I feel myself getting dumber each day in quarantine.

[AAPPKK]

I mean, ideally you take some time to learn a new skill or something, and read books about new things.

But realistically, sometimes you just have to sneak some education into your quarantine coping. We've thrown some more educational shows into our netflix binging. Travel shows, etc.

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[playyamy]

This is a realistic response for me, sadly. I thought the pandemic would lead to an online learning and book reading renaissance, but it hasn’t. I’ve done more, but not as much as I imagined. I think it’s important to realize that it’s not just the lack of free time or the allocation of free time elsewhere that prevents self-enrichment. I think discipline is needed. Still learning that.

To answer OP: I’m taking Udemy courses that are laterally related to what I do (look up t-shaped learning). And I try to read 1-2 books per month.

Go easy on yourself. Remember when you were in school? Could you sit around all day learning then without breaks for socialization, relaxing, stuff like that? No. Most people can't. It's not just about discipline. It's mental health. Quarantine took things like socialization, escape from their homes, and physical contact from many people. And you don't function as well without that. It's actually going to make it harder for most people to do things like take classes, because they're not at full health. And you can't replace socialization with classes for your mental health any more than you can replace vitamins with proteins for your physical health.

Not saying discipline isn't great, but shaming yourself for lack of discipline without looking clearly at the various factors can often just be some form of self destruction or self loathing trying to backdoor its way into your psyche.

[KARSASA]

Here is what I have been doing and how it's going:

- Chess - I always knew how to play, but challenged myself to really learn the game and get "good". I have a friend who I used to think was unbeatable. I've beat him twice now!

- Woodworking - not traditionally an intellectual pursuit, but you develop skills and craft something cool. I started making a board game in December and I'm about halfway done.

- Learn the ukulele - I am a cheap ass so I've been looking at and pricing out ukuleles for months now. I finally bought one and will do my first lesson tonight.

- Listen to podcasts - History, politics, current events, daily news. I've learned so many cool things this past year. Also, you can listen and learn while you are doing chores around the house.

- Exercise - I lift weights and go out mountain biking frequently. For me, this is the easiest way to get out of a moody brain fog.

- Reading - I've read 2 books so far this year in 2021. Last year I read 3/4 of a book.

[PEANUTUT]

I'm not in quarantine, but I broke my foot so I'll call it the same thing since I'm stuck at home for 4 months (only 2 more months to go!)

I decided to use this as an opportunity to learn and grow, just like you

-Read 20 books (16 since the start of January - including taking notes) on a variety of topics - finance, investing, self-help, career development, science, philosophy etc, as well listened to many podcasts and productive YouTube videos

-Studied toward a new certification for my line of work (and set to receive a pay bump by the time I return)

-Created a budget using YNAB (You Need A Budget) and organised my finances. I now have a financial plan and looked into retirement planning as well.

-Made my initial move into investing in ETFs, and am doing some paper trading now on a few stocks I have my eye on

-Read and understood all I need to know about my various insurance policies, super, medicare and other important things I just had a vague idea about previously

-De-cluttered my phone, laptop, home office and home

-Begun learning Spanish and Russian on the DuoLingo app

-Bought a guitar and began learning how to play it from JustinGuitar

-Set up home automation - sensors, cameras, garage, wall plugs etc (so convenient not having to get up with a broken foot!)

-Begun tracking my mood and habits in the Mood Tracker app

Switched from doing Tactical Barbell in my training to doing a new bro-split bodybuilding protocol just for fun
-
-I've also bought a lockpicking set and am waiting for that to arrive so I can learn how to pick locks

And then I've continued my previous practices:

-Cold showers

-Meditation

-Practicing Mindfulness and Gratitude

-Journalling

-Study and implement Stoicism and Buddhist practices into my everyday life

Then on top of all this I still fucked around and did some lazy shit like

-Video games

-Binge watched Attack on Titan, the whole MCU line-up, Friends, Brooklyn 99 and other content from AnimeLab, Netflix, Disney Plus etc

-Reddit

-And other mindless stuff because I think it's important to have that too (in moderation)

[KARSASA]

I joined the app Hello Talk. It’s a way to chat with people and learn a new language. I really like it for three main reasons:

I want to learn French, so I’m staying sharp by learning a new skill

I’m lonely AF and it’s fun to talk to people

It’s a way to practice social skills with new people (you can send voice notes and things like that)

You should try it! Vous devriez l'essayer!

Also (unrelated to HelloTalk but helpful for staying sharp) - I try to walk every day and either call someone or listen to a podcast.

