Break the monotony during the COVID Lockdown!

As the present day goes, all of us have been confined to the walls of our homes, as a precautionary measure against the Corona Virus. We are fulfilling our duty, practicing social distancing to help protect others, but this can turn out to be monotonous. We are looking forward to a little more than a couple of weeks of counting the wall tiles now. How to spend our days in isolation? There's nothing new in what I did, but well, reading and seeing this would be like a feel-good factor for everyone, plus, this would be better than fake WhatsApp messages about treatments discovered :P

1. Spend time with family: Can't stress on this enough. You know you've wanted this for long, and now when it is here, spend as much time with them as you can. They're not as bad as you think :)))

                

2. Read: We've given ample reasons for not reading enough novels and books- college, work, school and impending deadlines. You've got no excuse now, so get into comfy pyjamas and go read that book which you've skimmed through for long. (You may even re-read old novels :D )

     
Skim through the books, (E-books or hard bound) and find the one you'd enjoy


                

A cozy corner I've made for myself, curl up with a good book here. 

3. Workout (atleast try): All of us thought that we'd be working out at home and show a transformed being by the end of this lockdown. The reality- reaching out for a midnight snack while watching a Netflix series. So we all really need to work on that.

4. Cooking: When Swiggy and Zomato took a break, you thought life turned tasteless. But then a thought arose, you can cook yourself too! Utilise this time to learn new and healthy recipes, and cook yourself to fitness! (Everyone is entitled to some (maybe more) cheat meals!)

                       
                             

          

Some energy bars we made at home 

5. Play games with fam: Bring down that box of Jenga from the dusty shelf that has been raring to be used for long, grab that pack of cards that you didn't know you had and spend a leisurely evening, reminiscing about the time you had as Summer Vacations as kids :)

                    

Also, apps like Pysch and Taboo are great for playing at home.


                             


6. Appreciate nature: No, this does not mean being a wanderlust and going out for a trek, it means lying in the afternoon and watching the sky. You may have heard the birds chirp in the morning, they seem to be happy with this situation, the air seems cleaner and the silence for them is bliss. Lie down on the roof and see the stars at night, or watch this ever changing pattern of weather from rain at one moment to sunshine at the next. (What are the heavens upto?)

                 

Yesterday and today: The weather sure is playing games 

Look at this beautiful image. With the AQI getting better, you can appreciate the celestial bodies clearly 

7. Organise your workspace: Granted you may not have an immediate deadline, but the least you can do is organise your work, so that when this ends, it would be easier to start afresh :D

                 

Might seem tough initially, but would be worth the effort

8. Go green: Water your plants, plant some andmore and tend to them. It can be your garden, your flower pots or your table plant. Every plant needs care. This will give you a better perspective and a fresher look at life.

    

9. Music and shows: Yes, of course, you're watching Netflix, Amazon Prime or catching up on movies. Of course you're playing PUBG, and you're definitely using social media with never ending tags and checking on bingos. I know most of your sleep cycles have been reversed and you guys want to sleep but can't. Stay away from it a bit and you'll see that you'll be able to go through your day better.
Remember excess of anything is too bad, use this time to detox from all this rather than getting into it.

  

So, make the most of your day, call up old buddies and text them as to how they're doing, remember, we tend to forget in our routine about how important it can be to ask for the welfare of those that matter.

 Take care, and don't go out for non-essential things even if the curfew has been lifted in some places.

Respect those who are working for you even in this tumultuous time, by not going out. 

Coronavirus- A blessing in disguise?

Coronavirus has now brought the globe to a standstill. This deadly disease has closed all malls, theatres, gyms, and basically all mass gatherings. It has shut down schools and colleges. 'Corona' meaning 'The crown of the king', has literally asked us to bow down before it, and not without reason. I would like to start by praying for all those who lost their lives due to this virus, and also for those who have been infected by and wish for their speedy recovery.

               


Yes, it is a deadly disease and these proactive steps are necessary to help prevent the conversion of this pandemic into an epidemic.
But, hasn't it given us time to introspect, to be home with our families, to discover what life was, and become more close to our roots? Hasn't it taken us away from ostentatiousness and the showy reality we had built for ourselves? Look at people in Italy, hanging from their balconies, singing songs to tide over the bad time. This is the socialisation we need, where neighbours become close, everyone cares for everybody and the whole world becomes a close-knitted group.

