Skills set you apart from the crowd and can be your strength in making magnificent strides in your career. With the current job market and the immense competition, the need for upskilling has become increasingly important; just look at the many dedicated programs for upskilling on LinkedIn, the most-popular networking platform for professionals.
First and foremost, the most important thing to do during this lockdown is to analyse your strengths and weaknesses against the skill demand in the job market of your chosen field. Based on the analysis, research the platforms where you can enhance your skills either through online training courses or through personal consultations online. This kind of focussed learning will not only strengthen your competency, but also allow you to stand out in a crowd of applicants in the competitive job market.
Take a bottom-up approach to learning. You can choose to chart your learning curve by reading, listening to audio books, watching videos, working on practice sheets, signing up for courses, participating in live training sessions or even tuning in to hear lectures and webinars by thought leaders. The end goal is to upgrade your skills, hone your instincts, and be aware of the ongoing and future trends in your industry.
Understand the practical difference between effectiveness and efficiency; it is one of the most important skills to gain competitive advantage. Learn not just how to work hard, but how to work smart. Time management is just as important to ensure improved productivity in the same number of hours. You can consider practicing yoga for concentration which will help further in boosting productivity and managing time effectively.
The internet is flooded with a plethora of options for workshops/panel discussions and events organised online, both paid and unpaid. Be smart and sign up for the ones you would benefit from and schedule attending at least one session in a fortnight.