[viperor]

Excel / Sheets! Seriously. Quantify your life, man. Learn the numbers and the formulas. Learn yourself and your world in a new way. Get control of things. It’s a big ol’ puzzle for your brain and you can go as deep as you want. Bonus points to integrate iOS shortcuts and Jailbreak’s Activator. I could go on for days...

[Photony]

I have the same feeling. Looking at the recommendations on here and people I interact with saying that if you do not come out of this lockdown with 5 new skills has been more nerve wrecking for me personally.

While I know and understand what needs to be done, I don’t feel I have the energy to do so anymore.

[KBIGHTTT]

No. You are not going dumb. May be you have less things to do or just avoiding things to do. ( like myself). But, create a new hobby or read a book or learn something online what interests you. There are thousands of free courses as well. It will just keep you busy and give you confidence. 🙏

[GALALAGA]

I read. It started as me making myself stay off my phone more because I didn’t like how much I was on my phone. Then I was bored and didn’t want to watch tv all the time, so I borrowed a book from my bookworm daughter and now I read always. I feel smart. Lol

[FAKerOR]

Depends on how you are but all the above mentioned activités are great! Aside from that as I was saying online gaming is a great outlet. This is because you interact with other people who’ve had different experiences in life and are at varying stages as well. This leads to possibly stimulating conversations you can have and help keep you on your feet when you’re communicating with them. Other than that the action of playing certain games also requires focus and brain power in order to do some tasks/missions/quests etc

[RainbowcityDAO]

I started taking some on line courses from udemy. I’m decent with excel but I learned a lot more holy shit! I can do that?! I started learning sign language...I can now do my abc’s. Lol. I ordered a painting kit. And I think I’m going to take an on line genealogy course. My job eliminated my position and I got a nice severance package. So now I’m doing things I didn’t get a chance to do while I was working 50-60 hours a week.

[XIYEXIYE]

Trying to get back into physical activity. I was a gym rat and during quarantine was really hard. I had a couple weights, but I was a powerlifter, so it wasnt the same as lifting heavy weight. Quarantine has passed, gyms are open with precautions, but I remember being really down on myself this summer and eventually forcing myself to do some bodyweight exercises and go for a lot of bike rides.

Even when the gyms did finally open it still took some effort to return to a normal workout routine. I had to battle myself to get there for a couple months.

[xiaohuhu]

Learn a language at a basic level - learn the 50 most used verbs in present, past and future tense and go from there, you'll be able to communicate basic shit v quickly.

Listen to podcasts - for markets I recommend The Exchange, unreal for hot takes and daily updates

[Pavel leslie]

Two words: Book Club

I’ve never been in an honest to god book club outside of school and now I’m in two that are drastically different (in terms of books and membership) and wow has it been incredibly fulfilling during these past few months! I’m reading new things I wouldn’t seek out on my own, I’m consistently talking to groups of people (familiar and new) who live all around the country/world, and through listening and speaking the ideas just flow, collide, and grow. Couldn’t recommend it more! Get some friends or family together, have them invite a person or two, pick a book that sounds interesting to the group, and enjoy the ride!

[canyouer]

I started intermittent fasting and also a few minutes of cold shower before turning up the heat. The key for me is to get hot and sweaty and jump straight into the shower. And the key for me for intermittent fasting is realizing that the morning hunger spike goes away after 5-15 minutes and doesn't come back.

[Cullly]

I use to be the cook in the family but ever since my kids left home I’ve kind of given up with the two of us (wife and me) having scheduling issues. At the end of summer I was furloughed my wife word from home and finally a month ago I started relearning how to schedule meals and cook again and it’s challenged me in positive ways.

[XUNing]

Podcasts, online chess, and working out are the best ways I have kept my mind sharp through all this and tbh while I am quite anxious and bored and can’t wait for the world to open up, I do still feel as cognitively sharp as I’ve ever been. Also take your vitamins.

[BlackPinker]

Find a online side hustle, build a website, learn a new skill, find out if the government is doing subsidies for courses. Currently in australia diplomas of mental health are $500 when they are usually $15k.

[bitterguy28]

I mean, ideally you take some time to learn a new skill or something, and read books about new things.

Yups i focused in other things than Reading and online activities , i tried working in our Plants and some animals .

I bought some Ducks and Love birds for Breeding as those are In demand in my place from Pets to Food in table , Love birds is for the animal lovers and Ducks for Food Lovers.

But realistically, sometimes you just have to sneak some education into your quarantine coping. We've thrown some more educational shows into our netflix binging. Travel shows, etc.

So you are still a student ? if does then yeah You have different views and living than ours who's having obligation to earn and feed.

[Jazmin Leslie]

maybe you need some fresh air. go hiking with few friends or family. enjoy the sunshine. my brain works slowly when staying indoors for a long time. Just go out and feel the real world.