Coronavirus: How to Make the Most of this ‘Stay at Home’?

With the recent 21-day lockdown announced in India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I see a lot of people getting troubled by the thought of having to ‘stay at home’. Social media and WhatsApp conversations are full of content talking about how people don’t know what to do, are complaining about being ‘stuck’ at home, cannot find ways to pass time, and are just waiting for this to end. Memes and videos are constantly being circulated with people doing silly things to overcome this challenging situation.

While the situation is undoubtedly challenging for the healthcare industry, the economy, the government, the lower-income groups, I am not sure how difficult it is for people who just need to stay at home. Many of us follow a hectic routine where it’s all about work, social gatherings, and other obligations. And amidst this regular busy schedule, we complain that we can’t spend enough time at home, we don’t get time to have deep, heart-to-heart conversations with our loved ones, we don’t get time to pursue a hobby, we don’t get time to binge-watch our favorite web series, we don’t get time to work out, we don’t get time to sleep, and so on.

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I know we also look forward to vacations that can be used to travel, to visit new places, party with friends but isn’t life all about moving with the flow?

Most of us are troubled with the situation because we have been ‘instructed’, ‘ordered’, ‘forced’ to remain home. And this is the human psyche — we don’t want to do what we have been told to do. But, what we need to realize right now is that this step is for our and our family’s well-being. Taking care of yourself isn’t something that the government needs to force you to do. This is something we must all take responsibility for.

So, without any further ado, let me help you with some ideas that are helping me keep myself busy for the next few days:

1. Read a Book: We all have books that we’ve purchased and wanted to read. But let’s accept it, most of us haven’t been able to finish them. This is the time to do that! And if you don’t own the book, you can just download/buy a PDF version of it from GoodReads or AmazonKindle. So, what are you waiting for?
   You can start with this amazing, best seller book by Dale Carnegie — How to Win Friends and Influence People on Amazon Kindle -> https://amzn.to/2wEgRTi
2. Write a Book: Remember the story of the movie Baghban? I know so many friends and relatives who aspire to write a book but fail to do so because of a lack of time. You may also be having umpteen experiences and maybe a desire to see your name published in a book. So just open a new Google Doc and start typing. Don’t think that you don’t know how to write. There are many editors and mentors out there who can help put your thoughts in the right flow. Your task is to share the story with them.
   You can follow this quick guide to help you get started on your project -> Hacker Noon. Or you can get your copy of How to write a book and sell it on Amazon -> https://amzn.to/3bsd1eS
3. Meditate/Introspect: When was the last time you reflected on something about yourself? Or looked back to understand how you’ve grown in life? Now, take 10 to 20 minutes per day to sit with your back straight, close your eyes, and introspect. Talk to your inner self. Know what you want and if you are living a life that you won’t regret. Have gratitude for everything around you and for what you have earned so far. Have gratitude for the challenges that came your way and made you a stronger person.
   If you want to learn meditation, there is a great 20-day course on YouTube by Jay Shetty, you can refer it here -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxURcDSeRns
4. Practice Yoga/Workout: If you have the habit of working out and have a routine to hit the gym, you can keep up with some exercises at home. However, if you don’t, this is the time to prepare a list of exercises, yoga asanas and develop a routine. According to a certain study, the rule is — it takes 21 days to create a habit, 90 days to create a lifestyle. These are the 21 days you’ve got to work on.
   If you are keen on Yoga, then you can check out Shilpa Shetty’s Yoga Channel on Youtube -> https://www.youtube.com/user/shilpayoga/videos
   For the folks interested in a little intense workout, here is a good 10-minute workout you can follow -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDxJG5UchIw
5. Spiritual Awakening: Mythology, texts, and scriptures from different schools of thoughts talk about life, karma, prayers, astrological stars, etc. Many of us have been intrigued by the workings of these texts and their guidance. Why not spend these 21-days getting answers to some of our questions about karma? Why not read about the philosophies of life to understand how we can better deal with our shortcomings like anxiety, anger, fearfulness, and more. The world is trying to fight a pandemic with the lockdown for several weeks, shouldn’t we fight our darknesses and weaknesses?
   Sadhguru’s channel on Youtube has some great practical advice on everything related to your questions, you can go visit the channel from here -> https://www.youtube.com/user/sadhguru
6. Get arty/crafty: The Internet is full of DIY ideas It gives you ideas to create decorative pieces by recycling waste, helps you learn how to paint with basic material, teaches you how to sew from old clothes, and a lot more. Use this time to organize and decorate your house. Create one new thing every day and you’ll definitely remember how much you learned during this lockdown. (P.S: if you start creating things from old scrap and waste lying at home, you’re also going to be able to clean your house and discard things you don’t need.)

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7. Family Time: This is probably the best thing to do. We are all living fast-paced lives and the one thing that remains in the backseat is family and loved ones. Consider this time as a family vacation (free of cost). Spend at least 2–3 hours together. You could watch a nice movie, go through old photographs, cook, play chess, carrom, cards, Ludo, watch old video recordings, or just sit and reminisce old memories. It isn’t too hard to spend time with family but we’re just not used to it.

8. Record Videos: Whatever you do, remember to record videos. Whether you are dancing, working out with alternative ideas, cooking together, playing games, or creating something arty, put your phone on video mode and record the moment. For many of us, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience where we have been given the opportunity to stay at home and contribute to the welfare of society.

9. Restore your Health: Last but not the least, catch up on sleep. A lot of us are living hectic lifestyles where we’re just running to complete errands. This is the time to restore our health. Eat proper meals at proper times, sleep well, meditate, and follow a routine that keeps you fit and active.

As a young girl, I remember reading a quote in one of my mother’s diaries that said ‘Life is like ice cream, enjoy it before it melts.’ The pandemic is a lesson by Mother Nature, it is a reminder that we mustn’t keep planning for the later years of our life. We mustn’t take things for granted and we must really make the most of each day, irrespective of the conditions that we are in.

These are some things that are helping me productively utilize my time and enjoy this phase at home. If you’re doing something else or have any other ideas, please share them in the comment box below.

I wish you all the best, this too shall pass and we will come out of this together and stronger. Please share the post with your friends & family and build a plan together -> WhatsApp to Friends