- Question
What are the most useful skills to learn while social distancing?
All this time alone can be frustrating. But let's not forget that Shakespeare allegedly wrote his masterpiece 'King Lear' while in quarantine from the Bubonic Plague. As the titular character in that great play states “Nothing can come of nothing.” Don't despair - use this time to learn valuable skills, so when you do emerge from this pandemic period, you do so stronger, wiser and ready to take on the new world.
Language skills
An irony of the coronavirus is that as individuals are increasingly isolated, the world becomes more united. Learning a new language is the perfect way to sustain our global community long after the coronavirus has disappeared.
Writing skills
This position holds that writing skills are among the most useful to learn while social distancing. It argues that sharing one's experiences matters more than ever, and suggests outlets such as writing a short story, starting a blog, or reviving one's correspondence.
Mood and mental health skills
This position holds that mood and mental-health skills are the most useful to learn while social distancing. It argues that staying calm amid uncertainty matters more than ever, recommending practices such as meditation and mindfulness to steady the mind.
Domestic skills
This position holds that domestic skills are among the most useful to learn while social distancing. It argues that, since people are spending so much more time at home, they should optimise the experience — mastering cooking, decluttering with a spring clean, and being a better neighbour.
Digital skills
This position holds that digital skills are among the most useful to learn while social distancing. It argues that, thanks to the internet, the world is at your fingertips even in isolation—offering the chance to learn to code or build a following as an online influencer.