The past few weeks have been a bit chaotic and crazy, to say the least. The coronavirus crisis has turned out to be way more disastrous than any of us probably expected, with thousands of people losing their lives, loved ones and jobs or businesses.
The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t just a disease outbreak — it has also become a catalyst of emotional stress and anxiety for everyone. With all the suffering and fear that has gripped the world, it’s been hard to not feel like it’s all a bit apocalyptic!
The little things we thoughtlessly took for granted on a day to day basis are some of the very things that have become so important to us all now. While there’s not much we can do to change the current situation (except for staying home of course!), there’s comfort in knowing that we’re all in this together despite how separated we are.
There’s no denying that social distancing has become the need of the hour, but I admit that not being able to step out of the house is giving me major cabin fever. However, I’m trying to take it one day at a time and do things that make social distancing a little easier and keep my spirits up. I know that everything that’s happening right now is very serious and scary and this post is not to undermine the gravity of the pandemic. I just wanted to bring a bit of positivity & hope while sharing a few things that are helping me get through these difficult times.
1. Zoomba-ing at home
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you probably know that I’m a total Zumba addict. I go for least 2-3 Zumba classes every week. Nowadays I’m getting my weekly Zumba fix through live-streaming via Zoom with my favorite instructors. I’m so thankful for these wonderful ladies who are helping us stay active (and sane!) even during quarantine. Even though virtual Zumba isn’t as fun as the real thing, it’s still helping me get a good sweat at home.
I know Zumba is not for everyone, but the point is to stay active and do whatever works best for you. Try out some no-equipment home workouts or Yoga through videos on YouTube. Or simply turn up the tunes and get some healthy sweat going, even if it’s just to clean your house!
2. Spending time with family
This kind of seems like a given, but with our usually crazy-busy lives we don’t get as much quality time together as we want on a daily basis. Every evening, me and hubby are going out for a walk to get some fresh air, while being very careful to maintain social distancing.
I’m also spending about 30-40 minutes each day to play badminton or frisbee with my daughter in our backyard. It’s such a stress-buster for me and good exercise for both of us! I’m grateful that if Covid19 had to happen, at least it happened in spring when the day light is lasting longer and it’s not super cold outside. Family board games have also become a daily activity after dinner. Just trying to find small joys where we can!
3. Movies and more!
Now that I have some spare time, I am taking this opportunity to catch up on movies and shows on Netflix that have been on my must-see list for a while. We also got Disney+ for our daughter. That, and I’m also reading more and adding new books to my Kindle library.
4. Connecting with friends
We must be far away from each other right now but we don’t have to be alone. These days keeping in constant touch with my family & friends on FaceTime, texts and WhatsApp has been helping me ease stress and maintain a sense of normalcy. A few of my friends are planning a virtual ‘happy hour’ on Zoom this Friday and I am so looking forward to it!
On the flip side, I’ve been quite worried about my parents who live alone in India which is currently facing an absolute lockdown for 21 days. And my sister stays in Berlin with her family, so we are all quite far from each other. As much as I want, I can’t be there with them because of temporary travel restrictions across borders. I really wish I had a fast forward button to make this terrifying time go away!
5. And last but not the least, self-care
Self-care is more important now than ever before as we are all trying to balance work, kids and everything else from home. For me, skincare has always been a form of self-care. Nowadays, I’m being a bit more intentional with my morning and night-time skincare routine, taking the extra steps for which I’m normally too rushed for and whipping up DIY homemade beauty recipes. In times of uncertainty, there’s an undeniable comfort in the daily rituals that bring us joy, especially when everything else seems out of our control!
PS: Did you know that skincare and beauty routines have been proven to ease anxiety and induce a feeling of calmness & control. Yes, it’s actually backed by science!
Self-care, of course, is different for everybody. For some people, it’s meditation or massage, for others it can be reading a good book or Yoga to de-stress and some others can find solace in drawing up a bubble bath or doing face masks. No matter whatever it is that helps you relax and find comfort, just do it! Don’t forget to take some time out for your own wellbeing while you care for those around you.
Image credit: Tiny Buddha
The next few weeks (hopefully not months!) are probably not going to be easy. It’s important that we find ways to keep ourselves busy and stay calm (as much as possible) amid this chaos. Let’s embrace the extra time and use it for those “if I had more time on my hands…” and “one day, I will get around to…” hobbies and dreams.
These are tough times but temporary.
As the saying goes, “Every storm runs out of rain” and this too shall pass! Let’s not be driven by fear, but live with intention and kindness for others. We’ll get through this together. And when it’s all over, we will be stronger, more resilient and a lot more appreciative of our normal life!
I hope that you stay safe, happy and healthy. Sending you all a big virtual hug!
How are YOU feeling? I’d love to hear how you are doing and coping up with the COVID-19 craziness?
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