For some of us now sidelined by cutbacks due to COVID-19, it’s a taste of early retirement.
Without the financial security.
So what to do with all this “free” time? For many, it’s an opportunity to sleep in, go for walks in the morning (nice!), watch the news (not so nice), and catch up on a few household projects.
But I’ve been noticing a creep in food consumption – probably because we’re parked in front of either the TV or computer for so much of the day. Which may result in the “Homer Simpsonization” of society if this lasts too much longer.
What if instead we behaved more like students, and used the time between breakfast and dinner for some form of self improvement? Learning immediately comes to mind, and with the variety and volume of courses available online (from Udemy to Duolingo to Khan Academy), there’s no shortage of opportunities to develop new skills, grow your knowledge, or pick up a new language.
My daughter has been learning French online, and spends at least an hour a day practicing piano. My son has been working on his coding, and has enrolled in a finance course. I’ve been logging daily time on work-related courses, but have recently downloaded the Yousician app – and am once again having fun with my Les Paul.
This guitar, by the way, is no reflection of my playing ability, but someday I hope to be worthy of it.
And as per an earlier blog, my garage gym is still getting a workout, as both my son and I haven’t missed a beat since Goodlife closed back in March.
The longer this pandemic persists, the more worried we’ll become about our country’s ability to recover. But what if we, as individuals, each came out of this just 10 percent better? Additional skills and abilities, healthier and more fit, a sharper mind…
What would be the effect of that on our economy?
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Neil Moore is a freelance journalist, masters athlete, and family man who believes that excellence has no expiry date.
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