Surviving Lockdown

In this current year 2020, a new virus has emerged globally, called COV 19. Now, people are staying indoors and reducing contact with other people, and only going out for walks, and shopping for essentials. In this blog post, I am going to talk about what I have learned during this pandemic, what I have discovered, skills I have learned and developed, things I have missed and things I do not miss, and what my  future goals are after lockdown ends.

What I have learned so far,  is how to manage my time effectively, save money, as so far, before lockdown I used to spend so much money on unnecessary materials  such as coffee, lunches, etc, and only use it for essential purposes, such as grocery, and charity. I have also learned how to be patient during difficult times, especially if some items are out of stock, such as toilet paper, wipes, and how to deal with network issues, since during this current situation, there is more demand for internet, and technical issues can arise, so we need to learn how to cope with it. I have also learned how to resolve conflicts with my household members, especially when I  share a room with one of them, as privacy can be a concern when it comes to working spaces, so my sister and I have decided to do our work separately, and not disturb each other unless necessary. I have learned how to deal with stress, by being assertive, and expressing my needs but at the same time understanding other people's perspectives.
What I have discovered so far, is other social media networks that I never knew existed before lockdown, such as Zoom, where I can communicate with my family members, and friends. My sister so far, have discovered baking, and has made cakes, such as orange cupcakes, and muffins with cooked fruits. I have also started to become fit, by doing exercises online, with my sisters, which I never did before.  During the first weeks of lockdown, I found it difficult to adjust, and was worried about how I was going to manage with my college assignments, but so far, I have completed my HND degree in Business, as most of the time my classmates and I were studying independently. I used my time, to listen to Islamic lectures about Akhlaq and other Islamic ethics that could be beneficial in life, and reflect on myself, by identifying my strengths and weaknesses. I am also studying Persian, by revising key terms and phrases, which can be useful, as my main goal is to communicate effectively in Persian in Iran, if we go and with my friends.

The things that I have missed, is going out to restaurants, and working in coffee shops and libraries, and commuting by train by reading  a good book, and visiting my relatives, especially my 2 year old niece. During the first two months, we did not see each other in person, only through Skype and Whatsapp, but after Ramadan, we took a walk to her house, and my sister, and niece come over but not as often as before. What I do not miss, is waking up extra early to get ready for college, and large gatherings. When waking up extra early, I have to resist the temptation to hit the snooze button, and wait for the train to come, especially if there is a delay. With large gatherings, as much as I like interacting with my cousins, too much stimulation can be stressful.

My goals after lockdown, is be more fit, by going for a walk during my breaks in University, doing morning exercises, such as stretches at home, and attending fitness classes. I want to be more independent both emotionally and finally, by making a budget plan, and sticking to it, by eating out once a week or once a month, and for coffee once every other week, or once or twice a month. I might consider volunteering or applying for a part-time job in a library for work experience during the days I am not going to university, to develop my skills for my career in the library industry.

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