With the country observing a Janata curfew yesterday and 80 districts going into lockdown till March 31 to fight the Coronavirus pandemic, self-imposed social distancing in these trying times can certainly be put to good use. Apart from playing a key role in breaking the chain of transmission of the virus, confining ourselves to our homes will allow us to catch up on a whole lot of things we have been neglecting.
After all, we could be looking at several weeks or months of lockdown should the spread of the virus not slow down. Therefore, it is vital to make full use of all the extra time we will have at home. To begin with, those of us who stay with families, this is a good chance to spend quality time with them. Have meaningful conversations, resolve any outstanding issues and just reconnect with your family members. Use the time you have to value them and revitalise your relationships.
Second, use the home isolation period to catch up on your hobbies. Be it reading, cooking or doing origami. Hobbies not only exercise our intellect but also boost our emotional well-being. After all, these are things we enjoy but often don't have the time for in our busy schedules. Hobbies tap into our youthful energy and make us feel good about ourselves. And that in turn is very good for our health in the long term.
Third, use the time you have to exercise and meditate. Taking care of your health is anyway a priority during a pandemic. So this is the best time to fix an exercise and meditation routine. This will yield huge benefits for you and now you have no excuses to put it off. Besides, staying active indoors during a prolonged lockdown helps one keep frustrations at bay. Thus, use this opportunity to focus on yourself. Connect with your family members, connect with your emotions and connect with your soul through meditation.
Seen in this way, the self-imposed isolation period is not unlike what the ascetics of yore would do in isolating themselves from society to connect with the divine. Hence, we should look upon any lockdown to fight the virus as not just our duty for the sake of society and humanity, but also an opportunity to improve ourselves and become better human beings. Let us all do our best.
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