Coronavirus is a global pandemic that has caused significant distress to individuals and businesses alike. This has resulted in uncertainty and anxiety of what is to come over the next few months.
During this time of change, it is natural for our minds to think of all the usual activities that we may not be able to do at the moment. However, we must make a conscious shift to focus on the activities that we are still able to do, or those that we may have more opportunity to participate in because of the stay at home or work from home orders imposed by the government.
Some key considerations during this period of uncertainty would include:
Maintain a study schedule: pursue an online courses that interest you.
Catching up on that book you have been meaning to read for months but have been too busy to.
Listen to a podcast or start your own YouTube channel based on an interest or skillset you have.
Develop a new hobby or skill (e.g., learn a new recipe, play an instrument, learn a new language, learn how to sew or garden).
As it relates to your employment, even though there are a lot of persons losing their jobs, do not be disheartened and sit idly by waiting for your situation to improve. You can take action now to managing your finances and finding a solution to your employment situation.
Here are four actionable steps that might help your employment options:
Create a budget – A budget can help you gain a better sense of control over your financial situation. Outline a comprehensive graph of the areas where expenses are and identify where adjustments can be made.
Look for new job opportunities – At this time a more creative outlook is needed to secure some form of employment or securing alternative income. Some of these can be working from home in various forms such as online tutoring, virtual assistant services etal.
Further your education – Taking classes for credit or signing up for an online course for your own enrichment would be helpful to your career. Additionally, websites like Coursera and Alison courses offer free courses that can help to build your skills that would position you as more marketable in the competitive employment environment.
Update your resume – Have your resume professional revamped and ask for feedback from others. This will help to increase your chances of landing a job when you start applying for new positions.
In summary even though Covid-19 has posed a challenge for us, we can survive this period by looking after our mental health, participate in fun activities we could not do before and plan for the future.
Contributed by Director Shauna McLeod
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