Over the last two decades, technology has grown at an impeccable rate. The number of internet users has increased, and so have the different ways to spend time online. The real question is not the paucity of useful websites but how to take advantage of them. If you think the Internet is a waste of time, it is because you have been browsing unproductive sites.
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How to Spend Quality Time Online
Everyone has competing demands on how to spend their time. If you are looking for a way to be productive round the clock, minimize playing games and watching videos online. While there is an endless list of interesting things to do on the Internet, let us focus on the habits that will make your time spent online meaningful and help you avoid being unproductive.
1. Learn a New Language
There are countless benefits to learning a new language. It can enrich your life in ways unthinkable. People who speak more than one language have undeniable cognitive benefits such as improved memory, critical thinking, and problem-solving. A new language gives you more opportunities and the ability to socialize with people from different cultural backgrounds. Basic proficiency in another language also opens more job opportunities in other countries.
Having language classes online adds to the advantages of making your learning more convenient, flexible, and affordable. It is fun to master complex calligraphies of non-English countries for future use. Good thing you can now access lessons through the Ling app, the best way to learn Thai online.
Unlike traditional classes, online classes are tailored to your learning speed and availability. You do not have to throw in a whack of cash as there are free courses too.
2. Read Online Books
Books can be both an adventure and an escape. When you read, you see things differently and creatively and build on your knowledge. Reading books is another great way to improve vocabulary and fluency in a language. In this era, e-books are a great invention for those who love reading because they do not have to pay to get a book. Subsequently, the number of people reading in libraries is dwindling. Everyone is in a hurry to get things done in this blurry busy life.
Reading online saves space, time and offers the freedom to read anything you want and from anywhere. If you are not a bookworm, you can listen to audiobooks and podcasts. Additionally, you can do something else while listening to audiobooks, like doing your chores or driving a car.
3. Take Up Free Courses
Learning something new has never been as easy as it is now. The Internet is overflowing with free resources that can help you broaden your knowledge on all areas of interest, so you do not have to worry about your budget. Online courses are convenient as they do not require your physical presence. Most of them will have you study in your free time and provide all the required resources for the success of your program.
Among other benefits, you have a one-on-one relationship with your tutor, which ensures you get the most out of the information given. Online courses have even gained traction from recruiters and can add quality to your CV. When it comes to studying online, you are your only limit.Hence, consider paid but affordable graduate programs such as an online MBA while you still have the time.
4. Find and Follow a Mentor
Online mentorship programs are helping foster meaningful relationships and create networks worldwide. In recognition of the basic human need to establish human relationships, a virtual mentorship program connects mentors and mentees and helps you build a deep understanding of a field you want to be proficient in.
You can find a mentor to improve your skills in every interaction. It is also a great way to build on the culture of knowledge sharing, collaborative learning, and active participation. You get to grow socially and professionally. To find quality mentors, look up their contacts on Leadar, consult them on DGEXA, or join an online mentorship program.
5. Make Worldwide Connections
Involve yourself in a community of like-minded people from all corners of the world. The list of platforms for this is very long, ranging from Slack to social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Spend quality time with the community of choice, learn from them, share ideas and embrace growth.
If you do not find a community that is a hundred percent what you are looking for, create one and encourage people to join. Grow your ideas into something useful. Use your social quotient to catch up with the world’s views and perspectives. There are endless possibilities and professional opportunities. It is also an exciting and fun way of meeting different people with different cultures without having to travel across the world.
6. Read and Write Informative Blogs
Hardly do people find time to process and express their thoughts and knowledge. Coming up with a blog is the best way to do that. Select a niche you are passionate and knowledgeable about and decide what you want to share. Writing on your blog also helps clarify certain issues and gives you the introspection you need through critical thinking.
Just as you are thinking about starting a blog, someone else may have already done it before you. Informative blogs are endless pits of knowledge. Reading blogs helps you learn more than a bit. You create a library in your brain about the topic you are reading about.
7. Update Your Professional Bio Online
Your professional bio is one of the most powerful elements when job hunting. It is your way of telling your story about what makes you an expert in what you do for potential customers, recruiters, and colleagues. Just like a resume, it needs to be updated regularly. When professional clients visit your social media accounts, they are interested in your current state. Make sure to keep the photos and information updated.
If you do not have a professional online bio, the next time you log onto the Internet would be the best time to create one. Come up with a short overview of your work experience and education. Control your narrative by stating your accomplishments, goals, and skills.
Conclusion
The Internet has changed social culture by killing contact. It is also a whole new world where you can easily get distracted. Time spent online is mostly associated with idleness, but that’s not always the case. One glance at your device, and you’re down a rabbit hole. Generally, being unproductive is something worth getting angry over. However, the solution is not to change what’s online but to change people’s mindset on how to use the Internet to make themselves better.
