5 Online Skills To Pick Up During Quarantine (And How To Do It)
Start writing a post
Student Life

5 Online Skills To Pick Up During Quarantine (And How To Do It)

The guide from coding to meditation, to everything in between!

285
5 Online Skills To Pick Up During Quarantine (And How To Do It)
Everypixel

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

Giphy

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)

Giphy

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

Photo by Nghia Le on Unsplash

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

Giphy

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!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

51120
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

32735
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

955862
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180859
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments