The year 2020 surely didn’t feel like this when it started.

As a photographer in Dubai, I can understand how this fog just rolled out and clouded all that we were looking forward to.

Most of us have been swiftly stowed away into our quarantine, clearly barred from carrying out any activity that could make this time normal and trying to find ways to stay productive during this pandemic.

But as they say, the best opportunities lie in a time of crisis.

For instance, I’ve always had my share of struggle to tilt my schedule to fit in other activities. Haven’t we all? And so the current lockdown offers the perfect opportunity to accommodate other activities in our routines which wasn’t possible earlier.

All of which brings me to share with you some of the tips that have worked out for me to stay productive all along. Let’s begin!

Break The Sweat

In any crisis, whatever you do to improve your state leaves you with a vivid, and long-lasting impact.

Make this difference for yourself. Start working out in your quarantine by experimenting with what works the best for you and trying different fitness routines. Obe Fitness and Core Power Yoga are great options for live work out schedules with instructors.

But if you’re, like me then you should totally try signing up at Dance Body. Not only do I love it because of my love for dancing but also because you get 50% for the first two months!

 Practising Mindfulness

Quarantine is not easy. Socially distancing for months does take a toll on our emotions once in a while, after all, we are social beings. It’s a difficult time for many and so keeping sure our mind is in a healthy space requires all the more attention than ever. Headspace has really helped me start my day with a stable approach, manage stress, and remain calm.

 Skill Addition

If there’s any sure perk that this quarantine has brought along, then it’s time. Utilise it by learning a new skill. For instance, I started YouTubing without having any prior experience. All I needed was some expert help on creating good videos and editing- which I got from platforms like Skillshare.

Blogging is another way you can stay productive. There are tons of helpful courses from Wired Creatives and refined ones like the Superstar Blogging course by Nomaic Matt. All you have to do is, find your niche, find the right guide online, and get started!

No limits with the Internet

One of the best ways to ace your productivity during COVID-19 was to use the internet to it optimum levels. How do you pivot your earning opportunities when you cannot “operate as usual”? The lockdown for me was an eye-opener for many things one of which was the importance of having a steady income source.

Not being able to go ahead with my planned projects, I found my refuge in a very obvious place – the internet. All you need is a legit platform and a talent you can sell. Freelance on Fiverr, host your online courses on Podia, or even try something out-of-the-box and interesting such as Affiliate marketing.

The lockdown may have its limits, but the internet doesn’t!

Food for Thought

How to ace your productivity during COVID-19 depends a lot on what you are feeding your mind. An idle mind is where the downsides of quarantine find its roots. Listening to audiobooks is what has helped me shift my focus towards learning truly, think in new ways, and find more inspirations to expand my own knowledge. I’d like to think of Scribd as Netflix for books. If you use my referral code, you can receive the first two months free of your subscription.

Netflix and Productivity

Boon for some, but for many others – a bane. Movies are not all about entertainment, just as Netflix is not all about just chilling. Yes, you can binge – watch something daily, but often we don’t realise how we end up overspending time on screens.

Turn it into something productive by doing this – set a daily to-do list for yourself and on completing your tasks successfully, reward yourself with an episode of your favourite series! Make Netflix as something you’d do if you completed your daily Yoga routine or after you’ve finished listening to another chapter from your audiobook.

Stay connected with Video calls

It’s true. We do miss seeing our near and dear ones. Staying in touch with our loved ones is always a good way to stay motivated and go on about our quarantined lives. Schedule a daily plan to video call your family and friends. If you are working from home, do try to check up on your coworkers with a video call even if the matter can be discussed over a call.

Hosting Happy Hours

The world is distanced socially – but not on the internet. Because I missed having my ladies night, here’s what I did – I hosted a super fun wine-tasting e-meeting with my friends. It was something new and what started as a wine-tasting event ended up with us sharing our recipes, tips to stay proactive, and helping each other out with plenty of other things. Try it, it’s fun!

Kitchen Inspirations

Out of all the ways to ace your productivity during COVID-19, I won’t be surprised if cooking didn’t cross your mind immediately. Believe me or not, I’ve found the joy of being productive by cooking something nutritious for my body. Our nutrition pretty much sets a bar for our output. I have been following cooking blogs from Pick Up Limes and Indian Healthy Recipes and I cannot emphasise enough how much it’s helped me become more mindful, manage time, and level up my creativity.

These 9 tips are what I tried and what helped me chase away the lockdown limitations and make my quarantine routine a fruitful one. Have more to add to my list? Share with me!