Now that you're staying home and picking up new hobbies and taking classes online, here are a few tips on how to learn Excel and spreadsheets from an online class. I have seen viewership on my own Excel classes spike since COVID-19 hit which has led me to think about the best way to learn online.

First of all, why are so many people trying to learn Excel? Maybe since all schools and universities have pushed to online learning, students may be questioning the value of their college degrees. Maybe I should start learning skills that will actually help me land a job...enter stage left: Excel and spreadsheets.

Spreadsheets most sought after skill

In episode 22, I brought up an episode of Freakonomics where they discussed different stats around subjects Freakonomics listeners wished they had learned in high school to better prepare them for their current jobs. The high-level numbers:

Skills currently used on their jobs

* Less than 5% - Percent of survey responders who said they still use calculus, trigonometry, or geometry in their current jobs* 70% - Those who use Excel or Google Sheets on a daily basis* 75% - Those who visualize data or present data to make an argument on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis

Skills people wished they had learned in high school

* 0% - Those who wished they had learned other traditional math subjects in high school beyond what they had already learned* 65% - Those who wished they had learned skills around analyzing and interpreting data to uncover insights* 60% - Those who wished they had learned how to visualize and present data

It's pretty clear that data-related skills are what's actually being used on the job, and during a pandemic where you may have been furloughed, laid off, graduating from university, or really any scenario where your future is unclear and you want to secure a job, learning Excel and data skills may bubble to the top on your to-do list while you're in quarantine at home. Hopefully these tips will help you gain the skills you need to learn Excel and spreadsheets to help land your next job.

1) Block out time on your calendar to take your class

If you're a fan of David Allen's Getting Things Done philosophy, you've probably head the phrase that if it doesn't gets scheduled, it doesn't get done. Blocking off time on your Google or Outlook calendar to actually take your Excel class versus taking the class when you feel like it will ensure you get through the material and get into a state of flow with the material.

2) Minimize distractions

While it's easy to stay connected with family and friends while at home, you really need to put away your phone and apps for doing all your meetings and virtual hangouts. Turning off notifications for Facetime, Facebook, Houseparty, Slack, etc. will ensure you can get some uninterrupted time to learn Excel. There are small nuances to writing Excel formulas that can be easy to overlook when you are distracted by your friends or social media.

3) Connect with the instructor and community

Many online Excel classes encourage you to ask the instructor questions and many platforms such as Skillshare encourage students to participate in the community of other students who are taking the class with you. For my Excel classes,