Skills to Learn During Lockdown

Translation: Emily Reise

With stricter rules banning us from gathering, we are gifted extra time to focus on learning new skills or improve the ones we already have. Below you will find six suggestions on how to pass the time successfully.

1. How to balance a spoon on your nose

The first step is to find the perfect spoon for you. Both tea- and tablespoons are possible candidates for balancing exercises, but I recommend using a teaspoon, since it is the perfect fit for the fine physique of the Homo sapiens nose. Tablespoons are better suited for noses of bigger designs, like, for example, that of the long-nosed proboscis monkey. The trick is to take a deep breath and let all your worries drift away as soon as the spoon touches your nose. Remember that practice makes perfect.

2. The endless possibilities of single-use gloves

Single-use gloves are versatile and can do so much more than simply protect your hands from icky germs. However, the author does not condone the unnecessary use of single-use plastic products. With that said, you can keep to one glove per person. It is possible to blow them up like balloons, or, for the more creative minds among us, to use them in the creation of ice sculptures. Ice sculptures are easily made by filling the glove with water and letting it solidify in the freezer. Such a sculpture could, for instance, be formed into a peace sign, or a slightly ruder creation using a single middle finger. Display your sculptures on your balcony so others can partake of their artistic beauty.

3. Mimicry – the art of imitating other animal noises

With great practice and dedication, humans can make uncanny impressions of animal noises. Although animal noises are not part of the average human’s vocabulary, interested humans can develop the ability to communicate with the ducks on Tjörnin lake, birds in the countryside, and other animals. It is worth mentioning here that parrots manage to imitate the calls of humans in similar ways. Macaws are known for their realistic mimicry of human voices and can even manage full conversations in human noises. These conversations may, admittedly, be rather one-sided, but the ability still stands.

4. Writing with your non-dominant hand

It takes deep concentration to attempt to write with your non-dominant hand. It is proven to be a great exercise in activating all parts of your brain and creating new neural pathways. The unmatched sense of accomplishment that follows this exercise is a happy bonus, and the skill may even come in handy if your natural writing hand is ever handicapped and you are forced to rely on your other hand. Brushing your teeth with the opposite hand can be a great start to this exercise, and then you can progress to thumb wars.

5. Learn to play the recorder

Is there an old recorder from childhood music lessons sitting in your parents’ basement just waiting to be rediscovered? Lucky for you! If this is not the perfect occasion to take up the old instrument and let its subtle notes fill the ears of the people closest to you with love and joy, then what is? Don’t limit yourself to boring sheet music -let your heart guide you through the magical world of recorder improvisation. If you manage to animate your group of friends, you can start a recorder orchestra on Zoom. The more, the merrier!

6. Club Penguin

Most of you probably have happy memories from the good old days playing Club Penguin. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, Club Penguin is an online game where you can make a penguin avatar of yourself, living in a penguin world. You can even choose the color, clothes, and house for your penguin. The objective of the game remains unclear, but it is, nonetheless, of great entertainment value. Whether you want to go sledding or show off your karate moves – it’s all possible in Club Penguin.