Right now, you must be scrolling your social media, listening to music, watching web series, and so on. But many think that the coronavirus lockdown has given them a chance to reset their lives, spend quality time with family, reconnect with friends. You could be agreeing with them.
THE MUCH-NEEDED SLOWDOWN
Pratima Vaishy, a Mumbai-based sales and marketing professional, believes that the quarantine has given a much-needed break to the world and is an indication for us to slow down.
"This break is like an opportunity to do things that you couldn’t do before, like read a long-pending book, learn a new art, take up new hobbies and spend time with family which generally takes a back seat when we are busy with our careers. Also, I feel we must use this time to introspect on how we can best contribute to the environment, given that the whole world is dealing with the crisis,” says Vaishy.
“Even though I am working from home, I am helping my mother with the cooking, helping her with house chores and trying out new recipes. I am enjoying the carom game with my siblings which I couldn’t do earlier due to time constraints. Since we are homebound, I am taking this opportunity to connect with my friends I had lost touch with. It’s quite surprising to see how far each one has come in our professional and personal lives.” she adds.
THIS CHANGE IS REFRESHING
Chandan Yadav, a sales executive from Mumbai, says that the slowdown has allowed him to spend more quality time with his family.
“My job used to take up most of my time because of travelling, given that I am in sales. Now that I am working from home, I have a lot of time on my hands. I can spend quality time with my family after I am done with work. That said, I am gradually adjusting to this new schedule. Also, I am trying to learn new things, which I couldn’t do earlier because of the paucity of time,” he says.
Ask him how this change has helped him better bond with his family, and he says that he is enjoying all three meals at home now.
“Earlier, I noticed life was monotonous; now, this particular change is refreshing. I am getting an ample amount of rest. Mental and physical stress is less because of no travelling,” adds Yadav.
LEARNING NEW ARTS
It’s important to utilise time productively and do something that fulfils one’s artistic side. Prathamesh More, an architect from Navi Mumbai, believes in the same and says that work from home has given him a lot of time to sketch, which is his hobby.
“I am getting a lot of time for myself, and I am enjoying this me time. It has allowed me to explore my artistic side. Also, I am in touch with my friends through video calls, and I play PubG. Besides, I have been researching on topics like racing, history, meditation, sketching and art. But I do miss going on rides at times,” says More.
AWAY FROM ROUTINE
Media professional from Mumbai, Aishwarya Dhyani says, “We have created a routine where we wake up at 6.30 am and exercise for nearly an hour to keep the immunity strong. This way, my family and I are bonding over fitness and keeping ourselves healthy at the same time. The lockdown has also made me realise how much we are disconnected with our friends and how much we have been running behind our careers, neglecting our bonds with people around us. Such a crisis helps bring back the perspective of life on the right track.”
The quarantine has helped her to be more organised. She has decluttered her racks and closet.
“I am also planning to make some vegan recipes, get back to baking, and now that I have an ample amount of time on my hands, I can go back to blogging. It has given me a chance to slow down, see around and analyse what is happening. It has helped me to calm down and take one thing at a time. Also, I can channelise my energies into creative things like practising makeup, DIY routine, skincare and self-pampering,” says the DIY enthusiast.
“Me and my sister are both home at the same time and bonding over skincare routine and discussing other things as well. I feel this break was much needed, like the vacations we used to get during our school days. Earlier, I was following a routine, and there was nothing new to look forward to. This free time has made me realise what I was missing out on,” says Dhyani.
