From the child in the cradle to the octogenarian undergoing dialysis,
Covid-19 created a situation hitherto unknown to the human race.
People have earlier faced wars, famines, atrocities, curfews, epidemics, and pandemics.
But Covid- 19 is special, peculiar and unparalleled. The spread and the repercussions are
frightening. It deprived peoples of all nations the library of socialising, getting and singing
together, the happiness of hand-shakes and hugs.
The lock-outs and resultant 24 hour home stay made people to feel pessimistic about
their futuristic lifestyle.
However, the reality is not that much grey.
After the second world war and due to rapid expansion of industrial, commercial and hospitality establishments, global commercial of FMCG etc. the happiness of staying at home, chatting with family
members, enjoying leisure by singing songs, dancing, playing games etc., almost lost their
Importance and the socialising outside home has become the order of the day. Even the developing and
Underdeveloped countries considered socialising as the modern way of enjoying freedom unmindful of the costs involved. In a nutshell, people preferred spending time and leisure outside their homes limiting
Their stay at home for selected a few hours in a day.
But the outbreak of Corona globally has changed everything drastically. People all over the world have been locked inside the four walls of their houses as a measure to save their lives. Strict measures by respective governments forbidding gatherings and socialising, spread of awareness among people regarding the risks of acquiring the disease and deaths due to non-availability of a medically proven and authenticated vaccine or medicine, made people to lock themselves in their homes.
The basic question to be asked by every one in this situation is whether this situation is a curse or a boon.
Apparently, it looks like a curse.
It frightens. It forbids our freedom.
It cause inconvenience. It troubles.
It causes boredom. It creates anxiety.
But let us remember in the previous edition of free, busy, do what you like and go where you want life style,
Did it not frighten?
Did it not forbid our freedom due to presence of social goons?
Was it always convenient?
Was it always convenient?
Did it not cause boredom, fatigue and hangovers?
Were we without anxiety?
To put it in simple terms, to decide whether a situation a curse or a boon, the attitude of a person
Counts. If I want to present a beautiful rose from a garden to a damsel, I must have the attitude of ignoring the thorns to pluck the rose.
Similarly, If you a glass half.-filled with fruit juice, It is you who should decide whether the glass is half-empty or half-hour filled.
I lean to the side of optimism and try to offer a solution to overcome anxiety that arises out of home-stay due to lock outs.
Now, every one knows that the new life style initially provides leisure, entertainment, and reinvention of forgotten family bonds. However, the uncertainty regarding the end of this lifestyle and exhaustion of avenues to spend time over a period of time, will result in anxiety.
I suggest one solution to overcome the anxiety for both young and old people.
The solution is rescheduling your daily routine.
Initially it may look odd. But this will make you busy again and drive away your anxiety.
The following is your new schedule of your routine of a day.
1. Increase your hours of night sleep for 2 more hours and get-up from bed 2 hours later than the
Earlier time. Tell your mind repeatedly “ I have no urgent work to attend and I am entitled to
relax.”
2. Enjoy your break fast and coffee as you do in a holiday resort in a hill station taking a lot of time.
3. Teach your kids all household little works.
4. Arrange your show case, bookshelf, kitchen etc on a daily basis with all your family members
aiming that your house is going to be the most beautiful one in the locality.
5. While having your lunch call all your friends through teleconference and finish your lunch
Talking to them.
6. Allow your children to meet and gossip with their friends through teleconference daily.
7. Try preparing new dishes once in two days which should also be a joint venture.
8. If you are religious, spend one hour daily discussing serious or emotional religious stories or topics.
9. Avoid Watching TV while you are otherwise engaged.
10. Playing Chess is a wonderful option.
11. For Students, though a lot of time is available, study of subject just for two hours that too
Before going to bed will be helpful for retaining and getting out of anxiety.
12. Go to bed late hearing most soothing music.
As this situation requires a single solution, I trust that the above-said revised routine of daily
life will serve as a single solution to be happy at home under lockout ,driving away the anxiety.
