Coronavirus, COVID-19 has gripped the world and pretty much brought it to its knees. As of writing, there have been 1,203,923 confirmed cases, 64,795 deaths and 247,273 recovered. It has spread around the world quickly with some parts being hit a lot harder than others.
Zimbabwe has not been immune to the coronavirus scourge. As at 4 April 2020, there have been 9 confirmed cases and the unfortunate death of Zororo Makamba. There is no telling what the actual number of cases in the country is. A big question mark also hangs over Zimbabwe’s preparedness? Is enough testing being done (349 to date)? Will facilities cope with serious cases? Do frontline staff have adequate personal protective equipment? And the questions go on.
Governments around the world have taken measures such as closing borders and ordering their citizens to stay at home in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. Zimbabwe has followed suit with a 21-day lockdown which started on 30 March 2020.
This was an unwelcome move for many simply because not being able to go to work means not being able to make money to feed themselves and their families. In developed nations, working from home is something that is possible for many but Zimbabwe isn’t quite there yet.
With the lockdown in place, many people who are usually leading busy lives now find themselves with a lot of time on their hands.
Here are a few ideas on things to do during the lockdown. But first and foremost, stay home, stay safe, only go out only when you really need to and do all that you can to protect yourself, your family and your community.
Look at this time as an opportunity to somewhat reset and do those things that you want to do that you don’t have the time to do. This may mean being more intentional about where and what time is spent on. If you find yourself wondering how to spend that time, here are some suggestions:
Connect with family
Many of you will find yourselves at home with family and possibly spending more time than you have all spent together in a long time, if ever. This is a golden opportunity for families to get to know each other. Couples can get to know more about each other. Families with children can spend some quality time together and create good memories for all to remember.
Do also reach out to other family not living with you and friends to see how they are doing. If resources permit, connect with them via a video call.
Reset personal and professional goals
Take some time out to reflect and take stock of where you are in life and what you want to get out of it. If after this you feel like you need to reset your goals, do just that.
This exercise will include actions such as writing down your goals, pathways to achieving them, obstacles you may need to overcome and accountability.
Goal setting is not limited to personal development goals. If you are in business or thinking about getting into business, it could be business goals. Couples as well can get together and do some goal setting.
Here are some resources to get you started:
Goal Setting: A Guide to Setting and Achieving Your Goals
How to Set and Achieve Life Goals The Right Way
How to Use SMART Goals: Achieve More in Less Time
Learn a new skill
There are many reasons why it’s a good idea to keep learning. These include keeping your mind challenged and learning new things to improve your life. You can look at it as a self-development opportunity.
From a professional capacity, as you learn new skills or enhance your existing skills, you increase your value proposition. As you develop them and put them into practise, you will give people more of a reason to want to work with you.
Udemy, one of the best online learning platforms has over 250 free courses across a range of topics such as personal productivity, coding, public speaking and more available.
Exercise mind, body and soul
During this time of crisis, fear and anxiety about coronavirus and the situation it has created can be stressful and overwhelming. That said, it is important to pay particular attention to your mental and physical wellbeing. The mind, body and soul are all connected and all need attention.
Mind – it is very easy for your mental wellbeing (and that of those around you) to go into a downward spiral. It is important to be able to recognise that this may be happening and to take steps to support yourself. Things that you could do include acknowledging your feelings, talking to family and friends and limiting media intake.
Body – take good care of you body by eating a healthy, balanced diet. Stay active and exercise regularly. ASICS Studio: At Home Workouts is currently free and offers a range of exercises that can be done at home – get it on Google Play or on the App Store. Last but not least, make sure to get enough sleep.
Soul – maintain inner peace by doing things such as meditation, prayer, mindfulness or whatever it is you do to quiet your mind. Udemy has some free courses on meditation and mindfulness available.
Indulge in your hobby
If you have a hobby or hobbies, now is a good time to indulge yourself. Having a hobby has in benefits in that it takes you away from the day-to-day of life. Hobbies can help with reducing stress and developing your creative brain.
If you need some inspiration, read this guide on How to Find a Hobby.
The above are some ideas on what you can do to pass the time and keep your sanity. We hope this helps you get through the lockdown and get out of it with renewed and rejuvenated.
Do you have any other suggestions on what to do during the lockdown? If so, leave a comment below.
Exercise your mind, body and soul indeed… Thank you for this post, nobody could have anticipated this crazy pandemic.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
And yes, this has turned out to a year that full of the very unexpected. All that we can do is make the most of what we have at hand.
Take care.