Page 3 - The Lotus Aug-Sep 2020

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We’ve done it all, guys. We’ve
whipped Dalgona Coffee, struggled
to complete 25 push-ups in a row
and meddled in Tiger King
conspiracies (It’s Carole Baskin.
She did it.) But if you haven’t tested
positive for absolute,
boggling, all-consuming boredom
by now- I envy you. 5 months is
enough to summon the wishful
extrovert in all of us, and yes
introverts, I’m looking at you too.
Maybe we did start out with rosy
ideas of a summer vacation come
early, but this vacation has long
since become a snooze fest. While
daydreaming of a world free of
“mask compulsory” signboards and
8am Zoom meetings (and Covid-19
too of course!! I totally didn’t forget
to mention it!!), maybe it’s time we
realise that it’s more than just
monotony we have on our hands.
At least, if we choose to.
So, keeping social distancing
and masks in mind and body,
here’s 5 ways in which you can
survive the lockdown (and become
a better version of yourself too!):
1. There’s nothing called “too well-
read.”
Catch up with your reading folks, it
matters more than you think. Some of
us out there just don’t have the
attention span for a lot of reading, and
honestly, that’s alright. But nothing is
a wasted activity if you’ve learnt
something. Challenge yourself- finish
that novel that’s been sitting on your
desk for a month. Whether it’s
exploring your favourite genres or
simply poring over the morning
newspaper, nothing is in vain when it
comes to reading. Good ol’ fashioned
books aren’t your thing? Graphic
novels or Japanese manga might be.
What’s the worst that could happen?
You find some reading material you
actually like.
THE TEENAGER’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING A LOCKDOWN
~ Ananya Palyekar
2. Life skills, not hacks- yes,
they’re harder to come by than
you thought.
I may sound like my mom (and
yours) saying this but…learning to
cook, clean, drive (if you’re legal)
don’t come naturally like wisdom
mind-
teeth do. Learning requires
deliberation, commitment and
something that’s around plenty
now- time. Now is as good a
chance as any (better, I’d say) to
pick up a few skills and hone them.
Whether it’s learning the basics of
banking or riding a bike, do things
that are not only satisfying but also
very, very handy in the long run.
Coming out of quarantine more
self-sufficient and confident? I see
that as an absolute win.
3. Sticking to a sleep schedule- it’s
hard, but worth it.
Are you one of the teens that now
peak at 12 midnight and hit the
sack when the sun rises? I get it, it’s
understandable- days melt into
nights when there’s no school to
attend or places to go. But when a
few instances turn into your body
not knowing when day or night is
anymore, we’ve got problems- a
slow metabolism and serotonin
deficiencies being just a few of
them. So, if you’re slipping into
sleepy chaos, stop right there. A
healthy schedule makes for healthy
bodies. Besides, a little discipline
goes a long way.
4. Your mental health is important-
don’t let anyone tell you
otherwise.
From years of fixed routine, our
lives have been upended into the
previously unthinkable- who
would’ve thought a year ago that
we’d soon be living through a
crisis? Recent studies show that the
psychological impact of quarantine
can be great, resulting in a range of
mental health concerns from
anxiety and anger to sleep
disturbances, depression and post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Yes, we’ve said the D-word and it’s
time to have this conversation- you
are likely to feel low, hopeless and
every other nasty thing that comes
with difficult times. But you know
what? That’s natural and normal,
and nothing to be ashamed of.
There’s a lot to be said about it, but
let’s start small- if you’re going
through a rough time, talk about it.
Whether it’s confiding in family,
friends or even a professional, don’t
hesitate to ask for the help you
need. But most of all, don’t be too
hard on yourself- after all, you’re
living through a pandemic and
you’re doing the best you can.
5. Lastly, keep your head up- we’ll
get through this.
Oxford dictionary defines
‘optimism’ as ‘hopefulness and
confidence about the future or the
success of something.’ We’re living
in a difficult time, and most would
say they’re skeptical of what is to
come. There are sides to
everything, but choosing to believe
in a brighter outcome? That’s a
personal call to make. Don’t lose
sight of your future, think of your
plans and all the bright places you
want to be- having faith is the balm
to a stinging spot. But most of all,
let’s lift each other up (though not
literally, #socialdistancing), we’re
all in this together.
Photograph: Mithil Anup