We can all use the time we have spent indoors whilst the country has been under lockdown to do things we would never usually make time for amongst the business of everyday life! Account Executive Jen, expressed to us this week how she has been exploring her skills as a budding musician in her spare time during lockdown!

Jennifer has bought herself a keyboard and has been teaching herself how to play tunes through the use of the app ‘Simply Piano.’ The challenge of incorporating both left and right hand when playing the piano is something Jennifer has been practising as each hand has a specific function. The right hand, stationed in the treble-clef notes, general plays melodies and the left hand, in the bass quarters, handles the low end.

Another activity that Jennifer has been partaking in, in order to have some fun whilst keeping active indoors is cardio dance workouts. YouTube is such a great platform to find free, fun ways of exercising. This can include no equipment, and having a dance to some of your favourite tunes can really improve your mood and motivate you for the day ahead!

How can learning a new skill during lockdown benefit you? 

Learning can be extremely beneficial in helping you to achieve both your life and career goals. For example, the skill Jennifer has chosen to take up during lockdown is proven to enhance concentration levels, stimulate the brain, improve vocabulary and relieve stress.

Top 3 benefits of learning new skills

1. It helps reduce boredom 
   Learning a new skill helps reduce levels of boredom and keeps your interest levels high. Doing the same things over and over can quickly lead to boredom as it becomes repetitive. However, learning new skills helps to break that cycle, breaking up the day, therefore making it much more fulfilling. 
2. It makes you more adaptable
   Learning helps you become more open to change. By developing a growth mind set and believing you can learn new things you will be more adaptable to the changes happening in your profession and workplace and you will be more willing to take on new ways of working.
3. Learning benefits your health 
   Learning something new is beneficial to your health, at any age as it is keeping both your mind and body active by taking on new challenges and experiences! Of course learning new skills is intellectually a positive but it is even shown to be good for your health!

For example, learning the piano is proven to strengthen your hand muscles, as well as concentration levels and relieve stress! As well as being good for your health and for your career, learning can be exciting and rewarding.

Learning helps you to learn new things about yourself and will encourage you to push yourself to do things you perhaps thought you weren’t capable of before!