IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE PRODUCTIVE

“Life imposes things on you that you can’t control, but you still have the choice of how you’re going to live through this.”

This quarantine is taking a toll on us but we have to stay positive and help others to be the same. We might feel unproductive some days but I want to remind you that it is okay. Going through this phase is more than productive. It’s a hard time to keep yourself sane, somedays you might find yourself lost but remember that this is a phase and it will pass. All you have to do is take care of yourself emotionally, mentally, and of course physically.

Here are few things that are helping me during this tough time, these are very basic but makes a huge difference do try making time for it :

• Hydrate yourself - Water has shown to have natural calming properties. Drinking enough water helps to manage your anxiety level. Even if you are not facing any kind of anxiety, drinking sufficient water can create a feeling of relaxation. Drink at least 3 liters of water in a day, it’s a good start for the day and helps your body to keep a normal temperature. I was not a fan of drinking 3 liters of water daily but I am trying and it is making a hell of a difference. Drinking water in my favorite sipper helps me even more.

• Eating Right- Our eating cycle and patterns are very important and I never realized that until now. I love junk food and when we were in a complete lockdown phase, I was continuously consuming unhealthy junk food. It was all good at the starting but after a point, it made me lethargic and also increased my appetite. After that, I decided to make few changes and eat some healthy food, which helped with my appetite and energy level. Cooking is my hobby and I love to cook some new healthy dishes from youtube.

• Good workout sessions - Keeping aside 10 to 30 minutes for a workout is more than enough. We can not go to the gym or Zumba classes as of now, but we can use apps on our mobile phones, which might help us keep track of our workout and provide relevant information regarding the same. You can also use smartwatches to keep a track of your fitness. This is a good start for a good lifestyle.

• Video calls with friends/family - This is the favorite pass time of mine. Whenever in doubt call up your friends and family. A good video call session with friends helped me a lot in this tough time. We are blessed right now as we can call and talk to people during this pandemic. Let’s make the most out of it and spread positivity among people we love and care for.

• Meditation - Meditation was never in my dictionary but I am trying to include this activity in my schedule. It is a skill that helps to manage your stress and this skill does not come in handy. It was very difficult for me to meditate for even 10 minutes without any thought passing by my head. Then I tried meditating with a calming song with meditative directions and it became quite easy. I am still a beginner at that but I wish to work more towards my concentration and meditation skills as it’s very effective for mind and soul. 

• Positive approach - Keeping a positive approach is very important, and I know that is difficult with so much going around us. If it affects you, do not engage in watching the news or social media for a few days but keep yourself sane. Positive energies around help to cope up with stress and keep your mind in a better place. A positive attitude also affects the people around us.

• Self Care - Self Care is different for everyone. Each one of us has that one thing that we love to do. It might be reading, writing a blog, dancing, painting, and whatnot. Right now we have time to invest in ourselves so let’s make the most out of it. Pick your favorite thing to do and make sure you are doing at least 10 minutes of something to calm your mind. Eating something yummy is also self-care. Cooking a delicious meal for yourself and your family is also self-care. Getting ready for no reason also counts.

• Happy/calming music - Music has a very powerful influence on our minds and soul. Listening to happy, calming music randomly while working, painting, or just sitting helps a lot in having a good mood and a positive mindset. Music is an escape for me and I love it. 

• Surround yourself with bright colors - Bright colors are also a mood lifter. You do not have to make a huge difference in your room to surround yourself with bright colors, there are just small things like change your bedsheets into some good bright color you like, and believe me you will feel a change. I always do that even though I don’t know how to change pillow covers.

• Expressing Gratitude - It is a small thing that we tend to forget at times but it is very important to let people know that you appreciate them. Gratitude helps in building stronger relations, relish good experiences and let our loved ones know how much we care for them. 

• Netflix and Chill - I love to watch movies and series. Watch anything that you wanted to watch for a long time and could not, anything that makes you happy.