Feeling bad about yourself for spending the first 50 days of quarantine binge watching "Tiger King" and attempting (and failing) to go viral on Tik Tok? Have no fear, there are plenty of fun activities you can still do before quarantine is up that will actually prove useful back in the real world. Below are five practical online tools you can easily master during the (hopefully) final weeks of quarantine.
Learn Microsoft Office
Yea, you know how everyone has "Proficient in Microsoft Office" on their resumes and you're sitting there thinking, "shit.. does 'Proficient in Google Docs' count?" Understanding Microsoft Office tools like Powerpoint, Word, and Excel can be extremely useful when it comes to standing out in the job market and can even help you organize yourself in classes as well!
How to learn: Simply start by downloading the Microsoft Office package (it's free for UCLA students!), then locate the many training templates found on the home page! The programs also have a very effective help bar that can answer other questions you may have along the way.
Teach Yourself How To Code
Photo by Chris Ried on Unsplash
You know what they say, coding is the new second language! And if you're like me and you've never tried coding, you probably think you're screwed. However, there is hope. There are plenty of free online games that teach you how to code while also having fun!
How to learn: CodinGame is an online site that has fun, free games that contain over 25 programming languages. There are also more targeted games for specific languages on other sites, like Ruby Warrior to learn Ruby, Flexbox Froggy to learn CSS flexbox, and so on.
Learn How To Meditate (The Right Way)
Common misconceptions about meditation include either thinking you already know how to mediate and being wrong, or not believing meditation actually does anything at all. Despite these misconceptions, meditation (done properly) can help you feel less stressed, sleep more soundly, and feel an overall greater sense of happiness.
How to learn: Headspace is an app that teaches you about meditation and mindfulness and how to properly execute certain helpful breathing exercises. The app comes with 10 free exercises, as well as a paid subscription option that contains longer and more specified applications.
Understand The Secrets Of Happiness
Yes, you read that right. There IS a secret to happiness! And it's free! Yale is offering a free, online course where you can participate in activities to develop more productive habits and ultimately increase your feelings of happiness. Cool, right?
How to learn: Sign up for the free course through Coursera.org and begin! You can even pay for a certification upon completion if you want #proof.
Master Successful Interviewing
This one is useful for obvious reasons. In a few short years, all of us students will be tossed into the workforce, relying heavily on this skill to score our dream jobs. Interviewing, however, is not as easy as you'd think.
How to learn: Interview Stream on UCLA Handshake is free for students and is a fantastic tool to practice and improve your interviewing skills. Find the program under the Career Center tab on your profile and get to practicing!
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