It is common knowledge that in 21 days, you can make, or break, a habit. And guess what? You do have many days at hand. The Lockdown, or The Great Pause, as I’ve decided to call it, has given a lucky windfall to the likes of us. First we should take a moment to appreciate our situation, be grateful for the fact that we have a home to be locked down in, food to eat, and friends and family to share memes and jokes with! That being said, it is a prime moment to make a new habit! Because yes, that’s one of the things I think all adults, and kids, can do during this covid-19 house arrest. A new habit can be anything.
1. Develop Healthy Eating Habits
We can try, because now we have the time to make a menu and to cook! Unless the Dalgona coffee has gotten to you too, then you’re done. Social media has responded brilliantly to this challenge. Facebook has many groups dedicated to lockdown recipes and the challenge of cooking on your own. Among them Simple Recipes for Complicated Times combines wit and good writing with simple nostalgic recipes.
2. Wake Up Early
Wake up early and breathe that beautiful morning air. There’s no time like now to appreciate the gorgeousness of natural beauty that we are living in. With peacocks roaming the streets in Gurgaon, Rhinos in Assam, Nilgai in Noida and blue, blue skies everywhere, why do you want to miss the clean air? Get enough sleep: Did you know that Netflix will still be there when all this ends? Maybe save the binge watching for the Smog-time post-diwali national lockdown!
3. Workout for a Healthy Body
Workout! (yes, there are numerous workouts, on Youtube and such, that you can perform in your balcony) Exercise every day for a fixed duration at a fixed time. There are endless options to choose from for each level of fitness.
4. Meditate for a Healthy Body
Meditate: set aside those 10 minutes daily where you can sit in silence to meet your inner self. Put a soothing chant in the back ground, sit on the ground and breathe deeply for 5 minutes. Oxygen levels will hit the roof!
5. Learn a New Skill
The internet is RIFE with tutorials! Pick up those paints and get cracking with watercolours or any other kind of painting like oil painting. For those of us who have little to no patience, Instagram is a boon of sorts. 10 seconds or less will show you a hyperlapse tutorial of how to paint a sea scape, or oil paint, or scrapbook, or crafting. If my 7 year old can do it, so can you! Or take up an online course. Harvard is offering free modules online. You can check them out here!
All said and done, the lockdown will get you to spend some quality time with your family. Enjoy that, polish your chess skills, break out the Ludo and the Scrabble. Learn to make make haath ki chai yourself and watch her tear up like a Hindi commercial for LIC. No matter what you choose to do, or not do, this phase in life is an unimaginable rarity. You will remember it with what you take away from it. The whole world will be a different place when we all emerge from lockdown, make sure you keep pace and are a whole new you too!
