Dream Come True – Work From Home!

14 May Dream Come True – Work From Home!

The Lockdown, Social Distancing, Quarantine are the new words added to our vocabulary these days. Although the situation is worrisome and serious, the key to coming out of it is staying inside and staying positive inside. The need of the hour is to be thankful for our safety and be aware that this is a once in a lifetime situation and we must utilize this to our best capacity.

We have two options – EITHER keep yearning to go out and sulk OR use whatever time we get to re-invent and re-discover ourselves. The choice is ours.

With the Lockdown 3.0 running and with all the housework that needs to be done, baby duties, office calls and conference calls, still, all the dreams of ‘Work-From-Home’ and ‘whims and fancies’ attached to it can be fulfilled now.

Living in cities, for most of us travelling is the mood spoiler – traffic and long distances from workplace to home or client meets and whatnot. Now that commuting time is zero and that we do not have to dress up every day for work. We almost have 2 hrs at our personal disposal without travel fatigue. So. in-between the list of tasks to be done, make a bucket list (in case you do not have a ready reckoner that you have been updating for ages unlike me).

My list is ready and now sharing a few of my favourites with you:

1. Spend time gardening and grow new plants– even if you do not have much of a green thumb, tending to plants, pruning, trimming, watering them, seeing new leaves grow, buds blooming into flowers gives a sense of achievement, elation and hope. Money Plant or Pothos is the easiest to grow, from one plant to another.
2. Write down your experiences or a story or poetry or make Scrap Book – This lockdown is a once in a lifetime situation, we all will grow up, grow old and share these stories with the next generation or recall these days after a few years. So let us write down our experiences, emotions, concerns and hopes for tomorrow.
3. Make friends – This lockdown has made people more understanding, empathetic, caring and willing to interact with more people (virtually). Connect with neighbours, colleagues, and acquaintances and you might get a handful of like-minded friends for life. After all, difficulties bring about the best in us.
4. Take up fitness at home – With so many videos doing the rounds on Social Media, do it now. Yoga, pilates, dance, zumba, meditation, healing therapy, all are just a phone’s click away. Even 20 minutes of exercise has the ability to keep our spirits up and weight and anxiety down.
5. Sleep– Ahh!! This is it. Sleep-in an hour extra or maybe 2 in the morning or an afternoon nap (P.S. sleeping boosts both – immunity and mood)
6. That DIY beauty products –Face pack or hair conditioner that you always wanted to try – since FOR NOW markets are filled with only essential products, Make It At Home; the trending ‘Aloe Vera’ mask, traditional ‘Besan Ubtan’ or the millennial ‘Sheet Mask’, try that on and bring in that organic glow.
7. Much needed date with spouse – Before the lockdown is relaxed and gradually we all go back to our respective lives, spend some memorable moments together. With no more worry about waking up the kids in the morning or braving the rush hours on road, spend early morning or late night with the other significant half and catch up on some life and romance.
8. Do-up your house – Re-positioning/arranging furniture or changing the drapes and cushion covers; give a much-needed freshness to your home and thus to yourself.
9. Catch up on music – Music is a therapy. Listening, singing or creating – indulge in loads and loads of it.
10. Revive old friendships through old photo albums and share them on calls or video calls.

Some of the All-Time Hits are:

1. Family game sessions – Classics like Ludo, Snakes n Ladders, Carrom, Cards, Monopoly even Antakshari and Dumb Charades qualify for a fun time.
2. Movie sessions or Binge watch a series with popcorn- Pick your genre of classics or re-watch or new releases. Add zing with a bowl of popcorn or coffee or both. Bliss!
3. Read a book.
4. Try on the ‘waited too long’ recipe with spouse or kids– There has always been either a very elaborate recipe or a quick fix that you wanted to try out or a classic childhood recipe you loved but forgot over time.
5. Creativity for kids– Spend enormous time with them. Keep them engaged in positive things while they enjoy doing that and make you proud.
6. Pamper yourself– Hand over that bottle of hair oil to your other half and get a nice relaxing Champi (head massage), enjoy a mani-pedi at home or paint your nails weird, no one will see (wink).
7. Pick up a long lost hobby- Anything that we did or wanted to do but could not. Time to dust the dust and do what you have always loved.

Let’s make this situation positively memorable.

Let me know how you are coping up with the social distancing and share ideas to keep kids busy and yourself happy during these unexpected holidays.

Stay Positive, Stay Safe!!