L.O.C.K.D.O.W.N

Lockdown, Stay/Shelter at home, Circuit Breakers, Curfew, Quarantine – Who would have thought that the whole world would be experiencing this most unusual, extraordinary situation, where all of us are forced to Be Home and Social Distancing would be key to our survival?

Masks, Gloves, Santitizers would be essentials along with Vegetables, Groceries and yes, Toilet Paper would be more expensive than Oil for a day !

Welcome to the World of Lockdown.

After being over 7 weeks in the confines of my apartment building ( and possibly another 4 more weeks to go) , it has given me a lot of time to reflect and think, and focus on what is truly  “essential” in our lives. And I realised that what we NEED is very different from what we DESIRE. And that happiness is how YOU and I and each individual defines it.

In this blog Lockdown is used as an Acronym and each alphabet stands for an experience or a feeling/thought in the last 7 weeks .

L : LEARN A NEW SKILL

What better opportunity than at this time to Learn something New. Join an online course, take up that hobby that you have been thinking of for the last 20 years, learn a language, music, cooking. There are so many options available to us.  My teenage daughter decided to learn embroidery and is transforming all our jeans. I started an online Yoga class 4 weeks back.

O : OPTIMISM AND POSITIVE THOUGHTS

This was one of my Health Mantras that I had written about in my earlier blogs. Think Happy Thoughts – think of moments, people that have made you smile. Do things that make you Laugh.

Most of us,  at some stage in the last few months,  have gone through thoughts of immense sadness, disbelief and fear. It is in these times that we should not underestimate the power of positive thinking.

While it’s unclear why people who engage in positive thinking experience health benefits and higher immunity, one theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body.

C : COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

Think of all that  is wonderful in your life. Be grateful for your family, your health, your life. Accept the new normal and don’t overthink. People who often wonder if the glass is half empty or half full, miss the point. The glass is refillable.

K : KEEP FIT AND ACTIVE

Excerise Daily. It not only helps you look good, it makes you feel good.

One of the key benefits of exercise is that it is an incredible stress reliever and releaser. Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the body when it is under stress or when one is anxious or scared. Exercise not only helps burn Cortisol, it also releases a chemical called Endorphins, which creates a positive feeling in the body, leading to reduced stress.

During the lockdown I have been exercising twice a day. Am discovering new online fitness classes and YouTube videos and making the most of the time at hand to learn them. In these uncertain times, exercise uplifts my mood.

D : DECLUTTER

I define decluttering as first identifying what one does not need and then go about eliminating that – One will automatically end up with what one actually needs.

From the kitchen to the bathroom to the bedroom, declutter your home.

Not only the house, declutter your mind, remove all the unnecessary noise and thoughts from your head. Instead, focus on what is fulfilling and makes you happy.

This lockdown time has also made me realise what is ” essential” , and not only the material possessions, but also relationships. Who are your ” magic people” –  for me it’s my family, friends, who have made my life happy in so many ways and I think of all the incredibly happy moments that I have been fortunate to experience with them. And I have been connecting with them through the lockdown.

O : ONLINE CONNECTIONS

How much time have we been spending online. Whether it is reading the news, doing an online course, exercise classes, WhatsApp and Facebook and Instagram.

There is so much information out there that one can  get lost in the World Wide Web.

Curate your social media. Be selective of what you want to follow and read daily. Listen online to playlists that touch your soul. Connect online via multiple media platforms and do video calls with your ” magic people”.  Connect online with what you are passionate about, what gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment and contentment and peace of mind.

W : WORK FROM HOME

WFH has become the new normal. Who would have thought that one could transition into a work from home environment and can efficiently meet the work requirements without the need of an office space or physical social interaction with co- workers. As humans we learn to adapt. I created a daily schedule from 9:30am to 6pm. It not only helps maintain discipline but also sanity and keeps the mind occupied and busy, and makes the week day feel as close to normal ie pre-corona days.

N : NEW BEGINNINGS

No matter where we are, the world post Covid, post lockdown will be different..we will also not be the same. We cannot look at the past to define the future. We have to approach our lives with a fresh outlook.

New Start, New Beginnings, A New Life !