A message to my friends amidst the pandemic

Year 2020. Time has stopped. We’re stuck in a whirlpool. Everyone has gone into their shells.

Global crisis on the outside but hope in our hearts. It’s certainly not doom’s day but definitely feels like we’re living in a movie amidst the pandemic. Contagion Part 2 or Invasion Part 2? Is the aftermath going to be like Hunger Games or Divergent? Only time will tell?

Where are the fortune-tellers and the clairvoyants now? Sure, we didn’t expect a pandemic but we’re in it so what will we do about it? Sit in isolation because everyone around the world is doing the same and keep fearing the unknown?

If you dive deeper into the recesses of the issue, it’s not the virus that people are fearing, it’s their own mental faculties telling them to be afraid of what’s to come. And the funny part is, we don’t even know what’s coming. So why fear? What’s the point? Can we instead make the best of what we have today and live life in the moments that take our breath away?

Folks - I want to talk to you and tell you that you are not alone. I am in this with you and we’re in this together. I want to inspire you and cannot emphasize enough on the current emotional wave around this situation we’re finding ourselves in. Yes, it’s hard to keep working from home when the TV is running, faucets are leaking, whistles are blowing, birds are chirping, fans are whirring and maybe you are screaming… but hey, what’s life without some challenges?

Your work could mostly be on the cloud, everything accessible on the internet and your laptop. Now think about the benefits of working from home. For some people, the temperature is always too cold in the office and they have to carry sweaters and jackets every day. For some people, food is an important aspect of their lives and they miss home food or don’t want to spend on food every day in the office. For some others, sitting on an uncomfortable chair with only a desk and monitor in front of them for more or less 9 hours can get taxing. They can wear what they feel like without following any dress codes and protocols.

For all these humble employees, working from home is the best thing that happened to them. They have all the luxury of their homes while working, it couldn’t get better. But of course, you always have to look at the other side of the coin as well - the conformists of the workplace. The personalities that will do anything to get to work because workplaces are better than their homes. Now they are sad and have no motivation or incentive to work because they have no comforts at home. But my dear friends, when there is a monster larger than you are (figuratively) at play outside, you cannot afford to be bogged down by trivial things in life.

Look at the larger picture - look for inspiration and help each other out by helping yourselves.

Train your mind for toughness by putting your heads down towards work and achieving a set of goals and objectives that you may have set for yourself but never got down to actually completing it. Turn up the music in your room and plug away. Feeling isolated? What’s stopping you from communicating with your teammates or your leader? It could be a monologue but in the end, you will have done what is right. Ask for guidance and keep the dialogue channel open always.

Take appropriate breaks - sitting on the bed for too long with your laptop on your lap can be harmful to you. Challenge yourself to keep active while achieving your targets for the day. Take a walk right where you are or jump in your place a few times or dance on a 3-minute song you love. This works wonders because it immediately puts you in spring mode and works as a quick energizer.

This would also be a good time to write down plans and strategize, no matter what level you are at in the organization. Everyone needs to plan and strategize. Maybe your peers or leaders would be really impressed with your dedication. Jot down all those boring mundane tasks you have been procrastinating about and set your eyes on it, go forth and conquer it.

Remember - it’s all in the mind and if you train your mind to be successful, it won’t matter what situation or condition you’re in.

Keep it simple, stupid, we will pull through this. One day at a time :)