How is everyone being productive or learning something new during isolation? I feel like I should be doing something more than chores and being a couch potato with all this extra time on my hands.

I don’t know, my opinion is not to worry about it. Most smart animals spend just a fraction of their time each day being productive, securing what they need to thrive. Humans spend all of our time on it. All our technological innovations and we still have to spend practically every waking moment working to our food on the table and a roof over our heads.

And look, it’s disturbed a little and looks as if it will all come crashing down. Our society is hilariously fragile for how much effort we put into it.

Spend this quarantine learning how to not need to rush all the time, experience stillness. I think that after this pandemic, we will evaluate new ways of existing in the world that will hopefully make us happier.

One of the best times to start new habits is when external circumstances change - you’re starting at a new school, you just moved into a new house, a pandemic is threatening to tear apart society and throw the world into a depression, etc.

Mentally, you’re trying to take in all this new information about external circumstances and your mind is trying to adapt. That’s why it’s one of the best times to throw in just one more little activity that your brain can get adapted to, as well, and then bam you have a habit.

So taking this change in circumstances to do things I’ve always wanted to do, like doing more long distance runs, spending more time coding, and taking MIT classes online, by creating new habits around it.

Maybe it’s ok to just pull back a little. We run nonstop all the time. Taking a breath during this crisis is ok because believe me, when we are back to normal it will be back to the rat race.

What is this extra time that you speak of? We seem to be busier now than before-Corona.

I put everything on my calendar and sticking to it 70% of the time. Goal is to get to 80% in two weeks, and 95% in four weeks. So, planning has gotten better. Just need to keep working on execution discipline. Something new: more Coursera classes, and dry practice at home of things I would normally do outside

I’ve been getting high and playing video games and watching anime lol

Learning Spanish on Duolingo since a week

We can suggest for you to learn a language or take up an instrument, but if you don’t find these interesting, you’re not going to do them. When you have a lot of time to yourself, do some self-reflection and ask yourself what is it that you’ve always wanted to know more about?

Trading stocks.

Taking this opportunity to rest my brain and body.

We’ve got kids at home. I wish I had extra time for projects!

I’ve spent the weekend sewing fabric face masks to send to a family member. No clue if they will be all that helpful, but she and her coworkers are freaking out because they are days from having none left with no answers for additional supplies coming in and she asked me to make what I can.

I think embracing the quiet and just relaxing as some people suggested is a great outlook. At the same time, I’d like to have at least a little more mental stimulation than some video games, TV, etc.

Been painting ✨

Time to check and reset personal finances. Refinanced auto loan, shopping for auto / home insurance, toying with stocks, cut down unnecessary expense, shopping personal loans for low rates. Feeling lively.

I've cleaned out my closet and desk. I'm getting ready to do my taxes, do an electronic clean on my personal computer (GOODBYE COLLEGE LAB REPORTS FOREVER). It feels so good to have time and urge to purge.

...extra time? I’m swamped.

Catching up on all the errands around the house I skip when I’m traveling - the ones outside will have to stay skipped unfortunately

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/03/12/during-pandemic-isaac-newton-had-work-home-too-he-used-time-wisely/%3foutputType=amp

Picked up panting and learning Spanish on Dulingo. Didn’t realize no traveling can give you so much time.