An unprecedented situation is faced by all of us due to many restrictions, lockdowns, closure of schools and business. Confinement to home and limited movements though safe measures against virus spread, has brought challenges in other areas of life. Let us see few steps to address them. 

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1. Daily life and physical well-being
Set a routine and follow: Include daily prayers, chanting, cooking, cleaning, work from home, healthy activities, helping children. 
 

Physical activities: Sedentary lifestyles is one of the biggest associations with the COVID spike, as per recent studies. Reduce long hours of continuous sitting while at home, working or reading. Take short breaks of two to three minutes of standing, stretching, or walking. Keep utilities at distance, so you get up to use walk up and down the stairs, inside or around home. Make exercises, yoga, dancing, or gardening as a routine. Clean home more often thoroughly! Sweeping and scrubbing add to activities. Promoting physical activities in children need special attention.
 

Diet: Balanced diet are building blocks of immunity. There are no magic food ingredients available for prevention or for the treatment. Prepare food at home with locally available items. Try recipes you previously didn’t have time to, keep some variety. Utilise the freely available online recipes. Include children in this activity improving their life skills. Practice food hygiene such as washing hands regularly, cleaning utensils, storing food at safe temperature etc. Avoid excess salt, sugar, fat, caffeine. Enjoy meals with family. Plan for purchase of food items and prevent wastage.
 

Sleep: Sleep and immunity are inter-related. ‘Early to bed early to rise keeps a man healthy, wealthy and wise’ says a proverb. Reduce screen times on phones, tablets, laptops and TV. 
 

2. Social well-being

• Start working smart, work from home, adopt digital education, use online essential services, telemedicine services etc

• Be a force of positive change in the society. Practice recommended measures and behaviour as per local rules. Use mask, hand hygiene, social distancing, avoid social gathering. Step out of the house only for absolute necessity. Use digital tools for physician consultation, safe way for medical professionals and public to reduce exposure to infection, also decongest existing medical infrastructure. Vaccinate yourself at the earliest

• Volunteer as per your abilities and situation

• Prefer to connect virtually with family, friends, colleagues than visiting physically

• Educate children about the situation, without causing fear

• Avoid blaming others and anything leading to stigma. Act with kindness 

• Spend few minutes thinking or writing for what you are grateful

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 3. Mental well-being

• Be aware of what is happening. Don’t react, try to respond, especially in the situations that we can’t change

• Spiritual activities meditation, yoga, reading, listening/contemplating, singing/ listening to music

• Limit the news consumption only to trusted sources, and what is relevant to your daily practice

• Mindful use of social media. Ask if content is true, helpful, necessary and kind, before posting or sharing. False and misleading information can have serious consequences

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Finally let’s focus on the fact that - ‘Every difficulty is just a passing cloud’.