The Analysts guide to Surviving Isolation
I am now only through my second week of isolation, so I’m probably two weeks behind most of my friends out there. And just as Australia looks to Italy in terror, I look to these friends to see what I have in store.
To be honest, this is most introverts dream come true, I love that I can save the world by not having to leave the house, have an excuse not socialise and keep everyone at least 1.5m away. The main problem I foresee is combatting boredom. So I have put together a listicle on things you can do to entertain yourself while you avoid people.
Learn a new skill
I’ve been using Linux Academy to study for my Google Cloud Certification. I found the Data Engineer course really helpful and practical. Google also has its own cloud school: https://google.qwiklabs.com/, some are free and some have a point system that I don’t quite understand yet.
You could also try learning Git, it is not only useful but makes you look like a mad hacker when you are doing command-line commits in front of your friends: https://try.github.io/
And if all else fails, maybe you can learn to whittle.
2. Help fight for the cause
A few sites have made the Covid-19 data freely available. Get downloading and find some trends, predict how long we will be in this madness.
3. Binge-watch nerdy TV shows and Movies
Point out all the flaws in or cringe with understanding over some great nerdy TV shows and Movies
Hackers
The Net
Silicon Valley
Moneyball
The Circle (the movie, not the reality show, though that is pretty trashy good too)
Ex-macina (also check out his new show Devs)
4. Prove that thing you think is right
We all have a thing that we love to argue about, especially after a few drinks but is unable to be Googled to be proven right. Mine was that your foot size is the same size as your forearm (which is also the same size as your hand span). After many times taking my shoes off to show it is true, I ended up building a website called sarahisright.com to prove my point.
This guy proved with data that Die Hard is a Christmas movie:
https://stephenfollows.com/using-data-to-determine-if-die-hard-is-a-christmas-movie/
What is your thing?
Most of all take this time to take a break, be present and just do what you can to get through this.
If you have any suggestions please let me know, I’m going crazy here.
