It’s OK, honestly, we’re all guilty of it. You’ve been bingewatching shows online and lounging around. Maybe you’ve done some housework and baked a sourdough. Just make sure you don’t waste this wonderful opportunity to learn something. From a new language to a hobby or upskilling, there are lots of ways you can keep your brain active and impress those around you (and yourself!).
Language
Buenos Dias! Bonjour! Konnichiwa! Tēnā koe! Maybe you’re planning for a holiday when all this blows over and want to learn the local lingo, or you just want to find more ways to crank up your brain and connect with those around you. Check out these ways to get you on your way:
1 / Babbel is the crème de la crème of language learning sites. They have an app and you can learn online, with 14 languages to choose from. Each course starts at the basics and works its way up, so if you already have a basic understanding you can skip over what you need to. They also offer dialogue training that gives you conversation examples of real-life topics, and speech recognition to give you immediate feedback on your pronunciation of words and phrases.
2 / Another heavy-hitter in the language learning game, Duolingo is a fun and addictive way to learn. You earn points along the way and race against the clock to level up. Languages are put into bite-sized skills that feel like games, so you won't even know that you’re learning, and it teaches you to not only speak, but read, write and listen.
3 / Coffee Break Languages offers a variety of language lessons that can be completed in the time it takes to drink a coffee (or thereabouts). Each short lesson teaches you basic vocabulary and phrases, with more advanced lessons to have you fluent in no time!
4 / If you just want to learn a little bit of a language then Survival Phrases has got you. They offer 34 languages from Arabic to Vietnamese and everything in between, and teach you essential travel phrases, basic vocabulary and cultural tips in short sessions.
5 / Memrise is an app that is the opposite of textbook learning, and lets you learn a language and connect with others to put these teachings into practice. Memrise courses feature loads of video clips of native speakers, so you can pick up on the authentic voices and accents.
6 / Lingodeer is similar to Duolingo, but its fans swear it works even better. The app’s motto is “Learn languages smarter, not harder”. Right now it has 10 languages to choose from, and the developers seem to add new ones every few months.
Upskilling
If you’ve been craving some mad upskilling in your life and just haven’t had the time to attend a face-to-face class, or are self-taught and looking to gain some more knowledge, now is your chance. These are our top picks.
1 / Fresh and funky Yoobee Colleges are delivering remote online classes to have you upskilled in no time. Some lessons you can choose from include game programming, graphic design and photography. Scratch that tech itch and get educated!
2 / Let Dr Libby and chef Cynthia Louise teach you how to make delicious whole food from recipes and educate you on the nourishing benefits of each dish. There are 90 different recipes to have you eating real food to nourish your body in every way possible. You’ll learn new skills and knowledge you need to master the art of making real food.
drlibby.com/courses/real-food-chef
3 / Learn almost any topic from the best of the best with Masterclass. You can learn to cook from chef Gordon Ramsay, become a makeup pro with Bobbi Brown, pick up some writing skills with Margaret Atwood or become a tennis guru with Serena Williams – you couldn't ask for better teachers.
4 / Upskill your mind and global knowledge with Gaia. This media network offers answers to life’s deeper questions and goes beyond the mainstream narrative. You’ll discover one of the largest online resources of consciousness-expanding videos, articles and discussions and plenty of yoga instruction, too.
5 / If you’ve got your own business and are looking for inspo, the Tim Ferris podcast can give you some fabulous pointers. His book The Four Hour Work Week is a No. 1 New York Times bestseller. In each episode Ferris deconstructs world-class businesses to extract the tactics, tools and routines you can use.
Wellbeing, diet and fitness
Learning about yourself is just as (if not more!) important than learning about the world around you and new skills. Getting your diet in check, learning about your mental health and some fitness tips will keep you at the top of your physical and mental game.
1 / Whole30 offers a no-nonsense, don't be a baby, do it because you need to approach to healthy eating. It’s strict and sensible, and offers virtual life coaching by way of Helen Dennis, who will get to the bottom of the psychological side of things.
2 / Health expert Dr Libby is delivering her 9-week course, and believes you have to be healthy to lose weight – not the other way around. The focus of her online weight loss programme is about helping you to experience exceptional health so that your body gets the message it’s safe to begin using body fat as a fuel, and from there weight loss is effortless.
3 / Gin Stephens is the author of Delay, Don’t Deny, a book all about intermittent fasting. You’ll learn a thing or two if you read her book or check out her blog, where she discusses the newest, oldest health trend. With some solid scientific backing and a whole heap of seriously impressive before and after stories, you’ll want to check it out.
4 / FMTV (aka Food Matters TV) will give you the tools and teach you all about getting healthy and staying healthy. You’ll be educated and inspired as you follow the guided programmes on cancer, depression, chronic illness, reducing stress, sleeping better and calming the body. You’ll get free access to Gaia (listed above) with this membership too – bonus!
5 / A 12-week journey that helps you live your own life and not compare yourself with others sounds fab, right? Life coach Lucy Sheridan is doing exactly this and sharing her journey on her website to encourage others to join. Stop comparing yourself with others and learn about self-worth, self-confidence, self-focus and consolidation.
Hobbies
From knitting to cooking, musical instruments and crafty projects, if you’ve ever wanted to spend some time on your hobbies or learn a little more about them, now’s the chance.
1 / Green Dinner Table gives you everything you need to create restaurant-quality vegetarian meals at home. The Christchurch-based company offers a plant-based weekly food subscription box complete with recipe cards to have you cooking like a master chef in no time. The website also lists all the recipes (there’s more than 200 on there!) to have you learning new techniques and skills in the kitchen. Good for you, the planet and your conscience.
2 / Follow along with a Bob Ross painting tutorial. This iconic painter will talk you through the process as he creates, all the while reminding you that in your world there are no mistakes, just happy accidents. Occasionally the show features his squirrel friend, which will put a smile on your dial. You’ll be painting like Picasso in no time.
Find videos on YouTube
3 / If you’re looking to dust off that old guitar or get back into piano, the internet has a smorgasbord of online tutorials to have you playing like a pro in no time. Apps like Music Tutor will help improve your sight reading, while Piano Nanny is excellent for pianists of any skill. VirtualDrumming can teach you drums without needing a drum kit and Justin Guitar features a collection of tutorials and other great resources. YouTube is your best friend when it comes to learning an instrument, too.
4 / Skillshare is an awesome online learning community that has thousands of classes for all those creatives out there. There’s design and photography classes, but we particularly love the craft section, which includes basic knitting techniques, hand lettering, sewing patterns, hand embroidery, papermaking out of recycled material and so much more.
5 / If you’re more of a make it up as you go person, or are just looking for inspo rather than tutorials, then you can’t go past Pinterest. The website provides you with tons of ideas including home hacks, style inspiration, craft projects, recipes and more.