In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, social media was awash with memes suggesting that people adopt a personal motto of “carpe diem.” After all, Sir Isaac Newton formulated the theory of gravity during the bubonic plague. If he could do that, why couldn't you finish writing that screenplay or get a 6-pack during the temporary time out?
But you don't have to develop world-changing scientific breakthroughs or meet lofty fitness goals to pass the time productively — it can be much simpler than that. And while productivity isn't the universal cure-all for getting through a pandemic, it can be a welcome distraction. From learning a Middle-earth language to dabbling in hypnosis, here are 7 inventive ways to fill your free time.
1. Become a speed reader
Speed reading is one of those skills that's both useful and downright impressive. Consider this: the average adult reads at a rate of about 200 to 400 words per minute, while world champion speed readers take in between 1,000 and 2,000 words per minute.
It's unlikely you'll hit that speed, but you can still train yourself to read significantly faster using speed reading software. Spreeder, a free app, promises to teach you to read up to 3 times faster Opens in a new window.. Simply paste the text of your choice into the prompt box, then read the words as they flash by at a per word rate that you set.
2. Entertain yourself by making balloon animals
Holly the Twister Sister, a children's entertainer from Texas, started learning to make balloon animals when she was just 10. For nearly a decade, the award-winning balloon artist has been blowing up on YouTube with the tricks of her trade.
On her YouTube channel, you can learn everything from how to make Marshall, one of the puppies from “Paw Patrol," to how to keep your balloons from popping. Beginners can start small by following this tutorial on how to make an easy balloon giraffe Opens in a new window..
3. Blast off to Mars from your living room
If you're suddenly homeschooling your kids and struggling to understand Common Core math, rest assured — STEM can be fun. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory site provides interactive content for kids, such as how to create a virtual rover and launch it into space Opens in a new window.. You can also learn how to make a rocket out of straws.
You can even learn how to build a cardboard rover worthy of navigating Mars using only materials that you can easily find in your household Opens in a new window.. From there, it's just a small step to infinity and beyond.
4. Learn how to speak Elvish
First things first: there are actually multiple Elvish languages in the J.R.R. Tolkien universe, with Sindarin and Quenya being 2 of the most well-documented. According to the Elvish Linguistics Fellowship, the vocabulary, syntax and grammar of all of Tolkien's invented languages are incomplete — so you can't “learn” Sindarin in the same way that you can learn German. Ultimately, that just means that making mistakes is okay. If you want to give it a go, Sindarin Lessons offers comprehensive and free instructions Opens in a new window..
5. Master the Rubik's Cube
When it comes to completing a jigsaw puzzle, you probably approach it in a systematic fashion: chances are you build the border before sorting the pieces by colour to solve the puzzle.
Just like puzzles, Rubik's Cubes are designed to be solved using a systematic approach. The record for solving one is held by “speedcuber” Yusheng Du, who completed the puzzle in just 3.47 seconds. There are different approaches, but beginners can reference simple methods detailed on a wiki dedicated to the Rubik's Cube Opens in a new window..
6. Become a beginner beatboxer
Since 2001, HumanBeatbox.com has been a gathering site for human sound makers to learn new techniques. The site's free lessons include video instruction and worksheets, and they guide you through various sounds, breath control and beat patterns Opens in a new window.. The resource includes guides on everything from how to hold a mic to how to become a competitive beatboxer.
7. Experiment with hypnosis
With more than 100,000 video classes, Udemy offers online courses taught by experts. Amongst its useful offerings like accounting, coding and leadership, there are some that have a more niche everyday application. Take, for example, learning how to hypnotize people. After all, who hasn't wanted to hypnotize their spouse into doing the dishes?
Taught by Dan Jones, a hypnotherapy trainer and best-selling author, this free course promises to teach you how to hypnotize a willing participant in under an hour Opens in a new window.. We trust that you'll use your newfound powers for good.
Some of us may spend our downtime developing theories of quantum physics or writing Pulitzer Prize-winning novels. But for the rest of us, we'd argue that learning a skill that entertains for our family and friends is just as impressive — and just as important.
