Staying Sane In The Times Of Corona

Last year around this time, newly into the changed world of lockdowns - fueled by the dalgona coffees and all the baking/cooking, I had started to write about things this virus and the subsequent lockdowns taught us. 

Me back then, baking cakes & breads at the drop of a hat!

It was a very positive post about how little we need to survive. And how we are destroying the nature and environment around us by increasing the carbon footprint. To add more on to the topic, I decided to wait a little longer as I was pretty sure - there would be more learnings and experiences to share. Somewhere down the year, the write up got lost amongst the huge list of drafts sitting in my laptops/ phone/ dairy/ back of the shopping list.

Exactly one year later - we have somehow found ourselves in a situation quite similar if not worse. But this time around the virus has wiped out every ounce of positivity from me. The news, social media, general conversations just about everything is centered around the virus. And with that comes the sheer helplessness that surrounds each of these news pieces. The line of ambulances, the lack of beds, oxygen and medicines in hospitals, about how people are not even able to bid a proper farewell to their loved ones. All this has just drained out the living hell out of me.

Plus I am sure now everyone has encountered this virus from pretty close quarters with atleast someone in the family, amongst relatives or friends or colleagues having tryst with this shit of a disease. Of late I have heard about so many sudden deaths from friends and family. And now with the new development of it being airborne the panic and scare around it has multipied.

Personally, all this negative news from everywhere is just making me anxious. Away from parents and loved ones, cooped up inside, same sort of routine everyday. I am sure everyone must be feeling quite blue. Although I am not really an outdoorsy adventurous type who is out partying or going on vacations. Even without covid I am mostly happy being home with a nice book and a strong cuppa coffee. But being taken away of even the option of going out is I guess what is making me restless, sleepless and panicky. Our residencial block is a containment zone with covid patients left, right and center. Since we have been advised to avoid the lifts - It has been weeks since I have even stepped outside the main door. 

Reading is helpful. Getting transported in the story in unfamiliar locale is helping even if temporarily. My bed has become my favorite place to be. And my shitty shit pcos has made my anxiety and mood swings worse than ever. And also my acne.

Now in order to stay sane, I am doing everything thats making me happy. Planting a new plant, applying nail paint, eating a whole pizza all by myself, staying the fuck away from news and social media, reading a lot of books, spending my time scrolling through good reads, waiting patiently for juicy ripe mangoes, following a skincare routine, avoiding these new shitty movies and series - this one story in a latest movie which I made mistake of watching had a scene of putting a baby in a pressure cooker!

These are not normal times. You see even the most strong people buckling under pressure. Depression and anxiety is at all time peak. We recently had someone committing suicide in our team. A perfectly happy jovial person with a toddler. And I guess thats when i realized how we hardly know what goes on in a person's mind and life. We choose to judge and comment on people. We formulate a image of people based on what they share on social media. But reality is different. A person may share a picture of cake they baked, but may feel hollow inside. 

Lets stop being judgement. Everyone has their own battles. Lets help in whatever capacity we can. Help your domestic helps. Pay even if you are not calling them to work. 

Meanwhile I read this article about things that ease out anxiety - it suggested re reading and re watching helps ease out anxiety as you already know the outcomes. So no more of these Ajeeb Dastans for me. I am gonna be watching re runs of .... No not FRIENDS, Gilmore Girls :) 

Coffee, books and some sass. That's exactly what I need right now.

One last thing! Mellisa MacCarthy  in Gilmore Girls was so much cuter with all that extra weight... one more reason to not buckle under the pressure of conformimg to society's idea of beauty and ideal size. 

Phew.

Stay happy and Stay home y'all 

And get vaccinated whenever you can!

Love:

Sepo