LOCKDOWN - Turning Lemons To Lemonade.......

During the lockdown, like everyone else, I wasted the time and was unproductive for the first 2-3 weeks. I thought to do something creative but procrastinated it after ‘ some days’ of rest as my exams were just completed….But it was just an excuse I used as my shield to not be productive, but I soon realized I was wasting the time and prepared my mind to do something worthwhile instead of wasting time. What can I do? this was a million-dollar question for me, but soon I got the answer i.e. to develop my hobby and talent. I love reading books and it was my hobby and I read all books and novels that came I my way like a read never before and completed reading as many books as I can. My perspective and I changed after reading 3 self-help books- You Can Win, Life’s Amazing Secrets, and Chanakya in Daily Life. These books changed me completely, I read these books slowly as I can immerse myself in books and understand their true meaning, I spent time expressing my views and implementing the tips and mantras. The first thing I did was to develop a routine. Yesss! It was a bit difficult but once we are clear about our goals and do self-evaluation it seems a necessity. I successfully developed my routine and followed it religiously, I woke at 7(really), after waking up at 9-10 a.m. daily it was a breakthrough for me. I also did exercises, enrolled in courses, started reading, writing, and creating. I listed my strengths and weaknesses and started working on them, I am not good at public speaking and socializing so I enrolled in a course for public speaking and started reading the book, ‘ How to win friends and influence people’. This book is highly recommendable for all those like me who find it difficult to socialize. I also enrolled in various computer courses, French courses, etc and all free of cost. Where? Where? I was also having this question because there were many paid courses available than free ones, finally, I found Udemy and Youtube; here we can get 100s of courses on any topic for free.

Yes, it took great ‘courage’ to fight procrastination and laziness and do all this, but after doing it 1 day only I felt a sense of achievement and the feeling is just amazing. I also started writing a gratitude log and to-do list of course with some ‘cheat’ days. To-do list helps to manage time properly and be productive by writing a list of work you have to do on that particular day. Does gratitude log really change us as a person, gratitude log? It’s simply expressing gratitude, saying thank you (from the heart) to people who have helped us. I bet Mom’s column will occupy at least half a page in your gratitude log. After writing a gratitude log, one becomes calm and composed, also ‘short-tempered’ this word will vanish from your personality. It also helped me to become more understanding and take criticism positively. When someone is angry or criticizes me, I put myself in their shoes and understand the problem easily and the reason behind it. At last, I have become a more positive person, positive affirmation and positive thinking in every situation just changed my outlook towards everything making me a better version of myself, and I am still trying hard to be the best. I also discovered my hidden talent for writing. I also discovered my hidden talent of writing, I used to write once in a blue moon for projects or school competitions but in lockdown I was free so I participated in an online writing contest, I just wrote for fun and was shocked with results, I secured 2nd rank in an International essay writing contest. I was amazed and started probing more into writing and I created my own blog and participated in a various writing contest and my articles were published in a weekly magazine of our city. Think a bit, you will also find your ‘hidden’ and ‘unique’ treasure. In this lockdown, I really understood the perspective of everyone in my family and why they got angry with me even when I thought I have not done anything wrong. I became more understanding and whenever situations like conflict emerge I become calm and the conflict vanishes. The lockdown has helped me to become more understanding, caring, creative, innovative, and patient, and self-disciplined. I was first very angry and cursed the lockdown as all summer plans got canceled but now I really thank lockdown as it gave me time to become a new me. So next time when life gives you lemons make lemonade. Try hard every problem is a hidden opportunity to grow. Stay home! Stay safe!