Making the most of the Covid-19 lockdown

MAKING THE MOST OF THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
By Comfort Umoren-Olorunnisomo
The current lockdown across the world because of the pandemic, Covid-19, can teach us many things among which is the importance of our loved ones. In an effort to earn a living, build a career/business and solve world problems, we tend to have gradually disconnected emotionally and psychologically from our loved ones while trying to connect with the world.  This has reduced our quality time with them so that we know close to nothing about those we claim to truly care about. It is therefore, important to rebound and make the most of this period before we go back to status quo.
Photo credit: The Great School
One of the ways to enjoy this period is to catch up on the areas you’ve missed in the lives of your loved ones and your environment. Gist about their happiest, sad and special moments this year, their fears, aspirations, concerns, skills, job/academics/business, challenges, things they’ve been up to among others. Get to know more about their new friends and what they think of random topics/issues such as relationships, entertainment, life and others. You could achieve this via heart-to-heart talks and/or chitchats. Do this tactfully and keep an open mind. This is definitely not the time to play the boss, drama queen or the judge. It is not also a time to take stock of offences or derive morning devotion topics or seek revenge for wrongs done in the past or exercise your authority as the bread winner/bread eater of the house. It is a time to rebound, rub minds and listen empathically to others.
Additionally, this is also the time to connect together, spiritually. Coming together to pray as a family has its own advantages; after all, one will chase a thousand and two, ten thousand.
Also, there are exciting indoor and outdoor games and exercises one can engage in with loved ones regardless of age or status, some of such include playing field and board games such as Ludo, Ayo, Suwe, word/picture puzzles, scrabble, chess, monopoly, hide and seek, table-tennis and other interesting and fun-filled games. You may also want to consider watching movies together and get to explore other genres of movies. Read books and try out new things to spice up your relationship with your loved ones offline and/or online.
For the married, this is not the time to stress your spouse with house chores and other strenuous activities.  Assist, teach and learn new things with your spouse (and kids). Spend quality time with them and fill in any gap your absence may have left. Engaging in cooking, washing, cleaning among other house chores with loved ones creates synergy and can best be enjoyed when done together. One fun way to do this is via cooking competitions – whose food taste better with(out) the child(ren) as judge(s); also, cooking trainings where one person acts as the apprentice and the other, the teacher, where the teacher assesses the student after the class and lastly, playing games on your favourite/worst house chores among others. This gives us a feel of the ‘little things’ our loved ones do daily that go unnoticed.
Photo credit: Alamy
Lastly, use this period to brainstorm on ideas, acquire new skills online (catering, musical instrument, photography etc) and develop yourself in specific areas. Brainstorm on business ideas; build on your knowledge capacity and register for online courses if need be. This will not be a waste of time but an investment in the future. This is also the right time to help your spouse/kids develop themselves if you have the capacity to do so. Help them get materials that can help them in their academics/career/business. Go through your children’s books, see how far they have gone academically and how you can help them to be better when school resumes. Spend time to teach them, do this as patiently and friendly as you can.
Photo credit: themomtrotter
Most importantly, stay in door and stay safe, be your neighbour’s keeper by sharing your resources (food, money etc) if need be, while still maintaining some physical distance. This phase too shall pass.

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