Italians singing from their balconies, tiding over this time 

Of course, no one wants such a catastrophic disease to ever occur, but this was a break mankind needed for long.
Nature is able to breathe, the global carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases release has decreased, oil has stopped being consumed at the phenomenal rate as before and even Mt. Everest and the Himalayas have barred tourists. This has given nature time to heal itself.

   

Mt. Everest saved from being the world's highest trashcan, even if for a short while 

Even places of worship like Meccah and Medina being closed due to the virus 

With this rest, the hectic lifestyle of everyday has been taken over by the monotonous yet cozy security of our homes, and this has brought us to the integral question that is missing due to the fast pace of today's life. Is the motive of life to work and earn, whole forgetting the bonds and relations, to forget to sit and talk with the people that matter? It has brought us back together along with the the realisation, how togetherness is happiness, it has brought laughter in homes, reinforced the bonds of love and mutual care.

Empty streets in Italy: a sight never seen before

The whole world needed this to rediscover their roots, for Mother Nature to take a deep breath of relief and for the individual to introspect and strengthen bonds and remember the real meaning of life.

Asian tourist spots emptied due to the Coronavirus scare 

My wholehearted condolences to the families of those of lost their lives and the ones afflicted by this virus. No one must endure this, and everyone must take adequate precautions to help overcome this tumultuous time.

Message by a movie theatre, asking people to stay at home and be safe 

So, sit back, relax, think about your life, follow your hobbies, and do not rush back into the old routine like before.

          

A beautiful picture, signifying introspection and the romanticism of staying at home 

 Remember to spend time with everyone, that life is more than just the hectic schedule, and remember to save and preserve our nature. Utilise this time to call up old friends, form new bonds and strengthen old ones.

        

When did you last take a leisurely stroll, focussing on yourself? 

So, can it be said- Corona, a blessing in disguise?



Microcosm of life- Rain. (Featuring the best scenario/feeling ever)

It's raining outside. The musty fragrance of the dust mingled with the scent of rain reaches you, the cold breeze stings your bare arms, the lightning glow gets reflected in your eyes when suddenly the sound of the thunder breaks you from your reverie. The gentle thrum of the rain setting the tone, the occasional cold drop touching your hand, the feeling of helplessness at being at the mercy of nature, which is pouring its heart out and confiding in you all its wonderful secrets.

  The night sky turning into a liliac shade

The best representation by far :3, even the storm abates in the presence of this photographer 

Watching the deep purple colour of the sky, which lightens up ever too often, you consider yourself nothing but a mere speck in the vast continuum of life. At this moment, the rain increases in intensity, with Mother Nature showing her wrath at all things wrong. You calm her, placate her, wring your hands together and bow down before her with your face facing the heavens, feeling the cold drops on your face as a retribution for all things done wrong. The water pierces your clothes and the drops trickle down your neck, your hair all wet, and you stand up, trudge through the rain, thinking and reminiscing about your life before and your future ahead. All too soon, you can't feel the tip of your nose due to the incessant cold, and you start shivering, but all the while enjoying this wonderful experience that you have been provided with. Your olfactory receptors have never been as happier, and the fragrance mingled with the cold has overpowered all your senses and you can see nothing but the truth flashing in front of your eyes.

       

       

 My dream, the best feeling ever. 

After your stroll in the rain, you dry yourself, change, sit down in the balcony with a cup of coffee and a good trusted book. The fragrance of warm coffee, the scent of the book, and the musty fragrance of rain-mingled-dust is too good to be true. The train of thought takes you elsewhere, you're warm and snug in a shawl or a jacket, and you're staring into the dark road ahead, and experiencing this all while sipping the hot concoction and resting all your fears, worries and anxieties to another day :)
The rain would soon end, bringing the world back to order. Hence, it can be compared to life, with its ups and downs, culminating in rain being the microcosm of life itself.

P.S. All of this has been written in the ambience mentioned above :D