With social distancing and self-isolation being critical to flattening the curve of the global COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are spending a lot of our time at home.
While Netflix does offer an appealing escape from the uncertainty of the current situation, you’re eventually going to run out of things to watch. Once that happens, it could be easy to fall into a funk with nothing left to do.
Not to get all philosophical but at the very core of our human needs, we all need to feel a sense of purpose to feel fulfilled. That’s why staying home with nothing productive to do can be a little depressing at times.
Starting a new project or making progress on something, is the antidote to cabin fever and the blues. And this can also help you curb the inevitable boredom.
So do something productive while you’re at home to stay happy, grounded and fulfilled. Don’t know what to do? Well, we’ve got some great ideas to help you keep busy!
Oh, and by the way, as a bonus, some of these tips we’re about to share can either help you earn a little extra cash or help boost up your resume to prepare you for something new and exciting when the world goes back to normal.
A few of our team members rounded up the top five things to do that could have a positive impact on your life – both in terms of personal fulfillment and financial gain! That brings us to our list of things to do while you’re at home.
Five productive things to do at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Get a TEFL Certificate.
- Become an online tutor.
- Become a certified teacher.
- Learn a new skill online.
- Write an article or blog post.
Get a TEFL certificate.
Want to make money teaching English online or prepare to teach abroad in the future (when this is all over)?
With 100, 120 or 150 hours worth of online learning, taking a TEFL certificate will absolutely keep you busy. Plus, it gives you the certification you need to teach English abroad or online as a foreign language.
Given the worldwide school closures, a TEFL offers the added benefit of earning some extra money teaching English online after you’ve wrapped up your course.
There are plenty of online TEFL courses to choose from circulating the web, but make sure that yours meets all the requirements for teaching English and is internationally recognized.
Start by taking a look at some of our online TEFL courses and guides. Just saying, but our courses are internationally recognized and backed by top universities, so we know a thing or two about TEFL.
Become an online tutor.
Take it from one of our very own online tutors, helping people learn online can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
As an online tutor, you can connect with learners and earn cash for the hours you work.
Life as a tutor can be both rewarding and fun! You can teach in your area of expertise or teach English online to students from around the world.
Take a look at some of the current online teaching jobs available so you can earn cash while you’re at home.
Become a certified teacher.
If you’ve ever thought of becoming a certified teacher, now is the time to get started on licensure and guess what, you can do a chunk of it online.
There are alternative teacher certification programs out there that allow you to do around three months of online coursework as well as a clinical placement to qualify for a state teaching license! The whole process can be completed in about nine months total.
While you’re at home anyway, you can get started on your licensure by completing the online coursework of a program and get a head start on your teaching certification.
Also, don’t worry about the pandemic slowing down your career because although schools across the country have closed down, they’ve all switched to online teaching. That means schools are still looking to hire teachers for the coming academic year and continue to fill roles.
In other words, jobs for teachers are always available and your career teaching may even start in an online learning environment if classes continue to stay closed.
Learn a new skill online.
There is no time like the present to take your professional or even personal skills and talents to the next level.
Whether you’re an aspiring designer ready to tackle the latest software or a teacher newly faced with having to run effective virtual classrooms, there is an online course for you.
Think about something you’ve always wanted to learn and go for it! A new skill will not only keep you busy and boost your confidence, but it can also allow you to explore new hobbies and, as a bonus, can help you grow in your career.
Write a blog post for Teach Away. ✍
Have you taught abroad or online? Because we’re always happy to share exciting personal experiences from our teachers abroad or our online teachers.
Blogging is a great way to build your writing portfolio or to explore writing as a hobby!
If you taught abroad in the past, are teaching online/abroad right now plus have a knack for writing or storytelling, why not share your story with the world?
Are you interested in becoming a contributor and writing a blog post for us? Get in touch with us: erika@teachaway.com
Make the most of your downtime and do something productive!
We know it’s tempting to binge the latest and greatest from Netflix to avoid the current reality (oh and on that note, don’t watch Contagion right now ?), but remember that this extra downtime opens a whole world of opportunities for personal growth and creativity!
So go ahead and discover new skills, take a course, write a blog post, get certified to become a teacher, most importantly, make time for yourself beyond just mindless distractions.
We all have a choice when it comes to how we handle this incredibly strange situation. We’re hoping you choose something that’s good for you.
And remember to stay positive and hopeful because we’re not going to be in this situation forever! ✨