As we all learn to embrace the new normal during the lockdown, here are 10 things that I learnt from it.

#1 Home Workouts

Being a regular runner and marathoner, not being able to workout outdoors has been very tough. I reached a point where I started doing up to 10km runs indoors. Now, I can say that I have started enjoying indoor runs too. Also, an increase in home workouts made me realize that I need to focus on my upper body strength further. Push-ups challenge was a step towards that. The irony is that, as soon as I stepped out for some cycling, I fell and got injured. This led me to a week’s rest and reduced workouts for some more days.

#2 Netflix Binging

At the beginning of lockdown, I binge-watched a couple of series on NetFlix. Thankfully I stopped myself after those two and am now in better control of my free time.

#3 Meal Prepping

Planning and meal prepping ahead was a lifesaver during the lockdown. Without this, the balance between working, cooking, and house chores would have been hell.

#4 Video Calls

Being away from my family in Chennai, meant that I had to make myself comfortable with frequent video calls. It was also helpful to maintain sanity within office team.

#5 Reading

Binging on book reading, whether audiobooks or physical books, is my favorite pastime lately. Subscribing to Audible and brushing my speedreading skills have been a good add on.

#6 House Chores

As I did not have a housemaid before lockdown, I was fairly used to doing house chores on my own. But lockdown made it a bit more difficult with the lack of restaurants. An occasional break from cooking became impossible. This was certainly one thing I missed sometimes.

#7 Writing

If you are a regular reader of my blogs, you might have noticed that I have been writing more often. This blog has certainly become an outlet of my emotions in the absence of friends to hang out with.

#8 Increased Stress

Contrary to what most people are facing at work, my responsibilities increased. I said to myself that this is a good problem to have. Having too much work is better than people losing jobs or being on suspension. Nevertheless, this increase in work leads to increased stress for me. Not being able to see my family in Chennai was another source.

But more than anything, an outgoing and extrovert like me caught at home all day-all week was the biggest source of stress. Loneliness and boredom kicked in more often than expected.

#9 Stitching

Apart from reading, one more hobby that I did the most during this lockdown, was stitching. I was creating new garments and upcycling old ones almost every weekend. Whenever there would be an ease in lockdown, I would rush to get stitching supplies.

#10 Fangirling

Last but not the least, the music of online Indi singer Prateek Kuhad has been with me and soothed me through these tough days. I subscribed to his site and got access to his live online performances especially made for his superfans. The beautiful climax to this was, of course, a chance to be a small (very small) part of his music video Kasoor where tonnes of his superfans got to appear.

Hope all of you are finding ways to focus and improve yourself during this lockdown. Whenever you feel low, please remember you are not alone.

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