The life of Lock-down by M. T. Mehdi

The COVID-19 coagulated the whole world and bounded humans with their own will power. Initially, the virus engaged only in china but gradually different developed states were failed to close their gates for COVID-19 entry. The government of effected states made different policies to overcome the worst situation within their boundaries. Most of the states agreed to execute lock-down for the benefit of its peoples. In this way, the virus wouldn’t be able to proliferate openly in public. The lock-down created many tough and tight situations that didn’t occur before.

Man is a social animal and society in which he lives, is a conditional part of his life. Socially, we usually have a mix of immediate family, extended family, friends, work colleagues and acquaintances; and daily people-contact out in our communities. We pay our feeling, emotions, time, and gestures to society and in return, we get back the same. In this pandemic, all humanity is passing through an era of survival in which the aim is to save lives. Survival is possible only to cut off the society knot and live alone in a secured shelter or being separated where the pandemic devolution isn’t possible or less chance.

In the meantime, what to do to survive this period?

First of all, we need to fully comprehend, then accept, lock-down. This is difficult as there is no definitive end-date. When we get to one, it’s extended out to another one. It’s like being on a mountain hike, seeing your destination on reaching the top of a hill, then seeing three more peaks you have to scale before you get to it. We have to deal with such difficulties doesn’t occur before in history.

Secondly, the COVID-19 pandemic is turning the human psyche towards a slow and steady marathon. As in normal days before the lock-down, we get up, went to work/ school/ college, dropped the kids to school, did exercise classes, played a sport, went to the gym, went shopping, met friends, socialized, went on holidays, the list is endless…..! But now we are doing very little this. This is the contrast to our lives the lock-down made. We’re continuing to deal with the uncertainty and anxieties of life during the lock-down.

Thirdly, All of us will have different challenges to deal with, different commitments to juggle. Some may be furloughed, and others trying to work from home while distracted by the news, children at home, the lack of usual support networks – as well as worrying about the welfare of our friends and family. We are living in ‘snow-days’ and freezing in specific boundaries just to survive. Though this is an improper comparison deep thought declares that we are really in sheltered at home as in utmost weather conditions.

Another effect of lock-down is that it gathered the whole through technology. Rather than being at home, we are in ‘At work’ condition. Whether its study or job, business, or trade, the entire world is moving on its track. Lock-down also made us torpid but there is no ‘Plan B’ which could be applicable in this situation. In developing states, the lock-down gave birth to many difficulties as they were already in warlike conditions to raise the economy, improve health, etc. As the pandemic entered in these countries, it suddenly increased poverty and especially health and sanitation problems. The modern equipment of health gradually became extinct in these countries.

In short, the pandemic is still increasing in the world with such a goal, that will devastate the human beings, and the only option to avoid this is prevention. Lock-down is made for us to ‘stay home, stay safe’. We should also regularize ourselves according to the same scheduled life as before pandemic because this situation is extending day by day. The scheduled life nowadays must include each and every possible work done on normal days.

Take a paper and write: Wake up, an exercise in the form of a walk, run or cycling, etc., then self-health care, then reading, gardening, crafting, drawing, whatever you do as a hobby, then specific time for family at home, do your work, job or study from home, then socialize yourself from home through social media but you should be vigilant about screen time and least important is proper bedtime. This paper is a daily schedule in lock-down and shows sympathy to yourself by acting upon it like a militarized time table.

Above all, be your own best supporter, and keep reminding yourself, like a mantra, ‘This Too Shall Pass’. It may not be easy, but try to not make it any more difficult. It’ll be better for everyone when not if, we enter the next phase: AC – after COVID-19.