The Waiting Game
I am just waiting. Waiting for this pandemic to end so that life can go back to normal. Waiting for an answer back from my employers to start my job. Waiting for my friends’ responses who are in another time-zone. Just, waiting.
COVID-19 has obvious health and economic impacts. But mental health and psychological effects are also affecting all of us. 1/3 of the world’s population is in lockdown and in some ways, while we scramble for normalcy, it’s hard to feel normal in these times.
But, we’re all trying in our own ways. And whenever I feel isolated and frustrated and existential, I remember that everyone is waiting with me – just for different things.
Waiting to go back to school. Waiting to meet their grandson. Waiting to finish that trek on their bucket list. So while I write down all the things that I will wait for, I realised that I have to focus on the present otherwise I would go quite mad.
So what do I do instead? Instead of waiting for all those things, I decided to move to action. And what is the best way to do that for me? To-dos!
I love lists and to-dos. There is no simpler joy than checking off or striking through that thing that I was supposed to do. During the COVID-19 Lockdown in India, I decided to take up challenges that would add to this joy of crossing off things while hopefully taking my mind off of the fact that I was not working, had nowhere to be and the overall feeling pretty purposeless.
Along with to-dos, I also love the fantasy world. Who knew that there was actually an app that merges these two things together! (Side note: I am frequently grateful for all the information, resources and just creativity that’s out in the world today with such easy access to). Anyway, the app is called Habitca – a gamified to-do/habit tracking app. It also has a place where you can take up public challenges that will be automatically added to your list of things to do.
While exploring, I came across user name blakejones99’s challenge with 42 things that can keep one entertain during the Coronavirus Lockdown. I joined it initially as just something to occupy myself but it became one of the best challenges that expanded my world significantly. Some of them are logistical, some were things I was already doing but there were a good number that forced me to do new things which I will share with you – hopefully you will get inspired to do it yourself too as something to keep yourself occupied during this waiting game!
Find new music: I discovered this playlist called earth magick. Spiritual-type music I wouldn’t have otherwise listened to. Now why was I listening to this? It’s related to another to-do on this list which asked me to join a new challenge. The challenge was to connect to the world spiritually, notice the world around and really just pause.
Listen to a podcast: Myths and Legends was one of the best discoveries out of this task. If you love stories, especially fantasy or even history, this podcast is a great one. I’ve talked about this before in this blog but through this podcast, you will learn about stories from all over the world; some that you’ve heard with a different spin and others that you haven’t. It takes a dive into the history of the myths too.
Take an IQ test: I’ve never done it. Who knows if online ones are effective but I got my partner to do it too. Let me give you an advice – don’t ever take a test that can quantify the skills of you and your partner to determine who is scored higher. It CAN be a recipe for disaster!
Watch a film from the year you were born: There were so many good movies. I chose Field of Dreams – a weird sports film.
Try a new exercise: Have you ever done barre? If not, do it if you want sore leg muscles. It’s a ballet-inspired style of workout so you can imagine the types of exercises you’ll be doing.
Learn some origami: I am ever grateful for all the people who put their knowledge and skills on YouTube and on the internet in general for others to consume. Through one of these random videos, I made a dinosaur, a frog and a rabbit
Research the origin of a myth: Did you know that Hansel and Gretel was based on a real-life event? Yup during a famine in the 1300s in Europe, there were stories about cannibalism, infanticide and parents leaving children in the woods which inspired this sugar filled tale.
Plan something you want to do when all this is over: Travel. Travel. Travel. Go see my family. Go see friends. Go to nature. Be physically connected to the world outside. What’s your plan?
*If you’re interested in doing the entire list of challenges, here are some of the other ones:
Logistical
Clear out your following lists on social media
Get an early night
Reorganise your wardrobe
Tidy one room of your house
Organise your files
Clear out your kitchen cupboards
Create a playlist
Clear out some emails
Clear out your apps
Others
Make something! Get creative
Facetime/call your friend
Read a book
Take an online course
Watch a video on your YouTube watch later
Meditate
Watch a film
Write in your journal
Enjoy a nice cup of tea!
Make a smoothie
Have a nice long relaxing bath/shower
Try a new recipe!
Dance around
Send someone a nice message
Upload a photo of a good memory
Learn the alphabet in sign language
Play a board game
Plan an adventure
Learn to juggle
Watch a TED talk