Dear Reader, How are you holding up amid the pandemic?

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Honestly, this period has been so unpredictable! If someone had told me in December last year, when I was screaming “2020 here I come”, that this would be my reality, I would have said the person was insane. I had planned my year. I mean, most of us did. Except from the “serious” stuff, you know, catching flights and having fun. You feel me right?

After about a week and a half of staying at home, I found myself being so unmotivated and pessimistic. This bothered me for some time, until I started to see things in a new light. 

I’ve compiled a list of ways that I’ve been able to stay motivated/optimistic and what I’ve done/continue to do with my time. 

Appreciating the fact that I’m with family;

I can’t stress this enough. I have been so grateful for being able to spend this much quality time with my family.

Staying connected with family and friends; 

Although I’m with my parents, some of my siblings & friends are away. I’ve found keeping in touch with them either by calling, chatting, or even participating together in fun social media challenges very helpful. I get my peace of mind just knowing that they are coping quite well.

Rediscovering my hobbies;

TBH I enjoy doing several things, but having the time to do them is normally the issue. So, I’ve just used this as an opportunity to pick up those interests again. For instance, I enjoy doing makeup hence, I’ve channeled most of my free time into this. 

You could try this out as well. Let’s say you enjoy writing, or photography, now is the time to get back on. You can start by photographing your pets, or even your household items! 

Also, if you’ve been wanting to acquire a new skill, you don’t have to wait till the pandemic is over, it’s best to sign up for online tutorials on Udemy, or other platforms. 

Listening to music;

Music has always been my happy place. When I’m bored, tired, or sad, I turn to music. It gives me a sense of freedom, good vibes, and hope, so If you haven’t tried listening to music please do. Listening to different genres does it for me. Although I’m a fan of Afrobeat, I turn to classical music when I need some calmness and need to relax.

Reading;

The boredom was truly getting to me at some point that I started reading my old secondary school novels, before advancing to read self-development books online. Doing this with a friend has yielded more results. As we get to set goals and motivate each other.

It’s okay if this doesn’t work for you, not everyone likes reading after all, which brings me to my next point.

Netflix/Listening to podcast;

If you prefer listening, you could try podcasts. There are some good Podcasts out there, on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts or Google podcasts, which are completely free.

When I’m stressed out due to house chores, I turn to Netflix because It helps me de-stress. Some good movies/series to see on Netflix now are; Brian Banks, and Self-Made: Madam CJ Walker, which are based on true stories, Castle & Castle, a Nigerian legal drama series, and Miracle in cell no. 7, a comedy and heartwarming drama.

Social media;

This is a 50-50 for me. In addition to being able to stay connected with friends and family, I’ve been able to enjoy so much content from IG Live, ranging from entertainment, business, makeup, and news updates. The IG Live I enjoyed was Yanga beauty, Bloom & Prosper wellness series, where different guests shared insights into business, well-being, skin care and thriving in crisis. I felt so enlightened as a result of the amazing advice and tips shared on the platform.

Then, there are times when social media sends negative energy. If I find myself in the latter, I just turn off my notifications and ignore social media for a while. Sometimes, I take a 2-3 days break before coming back online. It helps me think and get back in the right headspace.

Working out; 

Some of us are fortunate enough to have food during this period, so opening that fridge 100 times a day, or frying that plantain every other day without any form of exercise could be unhealthy. Not to speak of you staying home all day. 

We need some form of exercise, at least once-three times per week in our homes. There are tons of simple exercise routines online. I try to exercise at least twice a week, because who am I kidding (Lmao). Another way you could feel refreshed is by getting fresh air, either by sitting outside or taking walks, which is also good for your skin!

Prayers;

If you believe in God, and your relationship with the Almighty has been shaky, now is a good time to revive all that energy and connection. Prayer is said to be the key in every situation and at this point we all need a form of prayer or meditation in our lives. 

Dismissing pressure;

Finally, no one has the right to tell you how to use your time. If you find people telling you “instead of you to do your essays or acquire a new skill, you’re Netflixing! (KMT).” Just do what’s best for your mental health.

We are all facing problems of our own at the moment. Nobody is obligated to check up on anyone, so do whatever works for you. However, if you find yourself worried about friends, do not hesitate to check in on them. 

Or if you’re worried about your mental health or well-being during this period, please reach out to loved ones.

Ps, don’t forget to wash your hands, sanitize, wear a mask and maintain social distancing.

Please feel free to share more tips in the comment section.

Stay safe x

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IG & Twitter @_MUJII

LinkedIn & FB- Mujibat Okwilague

Email- mujiokwilague@gmail.com