As we adjust to life under a settle in place order, many of my patients have reported a sense of being in limbo. They’re bored, confused, and unsure how to proceed. Not eactly suffering, but certainly out of sorts. COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it, and there’s no going back. While we cannot predict with any certainty the length of time we’ll be confined to our homes, we can control how we use our time while settled in. In fact, this is a great time to learn a new language or skill. In my blogs alone I’ve recommended enough books and lecture series to keep you busy for weeks. Always been interested in the great pyramids? Take an online class. Want to learn how (fill in the blank) is made? There’s a video or lecture series for that.

Where to begin?

Start with your local library. Many offer ebooks, audiobooks and movies for check out.

Khan Academy offers free courses for children and teens, as well as adults. https://www.khanacademy.org/

Universities throughout the world offer free classes via edX: https://www.edx.org/

Several universities offer free lectures and course content via their own platforms:

Cornell University eCommons@Cornell

Massachusetts Institute of Technology https://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm

Pepperdine University https://pepperdine.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/

University of Oxford https://www.ox.ac.uk/itunes-u?wssl=1

Others have created YouTube channels:

Carnegie Mellon University https://www.youtube.com/user/carnegiemellonu

Columbia University https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChzhFUxUZFAQSJZ_Tp4B1fA

Duke University https://www.youtube.com/user/Duke

Emory University https://www.youtube.com/user/EmoryUniversity/videos

Harvard University https://www.youtube.com/user/Harvard

Northwestern University https://www.youtube.com/user/NorthwesternU

Seton Hall University https://www.youtube.com/user/setonhall

University of Chicago https://www.youtube.com/user/UChicago

University of Notre Dame https://www.youtube.com/user/NDdotEDU

Vanderbilt University https://www.youtube.com/vanderbilt

Yale University https://www.youtube.com/user/YaleCourses

2020 is already going to be a year to remember. How about, rather than accepting it as the year COVID-19 took you down and stomped on you, you make it the year that you learned French, or developed that hobby, or conquered the Medieval Icelandic Sagas. Life is what you make it.

Live well!

This blog is not designed to diagnose, treat, or prevent illnesses or trauma, and Dr. Emick is not responsible for your use of this educational material or its consequences. Furthermore, reading this blog does not create a doctor-patient relationship. The information contained within this blog is not intended to dictate what constitutes reasonable, appropriate, or best care for any given physical or behavioral health issue, nor does it take into account the unique circumstances that define the health issues of the reader. If you have questions about the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a condition or illness, you should consult your personal health care professional. As always, consult with your personal health care professional before beginning or changing any fitness or nutrition program to make sure that it is appropriate for your needs. Dr. Emick reserves the right to modify her positions on a subject based upon new research or data as it presents.