didn’t think much of it at all. You viewed it as—at best—a few weeks of relaxation, watching some new shows on Netflix and catching up on much-needed hours of sleep or—at worst—a few weeks away from school and your friends.
Fast-forward a week or two and the order had been extended. You’d finished all of Tiger King and the idea of things going back to normal any time soon seemed like a pipe dream. Internships and study abroad trips were canceled (RIP, my month in Spain), and even summer job opportunities were left up-in-the-air as states decided when and if they would reopen things like restaurants, stores and pools.
Though I was lucky enough to keep my part-time job at a restaurant in my hometown (taking carry-out orders now instead of waitressing), I knew a few shifts per week wouldn’t be enough to keep me busy or satisfied. Even more so, I started to worry about the negative effects that missing my study abroad program and being unable to find an internship to replace it would have on my future. As I scrolled through my LinkedIn feed one day in late March, I came across a quote from UA professor Mark Harris that caught my eye: “Focus on being employable, not employed.” From that day on, I made it my mission to take advantage of this period of extended free-time and to use it to improve myself both personally and professionally. Below are five ways I found to keep myself occupied, work toward self-improvement goals and have a little fun while I was stuck inside. As we continue through a period of uncertainty, I hope that you may find these helpful too!
Revamp your LinkedIn profile
This was the first thing I did once the stay-at-home order went into effect in Ohio. With a large percentage of recruiters already using LinkedIn as one of their top methods, if not their primary method for finding and vetting job candidates, having a polished, up-to-date profile will only prove to be beneficial as we enter a new era of online learning and working. A professional headshot and up-to-date work, service and leadership experience are universal must-haves, and there are plenty of online guides that can help you tailor your profile to the specific field or industry you’d like to work in.
Once you have a refreshed profile, network, network, network! A large network of professional connections will increase your chances of getting noticed by recruiters and provide you with opportunities to learn about different fields and businesses that your colleagues are affiliated with.
Take an online class
Because of my study abroad cancellation, I would be missing out on six credit hours this summer. I chose to register for two online classes through UA to both make up for my lost study abroad credits and lighten my course load for the fall. With no formal summer plans, taking online classes is a lot more manageable this summer term. As a triple-major, I’ve learned that lightening my load during the semester, if at all possible, is beyond worth it, especially if you’re involved in clubs and extracurriculars that take up a lot of your time during the week.
If you’re not looking to take or pay for graded classes through your university
this summer, but are feeling lost without a structured class schedule, several top schools—Harvard and Stanford, to name two—are offering free, short online courses spanning a variety of subjects. If a formal class just isn’t your style at all, there are webinars spanning countless subjects that you can check out too!
Learn a new relevant skill
“Relevant skills”—every major has them. For accounting majors, it’s proficiency in software like Excel and QuickBooks. For Computer Science majors, it’s fluency in a variety of programming languages. For us PR people, it’s in-depth knowledge of AP Style and the Adobe Creative Suite.
I joined Capstone Agency as a sophomore marketing major with little to no public relations experience. I was confident in what I brought to the table as an Assistant Account Executive but felt way in over my head when it came to other departments within the agency, namely graphic design. Because Alabama provides all students with Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions, I used a lot of my time in March to learn and hone my Illustrator skills. Though I am by no means an expert, familiarizing myself with the software has given me a much better understanding of the work done by the graphic designers and art directors within Capstone Agency while also giving me a marketable skill to add to my resume. I’m coming for you next, InDesign and Photoshop!
Start a side hustle
With e-commerce growing more rapidly than ever before due to the impacts of
COVID-19, the opportunities to finally start that side hustle you’ve been dreaming of are endless! I’ve had friends start Etsy shops, use social media to sell their old clothes and even become virtual babysitters (which, apparently, is a thing now). Find a business model that plays to your strengths and run with it. For me, this came naturally after learning the basics of Adobe Illustrator-- I started designing and selling stickers on Redbubble!
Get ahead on work for the year to come
This may be the last thing on many people’s minds right now, but the fact of the matter is this pandemic will end at some point and real life will start back up again. I’ve been using my hours of daily free time to study for the LSAT, which I’m scheduled to take in July. Whether it’s planning your family trip in December or making a packing list for the fall semester, your future self will thank you if you use this time wisely. When the day comes that we no longer have the luxury of sitting around, bored at home, and life speeds up once again, you’ll be glad you spent your time now getting the “little stuff” out of the way.
Even as states begin to ease restrictions, we are undoubtedly entering a new era of online learning and working. At least for the foreseeable future, we will most likely be living in a “new normal” consisting of social distancing in public, wearing masks and working/studying from home. I hope this glimpse into my quarantine-era life was able to provide inspiration and motivation as we enter the next stages of this pandemic. How have you kept yourself busy these past few months? Let us know; we’d love to hear from you!