It’s no secret that these times have been hard on all of us, and especially hard on our productivity. Following a programme online can be challenging, as it is easy to get distracted while at home. For others, it’s the feeling of not doing enough during their day that brings on the feeling of being unproductive. If that’s you, we’ve got a few recommendations on extra courses and projects you can follow to make sure you’re getting the most out of this time at home! Bonus: they’re all either made by the UG, or by fellow UG students! Check them out:

1. For diehard learners: MOOCs

When we think of productivity, we often think of practical or educational tasks. If you’re feeling a little  unproductive with your academic workload at home, or even uninspired with the current topics you’re learning, you should definitely consider taking a MOOC. First of all, if this name confuses you, don’t worry. MOOC stands for “Massive Open Online Course”, and the UG has plenty of them available in a variety of fields. These online courses are by no means simple, and will challenge you to think and critically reflect on very interesting subjects, such as decision making in complex situations, data privacy, or even the molecular processes behind ageing. They’re a great way to learn a bit more about other fields, or even delve deeper into your own interests. The courses are delivered on platforms such as FutureLearn, and are free and open to anyone who’s interested. They often last a few weeks, and can be followed at your own pace, meaning they’re flexible enough to fit into your schedule even if you’ve already got a busy day. As a personal tip for my fellow internationals, there is a very nice Introduction to Dutch course which will help you lock down basic phrases and conversations, while expanding your Dutch vocabulary. If you’ve been looking for something to delve into as a side project, these courses might just be the right fit!

2. For personal growth: Unbox Yourself

Personally, stress is one of the things that makes me feel unproductive. Stress can mean the difference between getting a lot done in one day, or not even managing to get through a single task. These times are undoubtedly stressful for all of us. Spending so much time at home is something that we are not used to, and it takes a toll on our creativity, productivity, and of course, our mental health. This is why this might be a good time to learn more about tools that can help you deal with your day-to-day in a better way. If you’re like me, you may well enjoy Unbox Yourself, an initiative created by UG Psychology students which aims to help you de-stress in creative ways. Not only will you feel better, but you’ll also feel productive and more inspired as a result. This platform has webinars and regular challenges that you can complete, so you’ll definitely get a sense of progress. However, there are also blogs and activities for when you’re bored, or if you just want to chill. You’ll be learning and practicing super important soft skills in no time.

3. For a creative boost: Arts@Home

Education does not always have to be a synonym for countless hours spent on reading long texts, it can also mean creative and artistic exploration. For me, one of the things that makes me feel the most productive is working on creative side projects. It’s a fantastic way to distract myself from the academic pressure of the day. Surprisingly, one of the best places to find creative inspiration is Instagram. For example Arts@Home is an initiative created by a group of UG students which presents creative challenges and tutorials that you can follow every week. It was precisely made with the purpose of bringing happiness to these times through fun little art projects that everyone can do. Here’s what I find nice about this initiative in particular: for starters, there is no experience required. You don’t need to be an artist or the most creative person to take part! Second, it’s not just about painting and drawing. There are writing prompts, photography challenges, and even origami tutorials to follow. This will not only challenge you in to creative exploration, but it will also challenge you to practice your skills in several artistic fields. Who knows, maybe one of them could end up being your secret talent!

4. For a healthier mind: Project Hippocampus

During these times, we’ve all been guilty of spending hours on our phones checking our social media. It’s good to take some time to reflect on how this social media usage can impact our psyche, and this is exactly what Project Hippocampus aims to help us do. The project was created by Fred (hi Fred!), a master’s student at the UG. Initially, it was supposed to consist of a lecture at a high school in Groningen, but due to current circumstances, Fred decided to move his project online, and convert it into a page that students could follow. The page is full of prompts to help you question the effects of your social media usage, but also concise explanations to help you better understand them. Themes that are touched upon are: personality disorders, body image, FOMO, and even neuromarketing. Now that we’re spending a few more hours every week on our phones, it’s a great time to practice on improving our mental health! It’ll help you come out of quarantine a smarter, more prepared person. 

In what other ways are you improving your educational/productivity game during quarantine? Let me know in the comments below!