Quarantine Mein Kya Karu ?! Life suggestions for the Lockdown period..

Hello Friends!

Owing to widespread of the pandemic Covid-19 all around the world, our prime minister Shri. Narendra Modi has announced countrywide lockdown which started from 24th March for 21 days, limiting movement of the entire 1.3 billion population of India as a preventive measure against the deadly virus.

On 14 April, PM Modi extended the nationwide lockdown until 3rd May.

I know it's a bit late to write this blog, but as the saying goes "Better late than never". Therefore, I thought to write some of my suggestions and the resources I collected on a to-do list during this quarantine period. 

I am gonna be underlining 25 self-improvement skills to improve your skillsets and eventually improving out the quality of your life.

1. Home-workout: Goes without saying, fitness and health are the most important aspects of life. Already elaborated the same in my fitness blog which is linked here. Can't stress out much here how much exercises and body movements are important in life. 

Although it's implied that access to the gym and other places are seriously affected now. But Home-workouts are the perfect solution to this problem. Devoting a minimum of 1 hour on a regular basis can seriously affect your strength and confidence. There are a number of home-workout series by numerous fitness influencers on youtube and Instagram. Go check them out and start executing it in your daily routine. If you would ask me, I have taken a 1-month subscription of Sky Sins home workout series in which he has built a 6 day/week home workout training module along with diet as per my body statistics. This pretty much elevates and boosts my energy for other activities as well without any lethargic mood.

2. Correct spiritual books: My recommendations would be Autobiography of Yogi (available in both Hindi and English). Try to read and grasp it as much as possible. It can really influence and change your whole life.

3. Learn to cook food: Try learning various recipes and basic cooking methodologies at this time. Help your mom, in cooking and try to learn from it as much as possible. If you are living alone or with your friend, don't worry dude, youtube is the best resource for any recipe and moreover your mom/family members are just one call away. Stay connected to them. Ask them whenever you get stuck while making any food. But never give up during this process out of frustration. This will really add to your skillset and make you more independent and efficient in the long run. Moreover, remember all girls love guys who can cook :P

4. Call your friend: Try contacting and talking to your old buddies whom you haven't met or talked since ages. People don't have a lot of time for this in their daily routine owing to a hectic busy life. The time is perfect to reconnect with your old friends who have moved out to a different place. Try learning from them. The time which you haven't spent with them has made you two different personalities altogether. Try learning from each other's progress and growth in respective lives. It will really help you in various ways.

5. Listen to Podcasts: Knowledge is meant to be shared, be in on any aspect. Try widening your views on various aspects of life and gain as much as possible. In this world of globalization and IT, everything is accessible in your smartphones and laptops. You just need to have the right sources and a nice motivation to devote your time to it. My personal suggestion will be "The Ranveer Show": No 1 podcast according to my opinion which is available on almost every platform be it Saavn, Gaana, Spotify, etc. Do check out this link for more.

6. Help your Mom in cleaning and dusting the house: This not only will help your mother in lowering down her burden of work but also reduce your fat % as well because this is a kind of cardio workout only.

7. Watch personality development playlists and videos: A lot of guys do face problems in communication, a decent fashion sense, and a lot of other aspects they need to address and follow in formal events and occasions. Frankly, girls do like guys who have a decent knowledge of these things which certainly elevates their personality quotient to another level. I know I am talking a lot on self-improvement but it's all because, there is a lot of value-adding content on youtube which can help you in your personality growth. So, go and watch out for these things. One of my suggestions is attached here.

8. Watch B.R. Chopra's Mahabharat Series: It's all available on Youtube here. Start watching it from episode 1. A very deep show with a conclusive writing and fabulous direction. You are gonna learn a lot from it.

9. Open your Youtube/Instagram/Tiktok/Facebook Page: Try it out. The best advice I have ever got is "Just start Amit". Try putting your content whatever you have got. Then only you will learn to improve gradually. The only thing you need to do is to "Just start". Talking about myself, I have already started my youtube channel in which I try posting some of my travel vlogs of the places I have visited and started maintaining my Instagram official page on photography @amitsahooedits.

10. Give exam guidance to your younger siblings: This suggestion will really benefit your siblings whose exams have been postponed till further notices. Try giving them some advices on how to utilize this time to their benefit. Try sharing your experiences with them elaborately. This will certainly boost their morale and confidence. Try checking out my blog on suggestions for JEE aspirants. This may help some of you.

11. Take care of your skin and hair: The things which we usually forget in our normal routine. In a humid and tropical climate like that of India which is exposed to unhealthy pollution levels, we certainly need to take care of our skin and hair. Learn quick and effective steps to make your skin glow and to make your hair follicles strong. Try implementing all of the steps you learn as well. Spare a few minutes to your personal hygiene and body. One of the simplest suggestions I would like to give here is, take a bowl, squeeze out some lemon drops, take a cotton piece and use to rub it all over your face and try keeping it for 15-20 minutes and then wash it off. Try doing it regularly before sleeping at night and you are gonna see a drastic change on your skin.

12. Drink a lot of water: The simplest and the most important thing which most of us tend to forget every day. Drink one glass of water every hour and improve your immunity. Staying hydrated is really important.

