Art Of Teaching

In earlier times there were many things which we considered to be important. But in today’s scenario the things which we thought, our lives hinged on upon, seem non-essential and not important at all.

The Economy –

The economy of the world is under deterioration. Schools, universities, and offices are shut, people are falling sick and dying mostly due to lack of infrastructural facilities, and most of the healthy ones are working from home. Today around us there are plenty and plenty of explanations to be anxious. I am a blogger, and currently, my nervousness was shooting through the roof, and I am being surrounded by self-doubt which is becoming stronger every day. The whole thing seems to be futile. No matter how firmly I try to find, the reason behind such negative thoughts, it remains oblivious to me.

The present situation worldwide –

The present situation worldwide concerns me, but that does not appear to be the cause for my nervousness.  I am managing my home, and I am not under any unwarranted pressure. I am healthy, my family and friends are healthy, and no worrying happening has taken place recently in my personal life. It therefore seems my apprehension and insecurity are rising for no apparent reason, and it is leading to more negative thoughts. Henceforward, I decided to talk about it to my closest friends.

Visualization of the incidents in my mind –

From that talk with my friends, for which I will be endlessly grateful to them, I realized that most of the disturbing thoughts that I was having was cooking up in my sub-conscious mind due to the lockdown and the negative portrayals I was watching day in and day out in the media. Everybody was talking about lack of oxygen, rising number of deaths due to lack of oxygen and drugs. I had literally started to visualize the incidents in my mind and felt totally distressed and depressed.

I soon realized that at psychological level, lockdown have compelled each one of us to recollect how previously working hours at offices or other work places was such a stress buster and respite from boredom. I found out that diverse people have diverse explanations for their depression and frustration in lockdown. Many are stressed in a fear of pay cut or losing their jobs, some are depressed for not keeping themselves busy like me, some are worried for not being connected or for not being able to travel with or to their family members, manufacturers are stressed because of the possibility for the failing of their business, workers are anxious as how they will manage their livelihood in case of economic slowdown and if they lose their employment.

Ways and means to counter –

So as a therapy, I decided to discover some of my hobbies and ways to relax to which I was not giving much time lately. I realized that I had stopped blogging also. Negativity had seeped in so much that any phone call was for me an indication of bad tidings and any body with cold around me was a Covid-19 patient and hiding the illness. Even my husband was not spared and if he had a little cold or stomach upset, for me it was signs of Covid-19 and I had become that paranoid.

I soon realized that there are ways and means to counter the negativity and so sharing with you –

Keeping cool is the best way for psychological and overall health during lockdown. If we start grumbling and being gloomy over what is happening, that is not going to help, it will simply contaminate our minds.

We have to preserve our timings all along the day. It must include proper quantity of liquid intake, complete daily calorie intake and burning fats through walking, exercising. If you cannot go out do it in the confines of your home.

Moving away from or restricting sedentary positions and length of working sessions at a stretch are important. Moving around is to be part of remaining close to normal body functions.

Sleeping habits have to be maintained with 7+ hours for a 24-hour cycle.

Exposure to fresh air is important. Take a walk in your balcony or look at your potted plants or do a bit of gardening to remove the stress. Don’t be cooped up in a room under air conditioner.

Read books, cook your favourite dishes, WhatsApp, talking to colleagues and friends etc. about positive things will all help.

 Try to follow SOPs so that you are confident of not contacting the virus.

Be positive. Overall scenario in Maharashtra is improving and hopefully the current figures are expected to come down further. Indians are tenacious and will surely get over this period.

Pray to God, listen to music, do what you like most.

Spend time with family members which your hectic schedule never allowed. Family which dines together, stays together. Do group activities like playing Ludo, Antakshari etc.

 Keep a sense of proportion. Remember this is not the worst possible scenario. We are not being bombed.

 Keep all possible healthy normal habits:  exercises, food, movies, singing, online dinners with friends, online parties with relatives, reading, playing with pets, and last but not the least, social work -taking care of the less fortunate.

Dairy writing is important, allowing yourself not to be ok sometimes, getting angry or sad and telling someone about it, how fed up you are , which usually leads, back to a sense of proportion. In other words, don’t bottle up your emotions

I hope that helps!  It has helped me long before Covid-19 stepped in. The day I left my job, I was overwhelmed with negative emotions but today by the grace of god I am physically fine. The anxiousness of this trying times will also pass surely. The lessons Covid-19 taught us about going back to lead a simple life and restoring the environment should not be forgotten at any cost.