Navigating the New Normal #AtoZChallenge

In some ways the time has flown during the lockdown, and in others it’s creeping along impossibly slowly. Today I just haven’t felt the desire to write. Not one word. But, I never quit a challenge unless I absolutely have to and so I’m going to be creative, if slightly rambl-y, in today’s post.

Last week, the newspapers reported that three members of a family from Delhi’s Defence Colony tested positive for Covid-19, and checked into Max Hospital in Saket. Today, the elderly gentleman lost his life to the disease, and though his wife has recovered and returned home, their middle-aged son is still battling it out in the ICU. This family is distantly related to my father, and though I didn’t know them well, it’s the closest I’ve come to the facing the ultimate truth of this virus.

It feels more real and scary so close to home, but I strongly believe we have to wade through this feeling. There is a lot of distance to cover between now and the end of coronavirus. Till then, I request you to join me in sending a silent prayer for all affected families.

In case you’ve noticed, I’ve been expending a ton of energy in phrasing alliterative titles corresponding to each letter of the alphabet, for the posts in my A to Z series. Quite a tough task because none of my posts are pre-planned, forcing me to be creative with the subject matter at hand. However, the alliterative title for the letter N was the easiest to come up with.

The term ‘New Normal’ is being brandished almost as much the term ‘corona’ itself. What is the new normal? It’s the altered state of reality and circumstances brought on by the virus taking over the world. We don’t know what the future holds for us, but we know it’s going to be different from everything we have known and accepted so far.

I have learnt a lot during this time and I’d like to recap what I’ve discovered so far, as constituting the new normal:

1. The best way to stay productive and safe is to work from home. For bloggers, the ideal route is to sign up for an international blogging challenge, where they write and publish posts on a daily basis, earning tons of traffic and community engagement in return.
2. Books are everlasting companions in times of need. Even if you don’t have access to a bookshop or personal library, you can enjoy reading ebooks.
3. Prayer unites us all, but now prayers must be done from the confines of our homes.
4. Connecting with strangers online, through various ‘meet-and-greets’, workshops and talks, is the new way to socialise and network.
5. Digital content creators must churn out content consistently and rapidly, because it’s being lapped up by a willing audience.
6. Finances are worrisome for all, but this is the best time to educate yourself on managing your money once the crisis ends.
7. The travel industry has taken the hardest hit, and one worries that zipping around the world at will is not going to be as easy as it previously was.
8. Home-schooling is necessary and encouraged to minimise the disruption to your child’s education.
9. Entertainment through TV and online streaming services has taken on immense importance, to help everyone sail through these tough times.
10. Frustrations abound across the board, as people are stuck at home. These often lead to online fights and bullying.
11. Children are affected by these changes too, but are the fastest to adapt to the situation as long as their parents actively engage with them.
12. Festivals that are usually celebrated with the larger community, now become opportunities to reflect on our historic past, as we all stay home.
13. Anxiety, stress and depression are unfortunate side effects of coronavirus, but we can beat these mental health issues by staying positive and connected to our friends and family.
14. Ordering food from outside has become a difficult task which involves much planning and preparation.
15. Online community games that one can play with friends and family are becoming very popular.
16. Email newsletters from magazines, newspapers, bloggers and brands, are the best way to consume valuable information for free during this time.
17. Couples at different stages of their relationship have been affected differently during the forced lockdown.
18. The pandemic gave rise to undocumented fears, which unfortunately led to various social stigmas against certain sections of society.
19. One misses the simple pleasures of life the most- dressing up and meeting friends, travelling etc.
20. The consumption of alcohol has risen during these times, which prompted the government to first ban its sale, and then hike up the tax to an absurd amount!
21. Various video challenges on social media have become all the rage, such as Dalgona coffee making and the ‘pass-the-brush’ challenge!
22. Whatsapp groups have exploded in terms of activity, as the world adopts digital means as the best form of communication.
23. Exercising at home has become fashionable and even a necessity to combat the stress weight that everyone seems to be gaining!
24. No matter how terrible 2020 seems, a change in one’s perspective shows why this jolt was needed for the overall well-being of humanity.
25. Having so much time on my hands has allowed me to be more productive than ever before, to forge new paths and reinvent old ones. I’ve even started my own business of teaching the basics of blogging through intensive workshops.

If you’d like to read about any of these issues more in-depth, you can click on the highlighted blue links that will take you to the corresponding post.

Ultimately, there’s nothing we can do except stay positive and healthy to the best of our ability. This too shall pass, and one day, we may even make light of the situation.

My tip to beat the lockdown blues today is:

Write down 5 things that you consider miracles in your life, and pin that paper in a prominent position in your room. This will be a healthy reminder of things you should be thankful for.

I sadly haven’t seen any TV shows that begin with the letter N- not even popular ones like ‘Narcos’ and ‘New Girl’, hence I’ll refrain from recommending them just yet. But here’s a movie recommendation for you instead:

“Newton” on Amazon Prime Video is about a young election officer who is asked to enlist the names of the eligible constituents from a prominent Naxalite area, before national elections. Rajkummar Rao does a brilliant job in this quirky and difficult role.

A book that I absolutely loved reading is:

“Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro. A dystopian novel about cloned children growing up in an orphanage. Fascinating plot and beautiful writing.

That’s it for today folks!

Do check out my daily update videos on Instagram Stories for #LockdownWithTheLadyLawyer and follow me there to stay better connected. Also tell me your favourite TV Shows/ movies/ books/ bloggers with the letter N?

Namaste till tomorrow!

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This post has been written for the #AtoZChallenge 2020. My theme this year is #LockdownWithTheLadyLawyer, where I’m journaling my thoughts during the coronavirus lockdown, and sharing numerous recommendations that will help keep your spirits up. Read my other posts here:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

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