Handy tips on how to make the corona virus lock-down less boring!

Panic! pandemonium! pandemic! these are the words that best describe the state of things in the world right now. The corona virus is spreading really quickly, leaving behind a long list of unprecedented effects on families, businesses and the economy at large.

The virus is spreading exponentially, with little or no known facts or information about its origin and cure.

So, we have all been asked to stay at home, to help prevent the spread of the deadly corona virus.

Because we all have to stay Indoors, our once vibrant cities have become ghost towns, But hey! A lock-down is not a death sentence. It’s a preventive measure, a small sacrifice to pay to help save humanity.

But some people are not obeying these instructions, people are panic buying and stock piling supplies at an alarming rate.

Despite government warnings and proclamations on social distancing and reduction in hoarding of foodstuffs,
most malls are still packed full with agitated citizens who are emptying the shelves.

I know that these are really hard times, never in the last 100 years has the world being faced with such a dire and devastating occurrence. At the end of day, we are all in this together and we all need to do everything we can to eradicate this nightmare.

Let’s talk about life in isolation and Some fun things you could do while on corona virus lock-down.

As an introvert and a socially awkward person I naturally gravitate towards the indoors, I call it hibernation. I would rather stay indoors than go out. I’m a lot more productive when I isolate myself from the noises around me. My love for staying in my own safe space took a plunge for the worst, when I took ill, at the time I became bedridden and home bound. you can read the details of my story here.

Ever since then, I have become more of an indoor person, I dread attending functions and engaging in any activity that takes me out of the house. Being that I work from home, I literally can’t be convinced that there’s really any good reason to strut around town, except if it’s a life and death situation like going to church or having to connect with a few friends. But The story takes a whole new twist when the freedom of choice is taken away from you and the decision to go out or stay indoors is no longer yours to make, then it becomes a hard pill to swallow, it’s not the same at all.

This lock-down has been daunting, for extroverts, for people who work regular jobs, people who own their own businesses, the self-employed, the kids who need to go to school and countless others, these people have had to make huge life changes as a result of this pandemic.
The torture of having to stay indoors and watch as the virus continues to spread rapidly could have some devastating effects on the physical and mental health of these people.

most extroverts are finding it hard to adjust to the new routine, for some, it is work that is suffering, for others it’s their social life.

is there any hope at all for humanity?

I am an optimist, and therefore I am naturally wired to see possibilities in every situation, no matter how dark and bleak it looks….

So, while we stay at home and wait for the virus to go back to hell, where it obviously came from, here are some really useful survival tips and fun activities to busy yourself with.

Here are Some handy survival tips which the world health organization (WHO) has prescribed for us to follow!

• Eat healthy to boost your immune system
• Limit alcohol and sugary drinks
• Don’t smoke, it can exacerbate COVID-19 symptoms and increase risk of getting seriously sick.
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day for adults and an hour a day for kids.
• If you’re allowed to go outside go for a walk, run or bike ride while keeping a safe distance from others.
• If you can’t leave the house, dance, do some yoga or walk up and down the stairs.
• People working from home shouldn’t sit too long in the same position.
• Take a 3 minutes break every 30 minutes.
• Get your mind off the crisis. Listen to music, read a book or play a game.

Some Fun and productive things you can do while on lock-down

if you’ve been locked in for some days now or maybe your government is on the verge of declaring a lock-down, don’t beat yourself. Staying indoors doesn’t have to be a nightmare if you channel your energy to some fun and productive activities. Here are some ideas.

Bond with your family: this lock-down is not all doom and gloom if you look at it from the bright side, it has provided us with the rare opportunity to bond with our family. Sometimes, the hustle and bustle of life rubs us of the realities around us. For the average person, family time no longer exists, people only meet in the morning for breakfast and in some cases, if the kids are late sleepers, at night. This is a great opportunity to catch up with the kids and know what’s really happening in their lives. it is also a good opportunity for couples to bond and reconnect. Activities like family game nights and movie nights are all great ideas.

set up an online business: this pandemic has caused so many people to start working remotely and working from home, because well! You know the story. This also goes to show that the online world, is the future of work and business. You could have a head start if you get an online space and set up your own business, now!!

For some of us, working from home has always been our reality, so it’s not a new experience, I for one started my online business when I was sick and stuck at home for years, not having much to do and not really knowing what to do with myself, I started to look to the internet for inspiration, and somehow I stumbled into the world of blogging. if you’ve been procrastinating on the idea of setting up your own online business and have been unable to get to it because of time, or maybe you already run your online business and just need to give your online presence an upgrade, whatever the case is, this is your chance to get it up and running, so, make the most of it.

Meditate: times like this call for deep reflection. It’s a reminder that we are mortal, frail and fragile. We don’t have it all figured out and we don’t have absolute control of everything happening in our world. Self-isolation provides you with the rare opportunity to think and reflect on what truly matters and to spend more time with the people who really count. it’s in reflection that ideas are born.

Learn a new recipe:  stuck at home with a house full of supplies? Sounds like a recipe for dessert. If cooking is an art a hobby or a daily chore for you, What better time is there to surf the internet and learn a new recipe or two, you could even brush up your skills on an old family cooking tradition, or better still create your own and share it with friends and family.

Lots of Music: families all over the world are bonding via music, people can be seen in different parts of the world, singing in their balconies.

Time to clean up: how long have you been planning on a bedroom revamp or makeover? Now is the time to get to it, rummage through those long standing piles of cloths, pick out what’s important, and discard what’s not. In addition, you could mow the lawn. Fix the broken house fixtures or repaint the house. Do Whatever it is that you can to give the house a face lift.

Journal: why not journal your experiences. you do not have to be a writer and you don’t need to own a blog to do it, all you need to do is to find a nice diary or note pad where you could pen down your daily quarantine/lock-down experiences, whether it’s the thoughts that are running through your mind or the things that are happening around you. According to research, writing is a psycho loco motor activity which keeps the brain active and alert. journal your thoughts and emotions, it keeps you busy and helps take the weight off your mind. This is definitely good for your mental health.

Having talked about some of the activities you could engage in to make your stay at home less boring, here are some symptoms to look out for.

Some of the COVID-19 symptoms to look out for

I am no medical personnel, I am not an authority on this subject and have no idea what the covid-19 symptoms are, so it’s best you seek the advice of your local health care provider.

but I watched a video by BBC which I found to be really helpful, so here goes.

The two main symptoms to lookout for are a continuous dry cough and( or) a fever.

If you’re sneezing a lot and having a running nose or a headache, you may be ill but you’ve probably not got corona virus.

How high a fever is a corona virus fever?
It’s a body temperature of more than 37.8 degrees Celsius or a 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you don’t have a thermometer, basically you will feel hot and your chest and your back would be hot if someone touched you.

What exactly is a continuous dry cough?
When you cough and there’s no mucus or phlegm basically no gooey substance in your tissue.

It is not the odd cough here and there; it has to be coughing regularly for no other reason such as clearing your throat or smoking.

If you have either of these symptoms, then you need to stay at home for 7 days; if you live alone.

If you live with other people, then you need to stay for 14 days.

If your symptoms get worse then you need to contact your local health care provider.

Don’t forget to follow the rule of five recommended by WHO

Hands, elbow, face, distance and feel.

How has the COVID-19 virus affected you and what steps are you taking to live happily in the midst of this pandemic. Please use the comment box to share your thoughts and experiences. Don’t forget to stay safe! We are in this together and we will win.