13. Start the habit of meditation: Most of you wouldn't be knowing the benefits of meditation. A regular habit of meditation can do wonders in your life. Again you just need to start it and be consistent on it. It may sound like Dadaji advices to you but to be honest, meditation is not only for Dadaji's or older community, it is for you and youngsters like you. It will instantly increase your brainpower but first and foremost try gaining some knowledge on meditation, its benefits, and the whole process of mediation. The perfect mind workout will be the apt synonym for it. I am gonna link the meditation playlist of my choice here.

14. Watch a zabardast horror movie: The perfect time to watch some mind-blowing horror movies. The entertainment will certainly be on another level. Some of the suggestions which I already watched at this time will be "The ring", "Annabelle creation", "Bhoot: The haunted ship", "The shining", "Exorcism of Emily Rose". You can surely do your own research as well but I promise you that you are not gonna be disappointed with these suggestions as well.

15. Try #NoFap: Sitting at home frustrated and bored out of life, this may come as an alternative to many youngsters. That doesn't mean you should practice it to escape your exasperation and boredom. Why should we avoid it? Try listening to this podcast to know more about it. Try following No fap movement.

16. Try spending time with your family: If you are with your family in this pandemic situation, you are really lucky. Try to take that opportunity and devote a part of your day discussing your life plans with your parents and siblings. Try sharing as many things as possible with your parents. This will really make them feel happy. At this age, it's become natural that youngsters tend to get away from their family due to their busy schedules. Take free time as an opportunity to get close to your family. Whosoever is not with their family physically, then utilize the technology of video and audio calls and try implementing the same as told above. 

17. Improve your skills through your hobby: Every person has a hobby or interest in his/her life. Our hobbies are left behind once we get strangled in our responsibilities as we grow up. Happened with me and all of you as well. The present break is a perfect catalyst for polishing and improving your hobbies and exploring new interests as well in your leisure time. Put it on youtube and start your own channel. Who knows, it may do wonders. I have started learning singing, guitar, writing blogs which I am doing it currently, photography and dancing, and exploring more and more. Nothing in life is enough. You should always have cravings for something more. The human tendency is, it always needs a better version of what he has got. So try exploring different things. You will certainly be benefitted in your life. 

18. Play Games: Thinking only about self-improving yourself all the time is also not justified. Try playing games (intelligent and logical games) also. But along with gaming try learning about the gaming industry as well. Remember, a good expertise in gaming can reward you equally. There's a lot of capital returns from the gaming industry. Check out the video for more details.

19. Try watching some good anime shows, if you love it: Dragon Ball Z (DBZ) is my number 1 suggestion. You are gonna learn a lot about life.

20. Try starting some mind-blowing TV series: The suggestion might be an icing on the cake for many because most of the people get addicted to animes, movies, and tv series in their leisure time. I have experienced it myself during my college period. So, watching tv series is not that bad if it really improves you in some aspect.  Try watching out some tv-series of good content and direction. My suggestion list for this is too long. But some of my favorites will be "Silicon Valley", "HIMYM", "TVF Pitchers" and "Kota Factory"(binge-watched again a few weeks back).

21. Watch Sunrise/Sunset: When was the last time you watched a sunrise/sunset having a cup of coffee/tea in your hand. Difficult to remember? Exactly! Try it out as soon as possible. Open the windows and enjoy the sunrise/sunset. Pollution levels have gone way low, all thanks to the lockdown. Take those positive vibes and enjoy the peace. Improve your immunity and skin quality by exposing your skin to the sun during morning and evening hours.

22. Read "Tools of Titans" by Tim Ferriss: Marvelous book and a must-read for everybody who wants to change their life immensely on a positive scale. If you get an e-book as well, don't miss out on an opportunity to read it. If you want success in your life, give this book a try. It will be worth it.

23. Create your accounts on Twitter and LinkedIn: We all have social handles on Instagram/Youtube/FB etc but two basic professional and the so-called dimaagi platforms are Twitter and LinkedIn. Being an engineering graduate, I certainly maintained my LinkedIn profile but I never had an opportunity to lay my eyes on Twitter platform. So, this was the perfect time to build my twitter profile, have some knowledge on it and try gaining something from the influencers of various domains on their views and opinions on different social matters. Secondly, I updated my LinkedIn account to a premium profile and tweaked a few things in it. You can also make an account and try being active on these platforms as well. You will grow a lot on these platforms.

24. Follow good influencers on various social handles: Follow people who inspire you and motivate you every day. Cut off the negative people who spread the negative vibes. This will make you mentally happy and contended during this quarantine. Being safe and happy is the most important thing now, in whatever you do. If you like my blogs, do share it in your circle as well. You can follow me on Instagram as well @sahoo_amitsahoo for more brute content and updates.

25. Stay safe, Be happy and Stay at peace: Last but not the least, these all suggestions are something which I pursued. Not necessarily you need to tick all of these. Explore your own interests and remember you just need to do what you love and that should be a little productive as well. Don't waste these precious hours just by sitting idle and thinking too much. Avoid sleeping for longer hours.

Make the most out of the lockdown period being at your home.

Thanks for reading my blog!

All the best!

Keep Supporting. Keep reading. Keep progressing in life.