These are not normal times. Life feels surreal at the moment, especially for those of us who are used to routine. Not many have experienced living in a pandemic and now our grandparents’ wartime stories, which once enthralled us, take on a new meaning. Make no mistake: we are at war, against an insidious, invisible virus that has managed to queer the pitch in a devastating manner. The world is in lockdown mode and we are being forced to take a step back and re-evaluate our lives, our loves, wants and needs.
Home is where the heart is, and right now home is the safest place to be. As the governments of the world order their citizens into quarantine, to arrest the spread of the COVID-19 contagion, more and more of us are working from home. This has perhaps been an ideal for many of us and now we have got the chance to do so, albeit under the strangest of circumstances. However, once the novelty wears off, working from home comes with its own set of trials and tribulations. Over and above keeping on top of your office work, there are elderly and ailing parents and children in the high risk group to worry about. Daily chores, including grocery and essential supply runs, cooking and cleaning, that need to be done. Then you need to ensure the kids keep up with their school work while also thinking up ways to keep them entertained!
After a week of two of being cooped up at home with the spouse, parents and kids, one can start feeling overwhelmed and restive from constant confined proximity. So how do you keep yourself sane, stress-free and productive during these days of self-quarantine? As someone who now is part of the work-from-home brigade, and has to manage employees remotely, here are a few strategies I have found useful, to keep calm and carry on.
Make sure to stick to a routine
Despite the upheaval this virus is causing, we need to keep to our normal daily routine as best we can to retain a sense of equilibrium. So get up and show up like you would ordinarily. This will help your frame of mind. You and the family should stick to regular timings for waking up and going to bed, meals, office work/schoolwork, chores and downtime. Make sure to also keep to your usual exercise schedule, as far as possible.
Get some fresh air, whenever possible
Lockdown or not, we cannot remain indoors 24×7. We need a bit of sunshine and fresh air to help reboot our bodies and brain. Plan a few outdoor activities with the family; go for a walk around the block. As long as you keep those six feet between you, your family and other people. You could also use what would have been your commute time in the mornings to just sit in your garden/terrace/verandah and enjoy a cup of tea. There is no denying that nature is healing itself: pollution is down, the trees look greener, the sky bluer, and I have not heard so many birds chirping throughout the day, as I have recently!
Staying socially connected
We are social beings so I don’t think ‘social’ distancing is what we really need right now. Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, recently spoke of it as ‘physical distancing’. The point is that we should distance ourselves physically, not socially. Keep in touch with family, friends and co-workers via the many social platforms available to us. Video calling is a great way to connect; seeing the person you are engaging with helps you feel less isolated. Plan an online activity, like watching a film together, with family that doesn’t live with you, or with your friends.
Be selective about your news intake
News about the virus is pouring in from all corners of the earth. Some good, mostly bad. In this day and age of instant alerts, our mobile phones literally ping every few seconds. Too much information can be stressful and cause anxiety. Turn that alert off, and select the news you want to read, or the segment you want to see. Stick to watching news conferences by relevant authorities, or announcements by heads of state. Ignore any social media posts and forwards that seem dubious.
Getting into work mode
Dress for work like you would anyway; formal clothes are not required, but you do need to get into some comfortable ones, before you begin. Set up a work station in a quiet area of your home and make it a point to work from there, as this will help you get into ‘work mode’, mentally. Sometimes you may feel like just because you’re working from home you are obliged to stay connected to the office 24×7. This is not true; overworking will not increase productivity in anyway. We all need to switch off. So get your assignment for the day done in time, log off and spend quality time with loved ones or by yourself, if you live alone.
Trust in your innate resilience
Remember, this too shall pass; we just don’t know when. It’s not going to be easy but we need to accept this as our new normal, for now. These are unchartered waters and the trick is to not be overwhelmed. Over the years Mother Nature has been nudging us, telling us to pay attention to her. I imagine she finally decided to give us a big push and force us to take a step back so that the planet, and we, can heal. I truly believe we will come out the other side of this global health crisis better human beings. Stay safe, stay healthy, physically and mentally, and above all stay home.
