Hello Readers,
I hope everyone is coping okay. I can understand
how frustrating and annoying it can be when you are confined between four walls.
I am an extrovert person, and I know how much it affects one to be without socializing.
But here is the thing, if you do not stay indoors for a few weeks, then there are high possibilities
that you will contract the virus. If you get sick, you will infect the people
around you, they will be carriers and further contaminate the people around
them, and the saga continues. This is dangerous. At the moment, the health practitioners
and scientists are working at their best capacity or should I say stretching even
at the 25th hour to find an antidote to the virus. So keeping in
everyone’s betterment into consideration, Indian Prime Minister Modi has
announced a lockdown for 21 days starting from 25th March 2020. 21 days
is a lot of time to be confined within four walls. So here are tried and tested
method to cope with days filled with monotony. (I am on a sabbatical since Dec
2019, and there were days when I was confined to my room; I know the
drill).
Suggestion No 1: Read or watch only verified
news and limit the consumption of the same
Reading disturbing news can only overwhelm you.
Stop binge-watching the news NOW! It is not going to help you. It will only add
up more unwanted anxiety and panic. Check the updates from a verified source(s).
If anyone is indulging in WhatsApp forwards be assured the authorities will be
taking necessary actions. If someone sends you such messages, advice them
politely to not partake in such activities and help them understand the consequences.
Limit your access to news consumption even if it’s a verified source. Stop
watching memes if it is going overboard. Mute your WhatsApp/ Instagram/
Facebook status if you are getting affected by it.
Suggestion No 2: Indulge in household chores
Your maid/help is also a human. Pay them their
salary in advance and teach them the precautionary methods that will keep them
safe. Educate them about the social distancing and the suggestion no 1. Ask
them to stay indoors. Assure them that their job is secure, check with them if
they have any shortage on essentials items, help them with it by maintaining
social distance. It is your own space, so there is no harm or shame in taking
up household chores without your maid’s help.
Moreover, this activity will help you connect with
your space. Disinfect your personal area regularly. Tend your garden, clean
your nooks and corner which was neglected all this while. Redoing your space
creatively will keep you occupied.
Suggestion No 3: Keep a routine if you are
working from home
Most of the companies have directed their employees
to work from home, and this might bring in a lot of monotony in your life. The
best way to beat this issue is to have a routine set up. I am currently
unemployed, but that doesn’t mean I do not feel the monotony in my life.
However, to make it relevant, I can share what my friends and peers are doing
at this time of the hour. A friend has made a routine wherein she keeps her
to-do-lists ready every day for both her work and non-work purpose. She has
broken down her tasks to be completed for the day. For instance: She has set up
an alarm to wake up. Post that she has dedicated time to cook breakfast, lunch,
and dinner for her (she is single). Once she is done with breakfast, she sits
in her dedicated spot to work. She told me she avoids bed to be her work spot,
and I believe it is the best idea (for an apparent reason). She has filtered
her task based on priorities set. She is available on the phone and your work
messenger. She keeps her team informed about her activity as she feels this
keeps everyone on the same page. Due to lockdown, you cannot venture out so, it
is best to have some kind of activity that will keep you active. My friend says
stretching helps her a lot. She takes a short walk inside her house. She spots
jogs and makes it a point to keep her hydrated. She has also stacked snacks
which are healthy and allows herself to cheat only once a day. She is not a
regular fitness enthusiast, she is doing it because she is not having her
colleagues physically present around her. She meditates after her work, and
this helps her to relax. She is in regular touch with her colleagues, who are working
remotely. “There is no better time than now to show empathy on your colleagues
because everyone on this earth is unsure of the on-going uncertainty. Along with
work talk, try and add some pep talk..” my friend opines. “Everyone is losing
it, and it is crucial to help your colleagues to navigate through that feeling
without any overwhelm.”
Take breaks while working. And in those break time,
call your loved ones and uplift their mood with positive talks. Check on your dear
and near ones and inform them about your well being. If possible, do not talk
about the COVID-19 in your conversation. Instead share ideas on how to keep one
occupied, reminisce old memories, etc. Sleep on time to wake up for a new
day. If there are any hiccups while working, make it a point to communicate
with colleagues. Understand text messages do not share the nature of the tone of
what you want to convey so be kind and communicate effectively.
Suggestion 4: For unemployed or homemakers or
those on leave
Help your family with household chores. Divide
the daily tasks among yourself. If you are getting bored of the same job undertaken
daily, swap it. Play board games or card games. Enrol on an online course which
will help you build skill. If you are already signed up for a course, take the
classes online regularly. Watch movies on your TV set or Netflix and chill! :p There
are aplenty of OTT platforms that will give you more content. Do not binge
watch. You can also ask your friends to be your movie or series date even if
they are watching it remotely. You will have more content to discuss. Take up a
task that will keep you active physically. If you like DIY activities, try your
hands on something new every day. If it is a bigger sized DIY project, try to
stretch it day wise. Pray, meditate, dance, sing, do what makes you happy but
stay inside the house. If you are shopping for essentials then refrain from
panic buying, remember you not the only person who is going through tough times.
Many other families are suffering along with you too.
Read books, read and write blogs, listen to
podcasts, write a journal. Take up a new hobby such as cooking, painting, illustrating,
sketching, mimicking; hone your skills. These will help you keep your creative
streaks alive. Clean your room and space. Tend your garden, observe the nature and
your surrounding. If you are feeling any panic symptoms, pick up the phone and
dial your confidante’s number. Talk to each other at home. If you are living
with difficult family members, I can understand how it must be going. Avoid
talking on tension-filled subjects, instead speak only when necessary. Or there
is a high chance of reconciliation. For mental health survivors, keep your medicines
in stock. Have them regularly as prescribed by a medical practitioner. Sleep
well, eat and hydrate yourself on time.
Most importantly keep yourself busy. I urge you
do not succumb to your anxiety and panic attacks. Do not indulge in insensitive
activities. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with handwash. Do use sanitizer (alcohol-based),
be watchful while using water to wash hands, keep yourself safe by practising social
distancing and self-isolating. If in case you develop symptoms, please reach out
to healthcare personnel. If you are suggested to self-quarantine, follow it
rigorously.
The uncertain time does sound scary, but we can
overcome this if proper precautions are taken into consideration. This is not
the time to indulge, keeping it up with joneses syndrome. The above points are suggestions,
there are plenty of ways to keep oneself occupied. If you have something
different to offer, drop comments, please. UTMOST important, do not miss your
dear ones call, pick up the goddamn phone, you never know whose day you are
going to brighten up by just being there while social distancing. Take care,
stay safe. Keep smiling. BREATHE!
Great advice. I hadn't even thought about your point about your maid/help as generally you have to be very wealthy here to have them - but it's an excellent point.
ReplyDeleteI've been balancing my work with household chores to keep it from being too monotonous.
We're finding games very fun as well as things like cooking together.
Finding ways to connect with people is SUPER important especially if you're living alone. I don't mean connecting to exclusively talk about the pandemic as this is a way to feel even worse. Talk about it enough to share important information you may not know, but then move on. Your mind needs a break.
To that end - watch for opportunities to connect online. There are so many shows, classes and online meetups happening now. And if you don't find one you like, create one. My son, for example, who is still attending university remotely now does his homework with a group of friends on video chat. They aren't talking all the time (they're studying after all) but rather behaving as if they're doing a group study time at the library. Connecting with others gives a little sense of normalcy in a very difficult and strange time so it's really essential.
Thanks a lot, Todd . Your comments means a lot. Thanks for dropping by.
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