Lockdown Days: Make memories for a Lifetime!

10 Apr, 2020

The COVID-19 Pandemic has brought the world to a standstill. It has shown that no power is dominant and no force invincible, in front of the order of nature. Some tout it as nothing short of a World War! With more than 209 countries affected, it doesn’t seem to be an overstatement altogether. Currently, more than 1.5 million people across the globe have been infected with close to 100,000 deaths. And the numbers are only increasing with each passing day.

However, there is a Silver Lining even in these tumultuous times. Close to 375,000 people have recovered and are back to their normal lives. No more accidents are happening and even crime is at an all-time low. Along with that air pollution has considerably reduced, water bodies have become cleaner, skies are brighter. Even animals, birds and other components of nature are enjoying a life with minimum human disturbance. 

In addition to this, the break in the busy schedule has given time for individuals to bond better and spend quality time with their family members. Work from Home, a popular culture in many MNCs, has now become a streamlined process for several business organisations in India. This has created an exciting opportunity for family members to come together and explore each other.

If you are thinking about how you can best utilise the Lockdown Days, then we have a list of activities that you can do, to spend quality time with your family.

Play Group Games 

Do you remember your childhood days when you used to sit in large groups and play board games like Tambola, Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, etc.? Well this is the perfect time to relive those wonderful memories. Get your family together, take out these games and just play!

You can also involve distant family members by sending them a photo of their Tambola Ticket. Use social media applications to organise a Video Call and make it bigger! These games by nature are adventurous and you do not need to make efforts to make it exciting.  Many organisers are also offering to make contributions to the PM-CARES Fund out of the proceeds of the sale of tickets.

Explore Creativity Together 

As a parent or student, you have spent tireless hours completing the art and craftwork given by the school teachers. Though many of you must have had no interest to do it, the result must have surprised you many times. Take out a glass vase, old shirt, wooden box or anything that you can find and get all your family members to draw and paint on them. To make it simple you could just hand over a sheet and ask them to draw and colour on it. This would not only divert their minds from the negative emotions of COVID-19 but rekindle the sparkle of an innocent child.

Learn Regional languages

Were you always looking forward to learning a new language but never had the time? Well, this is the perfect time to fulfill your long pending desire. You can start by teaching kids your mother tongue. It turns out that in the advent of imparting quality education we have forgotten to make them aware of our traditional languages. 

You can also try to grasp over the regional languages. In India, there is no dearth of languages. Start by learning 5-10 sentences in a day. When the Lockdown ends and get to travel, you would be equipped to communicate with the local population of different states.

Stay Fit 

Physical and Mental Fitness are two aspects of our lives which we have given the least attention. The unending projects and tight deadlines had pushed fitness to the bottom of our priority list. Take out your Yoga Mat and take control of your health. There are several videos on YouTube Channels that teach you easy to practice postures and breathing exercises. It will also contribute to improving your immunity and keeping you energised.

Also, take out time to meditate every day. Make your family members sit together and play a Guided Meditation. It will help to deal with anxiety, stress and uncertainty about the future.

Watch Indian Epics

Ramanand Sagar’s 1987 Epic, Ramayan is being aired on Doordarshan again. Considered as a timeless tale of the magnanimity of Lord Rama, the ruler of Ayodha, the TV series throws light on the vibrant and omnipresent principles of Indian Ethos. The wisdom, lifestyle, etiquettes and interdependent values between human civilisation and nature is beautifully depicted in the series.

It is believed that people all across the nation would not step out of their homes and trains would stop at stations, just to watch this wonderful TV series when it was first aired decades ago! Doordarshan is also airing Mahabharata, Ganga Upanishad, Chanakya and other TV series that highlights the timeless and effulgent nature of our Vedic scriptures. You cannot miss to watch it!

Learning to Sing, Dance or Music

Music and dance have been an integral part of Indian cultural values. Artists like musicians, singers, folk dancers and actors are revered for their talents. In some states, they are equated as God. This highlights the pedestal that music and art fields have in our lives. 

You can try learning a musical instrument or start taking singing lessons. This is the time to explore. Who knows you might just get to know about the talents you possess.

All the above mentioned activities do not require any resources. They just demand all of your family members to come and sit together. Some of you might be thinking that why did we skip reading and writing. The reason is, you can read and write whenever you feel like. But this intimate time that you are getting to spend with family is which has been possible only because of the Lockdown. We never know when we will get such an occasion to spend time exclusively with our own family members. So make the best use of this time by engaging in group activities.

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  • Lockdown Days