Covid Awareness

MAKING THE BEST USE OF YOUR TIME DURING LOCKDOWN

MAKING THE BEST USE OF YOUR TIME DURING LOCKDOWN

It has really been a tough time for all of us. This is the first ever circumstance in ages due to which the whole country is in a state of lockdown. The pandemic has led to a mental health crisis and substantial increase in stress levels. It has affected the stability of every nation, be it healthcare systems, the economy, or politics- every sector has taken a major blow.  For centuries, humans have often faced harsh realities but we have to stay resilient and keep moving forward. This lockdown, despite being an extremely uncertain time, has perhaps opened up new opportunities to explore. We now have ample to take a break from our hectic routines and actually sit at home and introspect. This is not the time to lose patience but actually, it is the time to learn the value and fruits of patience. It is important to make use of this time in the best possible way and keep yourself productively distracted to avoid any unprecedented stress. Here are some tips for everyone sitting at home and getting bored or restless;

·     Explore new interests – Lockdown is the time when you can turn to things you like doing but you could not pursue due to your job or education.

·     Cooking – This is the time to explore your hand in cooking and making new dishes when you are not able to order your favourite meals.

·     Spending quality time with family – it is important to catch up with your family and deepen the bond that you share with them.

·     Cherishing the old memories – Old memories always bring along happiness through reminiscing the good times, talk with your parents about how their life used to be when they were young and turn to old albums and pictures cherishing the old times .

·     Enjoy the evening with music and dance by creating the environment of a festivity and joy.

·     Watching new movies and engrossing series to enjoy your day.

·     It is important to look after your health. Yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises as well as at-home workouts help to keep your immunity strong.

Specially for students

This is an engaging opportunity for students, being a student we have to put up with tremendous pressure from our school, peers, and relatives, but lockdown has opened a window of fresh air. You may utilise your day by following up with your interests and updating your knowledge, reading your course books and being thoroughly prepared to tackle examinations when the schools and colleges re-open. Enrolling for some online courses is also a good option to learn something new and have an edge during this lockdown.

It may be saddening to not be able to interact with your friends physically, but in such a trying time, one must stay vigilant and utilise this situation to the maximum.

If you are a parent,

 Being a parent is a huge responsibility, be it an at-home or a working parent, this may be time for you to spend time with your children and family in a maximally engaging way. You can strengthen the bond amongst your family members and sail through this difficult time together. We should never forget that we are raising the future generation; hence, it becomes important to inculcate the good values in your child and improve their habits to make them a well-rounded person. Home is child’s first school and parents are the first teachers, it is where they learn their identity.

Relationships

Handling a relationship is never easy but with your partner being at your side, life and its problems become a tad bit simpler. If you are in a relationship, try to make the bond stronger in this bleak time and support each other in such a situation. Work at home should be equally distributed so that one singular person is not bearing all the responsibilities unhappily. Long distance relationships may take a toll on the partners involved but through consistent communication and building trust, a happier relationship may come out of social distancing.

If you are feeling pessimistic

Check in with your emotions and try to identify the root cause of what makes you truly unhappy. Asking for help from your peers and family is nothing to be ashamed of, reaching out to an online or telephonic counsellor may be of a great help. Such times require support, so make sure to tune in to your social networks to keep any loneliness you may be feeling at bay.

In summary, like every coin, lockdown too has two sides. While acknowledging that this is not an ideal situation, it is important to also recognise the positives that could potentially come along with it.  Time spent alone can often be a great gift for self-growth. That being said, it is completely valid to feel frustrated and upset by these circumstances. By recognising and accepting your emotions, it will become easier to deal with them the next time you feel that way.