How to Stay Productive Under Quarantine by Meenakshi C

Meenakshi C

Manager - Airport Operations

These are extraordinary circumstances we are facing, and right now we all deserve a little grace -- starting with ourselves.

You hear the word “quarantine” and automatically hear the long list of things we’re not allowed to do these days. But perhaps you should think of all the opportunities this slower lifestyle offers. Instead of sitting around worrying about corona-virus or feeling lonely, use your downtime to learn new skills, pamper yourself, and reconnect with what makes you happy. 

I have been striving all this year's to have a beautiful family time. But all were busy with there own schedules and no rest, continues struggle , no peace of mind as everyone is rushing to achieve something or other. 

TIME TO REFLECT

Use this time to reflect. 

Some self introspection can prove to be the missing key for more success. You know what you need to do in this quarantine time for productivity.

Our days can be stuck at home, but beautiful!

Beautiful views bring joy and clarity.

Basically this lockdown made us understand that nature is bigger than anything else in the world. It is most powerful and most beautiful. 

Daily morning I can hear birds chirping sound , colorful butterflies outside my balcony happily moving around. Nature is so beautiful ️ I am loving it . This is the best time of my life. 

Daily get up without any stress without any tensions. Do  daily exercise workouts.There’s a lot we used to do out there that we can do inside.  There are plenty of ways to be active, healthy and connected to the Earth from your desk .

Cooking

It’s an uncertain and scary time, but you and your loved ones still need to eat, and the act of preparing and serving a meal even a simple one can bring great comfort to the cook as well as to the diner.I have been trying out lot of  new dishes right from Gujarati , Bengali n Kerala cuisines  and my husband and son is looking for it everyday . Before I was busy  working in office . I never got time myself to concentrate anything due to my  office routines. 

Clean it up

Lock down time is the best but also getting little nerdy for we not getting any kind of domestic help. I and my family have to work extra time for household chores cleaning dusting , mopping all by ourselves.

The most positive side effect of doing it ourselves, is that while we still need to sweep and mop the floor on a near daily basis (more on that later) and the dishes consume our existence a lot more, we also enjoy the fact that our home stays cleaner longer. 

 I am getting time for taking care of my composting . Using the compost for gardening. Planting few sampling and water them daily  see them grow lush green plants.

Pampering myself

Face masks, moisturizer, oh my! Treat yourself to a skin care routine you don’t have time for during a normal work week.

Just because we’re stuck at home doesn’t mean we can’t look our best.

 I get adequate rest and time to do my DIY be it hair treatment or facial pedicure and manicure.Learning to balance all kind of household work along with self care . 

Spend time  with my Kid

Luckily, we’ve found plenty of fun and exciting activities for parents to do with their kids 

 I am also  working along with my son for preparing notes for him to practice Maths ,Science and English subjects.   He is been creative during this time but also confused how to spend time morning till evening .He has his chart and time table in place but he end up with online games .  So most of the time I end up playing with him with his toys , board games and be like a young friend to him . We fight like kids sometimes spoil the bed with pillow fights run around the house play hide and seek . Basically I  am ensuring that my son should not ask or force me to take him out like earlier. 

Quarantine life and lessons

Please be strong, and let us brave through this together. Let's practice self care, work on ourselves, love ourselves and others more deeply, sprinkle kindness around, heal so that we do not bleed on people who didn't cut us, spread more love and be there for each other

Though we have to maintain social distancing but getting more closer to our family members  is fruitful than any other materialistic needs .  Lock down is immensely painful to all but many of us learnt a great life lesson to leave with minimum and bare necessities. I made sure that my house maids are paid fully. Call them often to find out if they need any financial help. Our nature is we  buy more and more to compete with others be it clothes make up kits, fashion accessories etc. From now on wards will make sure that simplicity will be maintained in all walks of my life . Pay attention to my family by health , save for future . Avoid greed and give a helping hand to needy .  Respect nature and natural and unadulterated  things the most .

During this chaos, we then realize the weight of humanity, the implications of our actions and how we all are connected.The world is changing, it is healing, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Pollution is being cleared off, the equilibrium is being restored, and at the end of this, the world will heal. There are so many lessons of humanity to take on from there: racism, health, love and how to embrace uncertainty and make something out of it!