With such widespread cancellations of events and travel due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, I doubt that there is anyone who hasn’t been touched in some way by it’s effects.
The CWVFF festival we were going to be attending next week was postponed indefinitely, and we all of a sudden have an “extra” 10 days on our hands. As sad as we are to miss the networking, it’s also an opportunity to do things we hadn’t initially planned on! So I’ve been thinking – what are some ways we can use this time wisely?
1. Rest. This might sound obvious, but the truth is that so many of us are burnt out, and just running from job to job barely keeping up. So take a day or two to catch your breath, relax, and let your creative juices get flowing again!
2. Connect with family. It’s easy to strain family relationships in all the busyness and travel, so take some time to invest in those relationships! Have a date night, go visit your family – help them feel valued.
3. Work on your business. In the day to day of keeping up with work it’s easy to put off actually working ON your business, not just in it. Some excellent things to work on are:
- Taxes/finances and budgeting – We’re right in the middle of tax season right now – so take this time to get them done before the deadline! Another important aspect to your business running smoothly the rest of the year is having your finances organized, and – especially with no work bringing money in – having a budget will help keep you on track.
- Document systems and build out processes – Taking time to write out your process and clarify how you go about the work you do will pay HUGE dividends later on. Having a clear system to follow for your creativity will make you a more efficient and creative filmmaker!
- Social Media & Networking – Going to networking events might not be possible right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still network with others! Take time to audit your social media, and find ways to connect with your potential clients. Linkedin is a huge untapped area for a lot of us, so maybe it’s time to finally set that up.
4. Learn new things – Take time to read, join an online course, practice a skill – finally learn that software you’ve been putting off forever. Often, we’re too busy to set aside time for intentional learning, so make this your opportunity! The biggest way to make yourself more hireable is to make yourself a more valuable person.
5. Make a spec project – Likely you’re not the only one you know out of work right now, so maybe this is a good opportunity to get together with some other local friends and make something! People will hire you for what they’ve seen you do, so making something and showing your work can be a great way to stay energized and learn.
2020 has definitely started a bit different than we might have expected, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be a great year of growth for all of us! 😉
