In times of ‘apocalypse’

Thoughts and advice for all those who can still make use of my quarantine experience!

Just to provide you with some context, I am an Indian, currently living in Milan, Italy, during what could be the worst time for this country in 50 years. Yes, as the news channels have already hyped it, the situation here is quite serious. It’s my fourth week in quarantine, staying home. For the moment, I am well and healthy. But, that’s the thing, you have to live one day at a time.

Quarantine/social distancing/staying home/self isolation — call it as you may — is not easy, but it’s also not the most difficult thing to do. I am sure if you reflect upon your life a bit, there would have been harder challenges than having to stay at home for a few weeks (or months). And if you’re reading this article today, you probably would have survived those grave situations. So why not this one?

You would have already read a lot about ‘Do not make the same mistake as us in Italy’. It’s true. 100% true. We did take it lightly. I could see a lot of people on the streets in the first weeks and wondered if I was just being scared for no reason or if these people were being too courageous. Sooner or later, we did realise the gravity of this situation. And as the number of new cases and deaths still keep on increasing each single day, we wish we could have changed our ways 2 weeks back.

Yes, in a matter of just 2 weeks, hell broke loose! We started with shutting down schools and cultural spaces — cinemas, theatres, concert venues etc. Then, offices and universities, weddings and funerals, trains and flights. And slowly, region by region, the entire country had to be put in lockdown. Restaurants, bars, salons, shops were also ordered to shut down. Currently, supermarkets and pharmacies are all that operate in the cities. Of course, doctors, nurses, police and workers who are essential to keep the cities going are on the front lines. As for us, ‘regular residents’, we are supposed to have a certificate on us when going out of the house to be able to explain to the police, otherwise one gets fined for 206 €. Yes, it seems like a strict measure. But it’s a good balance of law and order weighing out the repercussions of this situation and the sense of freedom of each individual.

Just to back up a bit, I had started working in Milan in February 2020 (very recently). I went to the office just for 3 weeks, and since then I have spent more time working from home. I was still getting used to the ‘office routine’, getting to know my colleagues and making a sense of what life would be like here on. But as coronavirus would have it, I didn’t have enough time to do any of that.

But it’s okay! This time that we have at home, while probably smart working most of the day, is still a ‘bonus’. Of course there are both highs and lows. Let me list them out for you.

Highs -

More flexibility: You can plan your day as you seem fit. You can stay on your couch all day. You can take looong showers. You can (almost) do whatever you want!

More time to spend with your family, significant other, friends, flatmates(who ever it is you live with). Have lunch with them or a small breather on the balcony with a cup of coffee.

No time spent in commuting: You can sleep for an extra hour or two in the morning. And when you finish work in the evening, you’re already home. I have recently started using that evening hour for some workout / yoga / a belly dance routine.

Me time: All of things you kept shoving away or postponing, now’s the time to materialise on them. Whether it was learning an instrument, reading, writing a blog, working on your portfolio, use your me time well!

Cook some nice food and eat as much as you can: This is the best part of my day now! For those who also follow me on instagram, probably know this. #guiltynotguilty

Attend remote events: The world is going digital. So you have access to events or meetups happening anywhere in the world (if they are designed to be public). I just attended one in Berlin and felt so alive talking to a lot of new people.

Lows -

You’re probably thinking if you will ever see other humans: your friends, family etc. I hope we will!

Frustration, irritation of not being able to go out: I love to travel. And I totally get this claustrophobic feeling. But are you able to go out and enjoy with the constant fear of catching the virus? Probably not!

Work Calls, virtual meetings, and more calls all day long, while we adapt to this work style. They can be annoying. But once you find your workflow, it gets smoother. Give it a week!

Boredom: Engage in productive activities, do all the things you always wanted to but never had the time, find new interests. And if none of this suits you, Netflix and Chill!

Psychological stress, anxiety, loneliness: I think this is hardest one to deal with. The more you keep yourself busy, the more easy is to cope with it. Arrange calls, gossip sessions, aperitivo, dinners with your family and friends via Skype and catch up with long lost buddies. Solidarity is the key!

Small businesses: I understand that small businesses are worst hit by this virus in case of a lockdown situation. I have a startup here in Milan too. And unfortunately it’s currently on hold. But I am glad we are doing the right thing!

So what’s next? It probably sounds naive to you, but —

Hope!

Hope we will be able to contain it. Just like China did!

Hope this will all be over soon.

Hope we will be able to enjoy the amazing summer months.

Hope I will be able to see my family and friends back in India.

Hope I will be able to travel.

Hope I will be able to enjoy a good coffee, a nice pizza, a bubbling glass of wine in the city.

Hope I will be able to enjoy my office life from the office.

Hope we will come out stronger and more united than ever.

Hope we will use all that we are learning from this difficult phase for a better future!

And, I sincerely hope you enjoy your time at home! #mysweetquarantine

Peace out!