Amid this global pandemic, many are left to fend for themselves when it comes to a solid education. People, especially those who work from home, are finding themselves with the desire to learn new things, to break the staunches of ordinary life. Many try to learn new skills and tricks, but some find it difficult to self-motivate and follow through with their newfound ambition. Here are some general tips on how to self-learn effectively.

1. Enroll in an online course: There are so many resources out there, the entire expanse of the internet is filled with online classes. Many classes like those at Rex Academy, have personalized teaching and can help people stay focused and learn interesting and useful skills like programming and web design.  
2. Find an accountability buddy: It has been proven that having someone else work alongside you, even socially distantly over FaceTime, can create more incentive to complete a task or learn a skill. Find a friend who is willing to learn something new and you can keep each other accountable. 3
3. Create a dedicated schedule: By setting a dedicated time, whether it is daily, or weekly, and adding it to a schedule to calendar, makes you feel more obligated and responsible to complete the task. By setting the goal in advance, you are much more likely to actually follow through.  
4. Reward yourself: After every milestone in your progress, reward yourself. It might just be a small baked treat or a night of movie marathons, but even the smallest reward makes the process more engaging. By creating rewards, working for them, and in this case, learning something new, can me a ton more fun.  
5. Have fun with the process: It is never fun to learn something under stressful and pressured conditions. Give yourself some leniency. Make the process fun and enjoyable, there is no need to stress over something you are doing for fun. Call it a passion project, not a learning opportunity.  

In the end, this pandemic has left many longing to learn something new, and now is the perfect time to start. Make a fun environment and learn something that you enjoy and even things that can benefit you in the future.