Nobody expected 2020 to take such a turn. Like it or not, this summer is not going to be your normal jump-on-a-plane and hit-the-beach kind of summer. You’re probably still stuck at home. I know it’s all too easy to fall into a lazy slump and do nothing all day. This is why I’ve compiled a list of productive things to do during Coronavirus summer.
It’s mostly to keep myself accountable and actually do some of these things. But it’d be great if you took inspiration from some of these activities and have a productive summer too!
Table of content (click to jump to that section):
- Level up your fitness with exercise and a healthy diet
- Perfect your cooking skill
- Learn an instrument
- Read more books
- Take up freelance gigs
- Start an online business
- Do a room makeover
- Learn a new language
- Get creative and make stuff
- Learn about investment
- Take up a remote internship
- Get a head start on your reading list
- Join an online class or workshop
- Build your portfolio
- Learn a new skill for your resume
1. Level up your fitness with exercise and a healthy diet
Is there a better time to finally take the reins of your fitness and have the ultimate quarantine glow-up? Exercising is important, especially when we’re staying inside all day and barely moving. There are tons of free resources online about nutrition and at-home fitness.
I haven’t personally taken a transformation challenge or anything extreme, but I try to keep active by exercising every day. They’re not always full-blown and intensive, as active rest days are important for recovery. In fact, here are some of my favorite at-home workout videos that I love to use.
2. Perfect your cooking skill
Since covid-19 became a global pandemic, everyone is suddenly a cook or baker. I never used to enjoy being in the kitchen before, but I’ve actually been trying a few recipes. Not only is cooking an essential life skill, it’s pretty fun to make new and fancy meals in your kitchen.
I baked desserts for the first time, made sweet potato brownies, cookies and banana bread. My mom has gone all out and opened a bakery in our kitchen 😀
3. Learn an instrument
It takes long, continuous hours to master an instrument. But isn’t time all we have nowadays? I think knowing how to play at least one instrument decently is a good thing to keep up your sleeve. It’s a neat party skill, and might come in handy if you ever wanna serenade someone… I’ve never been musically-inclined, so I’ll have to leave this for you.
4. Read more books
Okay, now I’m in my element. To those of you who have said that you want to read more. To those with an overflowing TBR list. And to those who want to make reading a habit. Let me say, this quarantine period is the perfect time to read.
I’m serious. Take a break from watching Netflix and bingeing Youtube shows and read some literature instead 🙂 For instance, you can revisit some old favorites, discover new genres or get inspired by non-fiction books. As for me, I’ve been trying to read more Indonesian authors.
But if you don’t really want to read entire books and would still like to indulge in some fiction, I’ve got you coverd. Here are some famous short stories you can read online right now. Like, go now. No excuse.
5. Take up freelance gigs
Who says you can’t earn money without leaving the comfort of your own bed? There are tons of freelancing websites where you can find different gigs. It may not pay that well, but it’s not bad for at-home work.
It doesn’t matter if you’re not a professional. If you can design logos and posters, write articles, or even do simple admin tasks, you’ll probably find something you can do. I’ve been dabbling in freelance writing since high school, but have picked up my pace since the pandemic started.
6. Start an online business
Next, you can take it up a notch and start an online business. I can’t lie by claiming that I’ve personally tried and succeeded in this, but I know people who have. You don’t need much to start selling, just a solid idea and the determination to see it through.
For example, a friend of mine built her own clothing line, another started a designing service, and yet another created a unique food product. Someone else actually started a podcast and Youtube channel, which may not directly be a business, but might develop into one someday.
7. Do a room makeover
This one is a fun way to spend your summer. Have you ever wanted to transform your room (or house, that works too) and upgrade the design? I think you should go and give it a well-deserved makeover. Not only will this freshen up your room, you can take up some exciting DIY and building projects. Don’t forget to enlist your family’s help!
8. Learn a new language
Whether you’re still a student or already well ahead in your career, it’s never a bad time to learn a new language. You may want to pick up an old language you had to study in school, or learn a completely new one. Personally, I want to improve my Mandarin and German.
There are endless resources to use online. You can watch videos and films in the target language, read children stories, play games, or even talk to native speakers online for faster progress. For language-learning apps, I’ve tried both Duolingo and Rosetta Stone, which aren’t bad at all.
9. Get creative and make stuff
Next on this list of productive things to do during this Coronavirus summer involves getting your creative side on. Create stuff! I’m talking about activities like drawing, writing, producing short videos, making music and crafting. Whatever stimulates your creativity, go for it. You might be surprised with your own work.
Personally, I have been trying to write more stories.
10. Learn about investment
I first learned about the stock market two years ago and invested for the first time last summer. It’s not a huge amount, but I think investment is something we all should be aware of. You don’t have to buy stocks or be a day-trader (which is stressful and risky, in my opinion) to invest. In fact, there are many low-risk investment options for you like the money market fund (Indonesian: reksadana pasar uang) and bonds (obligasi).
If you’re an Indonesian and interested in long-term investing (NOT trading/ short-term gain), I highly recommend watching Kefas Evander on Youtube. His content is packed with information and practical advice on how to conduct fundamental analysis on companies.
Productive Things To Do Over Summer For University Students
I’m dedicating this section for you university (or high school) students! Remember that after this pandemic is over, we all still have university and real life to face. Why not make use of this time to get ahead? Here’s some student-specific productive things to do during this coronavirus summer!
11. Take up a remote internship
It may not be possible to do a normal internship during these times. However, there are still some companies who can offer remote internships. It’s also a really good way to enhance your CV. Although it probably won’t be the ‘full experience’ as you won’t be in the office and physically meeting your colleagues, I’d say a remote internship is still better than none.
12. Get a head start on your reading list
If you want to step up your academic performance next year, you can bet reading ahead will help you do just that. Some of us may not be able to find out what our exact modules are until a month before classes start. But if you already know, why not start crossing some texts of your list? By reading slowly and taking your time, you can really grasp the material and analyse it more.
13. Join an online class or workshop
Whatever you want to learn, I can guarantee that there’s an online class or workshop somewhere on the Internet you can join. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare or FutureLearn have free courses that you can take on array of topics.
From personal development, scientific knowledge to technical skills, there’s something for everyone. A lot of renowned universities also offer free classes you can take. Here’s a comprehensive list for you to choose from.
14. Build your portfolio
Having a strong portfolio can be the key to landing your dream job. This might be more relevant for careers in the creative field like design, journalism and video productions. I think this summer is the perfect time for you to really maximize your portfolio.
So, write those articles, design those logos, illustrate those pictures and produce that short film. Write for online publications, design graphics for local companies and draw your favorite artists. I can go on and on. If you followed tip #5 and are freelancing, you can even include the works you did for your clients (with their permission, of course) in your portfolio.
15. Learn a new skill for your resume
Lastly, you can use these months at home to learn a new skill that will boost your CV and resume. This could be anything! From learning video editing, graphic design or copywriting to technological skills like coding, SEO and Google Ads. It helps if you’re genuinely interested in the topic too.
Well, that’s all for the list! Kudos to you who have stuck until the end.
What other productive things to do during Coronavirus summer can you think of? Drop a comment/ email me with your summer plans this year – I’d love to hear from you 🙂