Quick And Simple Suggestion To Keep Yourself Occupied During Lockdown

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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 25^th 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 25^th 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!