Personal Growth in the Age of Corona Virus

Let’s Be Honest:

This time in our lives is difficult. When you are in your early twenties, direction is hard to come by and uncertainty is always in the air. Each one of us is trying to control situations we have zero control over. Oh yeah, and there is a global pandemic happening. So, in case nobody has told you this recently, everything is going to be okay and you are doing everything you should be doing. Hell, I am in this with all of you too. Whether you are struggling with school because the transition to online learning does not fit your style, or you are trying to start your career but cannot land the job, I hope this email will help give you some guidance.

With all of this time on your hands, there are so many things you can be doing to constantly grow as an individual. I do not mean therapeutic yoga-type stuff, I mean things that will help ease your anxiety about your career and educational journey. Now, don’t get me wrong, if yoga is your hobby, keep it up. That is the point I am trying to make. We all have different activities that keep us afloat, so lean on them especially during the age of social distancing.

In this email I am going to talk about activities I have found helpful during quarantine, and I hope they bring you the same help. Some of these activities might sound obvious, but I would guess you are not actually doing them, which brings me to my point. Why not have this email be the ‘kick in the butt’ you need to start something new that you have always wanted to do?

Certifications + Online Courses:

This first activity I think is the most important as it will keep you busy, while gaining you valuable experience in your career field, is taking online courses. There are plenty of great websites that offer free online courses like Udemy or Coursera. A little tip I have is to not jump right into courses you have to pay for because there are unlimited free courses that will give you the same knowledge and information! I have taken courses that helped me learn more about my career field of sales, marketing, and career development. The internet has it all, so no matter your interests or majors, definitely check it out.

The next step is to look for courses that lead to certifications. Certifications help show employers that you have taken the time to complete courses and study to pass exams and earn certifications in desired fields. Because I am into the technology space, I have completed two Google certifications that had to do with search display ads and the fundamentals of digital marketing. The great thing about certifications is you can attach the actual certification to your LinkedIn profile or resume to help you stand out. Because I do not know all types of certifications out there for each industry, I invite you to do some internet searches on your own to find the right one for you.

Create Something…?

You are probably wondering why I even started this newsletter in the first place. Well, like I said in my introduction email, I wanted to create something where I could share my thoughts and ideas on things I have found valuable in my personal and professional life. I sat for months not knowing the best way to do that, until I finally figured it out, this newsletter! Creating something like this has not only added more value to myself but also helped my readers as well. Why am I telling you this? Well, I want you all to go out and create something you have been thinking about for a while. Whether it is an Instagram account showing off a specific skill like photography or starting a YouTube channel about sports, I want you to do it. Creating something that you are passionate about will give you a sense of direction and be a great thing to help build your resume and personal life. The biggest roadblock in front of everyone with something like this is worrying about what others will think. The thing is, who cares what they think? If you put passion into a project you are creating, people will be jealous they do not have the courage to start something they care about. I can tell you from experience that starting this newsletter has only opened more doors for me and reminded me what I care deeply about at the end of the day.

Reading, Am I Right?

Yes, reading. I know all of you have books you told yourself you would get around to reading one day. I think now, however, is the time you finally pick up that book. I have found that reading a book that you have been actually interested in is more likely to keep you reading it than just picking a book based on it being a “best seller.” I never used to read, like ever. One day, however, I finally picked up a book that is now my personal favorite book and read the whole thing cover to cover! It was all because I was actually interested in the topic and nobody was forcing me to read it. Ever since that first book, I have been reading three to four books at a time. That first book was called The CEO Next Door, and if you have read it, you know how good it is. That type of book is my style, but everyone is different! I encourage you to buy that book you have been looking at because I believe everyone is one book away from changing their whole lives.

Find Something of Passion

Remember how many hobbies we all used to have as young kids? Literally everything we did was an activity. For some reason, now I find myself and everyone else just stuck doing nothing all day or obsessed with scrolling through Instagram. Let’s all try to change that. Think about things that make you happy and get you active. Pursue those things as activities you can do each and everyday to keep you excited and happy. For example, I have been playing golf all my life, but never really played it consistently. Now I am playing all the time as a way to step away from the world for a second and get some fresh air and exercise. I also really enjoy writing this newsletter, learning more about investing, and hanging out with friends. The point I am trying to make is to try new things or previous hobbies you used to like as a way to get you moving. This is especially important during these unprecedented times. This will lead to personal growth and giving your days meaning.

Conclusion

I know you all have heard these suggestions before. I know this newsletter is not similar to previous newsletters I have written. That is the point. Break away from everything else going on around you and focus on yourself for a second. It only does good to give yourself some love every once in a while. There are so many things this world has to offer, it is up to you to go out and take it.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter! Please share and like the post to keep this page growing.