Reminiscing Memories The Virtual Way

Killing Boredom In The Times Of Corona

There is a wide circulation of memes and articles on the internet that educate us on how to spend our Quarantine period in the times of Corona, the most popular question being, "What introverts do for fun?" But are annual subscriptions of Netflix and a cliché way of resorting to gadgets the only way to kill boredom?

Partly yes and partly no. Corona virus has caused a worldwide trauma in our minds. But apart from the restoration of ecological balance in these times, Corona has mainly restored FAMILY TIMES and FRIENDLY TIES.

The most affected ones are those Extrovert students who have nothing else to do but to collapse on the couch with mobiles in their hands and legs up in the air. Parents working from home are struggling to adjust with their new Workplace amidst all chaos.

Boredom and loneliness is bound to happen, as all of us are used to our 8-hours of school time.
Here is something what we, as the next generation, can do.

Spend time with your family. Discover things that were earlier considered passé. Playing board games like Scrabble, Monopoly, Chess and Pictureka that had been sidetracked long ago by virtual games like PubG, Fortnite offers more content than the latter.

Also, a small help in household chores or helping yourselves in the kitchen can relieve the burden due to absence of household helps. Just do 1 or 2 chores everyday. This way you don't burden yourself, you learn the basics of independent lifestyle and learn the new feeling of self-appreciation.

Additionally, do some regular exercise. Although I can hear all the groans and excuses flowing fast from all sides, trust me, it does end up with heavy breaths, sweaty body, aching hands and legs, but most importantly, leaves you with a healthy body, a happy mind and an immense feeling of satisfaction.

Connect with old school friends. We have seen each other from no teeth to teeth with braces, from no hair, to funky hairstyles or haircuts gone wrong, from sweaty clothes to perfumed designer wears, from glasses to lenses and from punishments to rewards. In short, we have all grown up together. Don't hesitate, Don't be afraid of flaunting yourselves, as gossipmongers have existed from time memorial. Take weird pictures of yourself, stop using makeup filters and explore the funky ones, make funny videos, start healthy social trends, explore or create new virtual games with friends online. We have all the time in the world; so laugh in the face of boredom.

The last great way is to reminisce memories, of family and friends alike. WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook can be used appropriately to connect with your social circles, talk and laugh over memories, memes and videos. Catch up and update yourself over the latest news that we miss due to our strenuous lifestyle and examinations. Get the hang of something new - read, learn, cook, paint, draw, design, etc.

Watch movies, web series and listen to songs. Entertain yourself, get clued up about different eras. And this includes movies right from our previous generations to our present generation. Old movies and songs give the same zest and joy as ours do. Maybe you would like the storylines of these movies, or you would end up laughing at their idiocrasies. The Bollywood "Junoon" tiger is more scarier than Conjuring spirits. You will be surprised to find the most humorous movies being sold as horror movies, like "Ramsay brothers", who had the worst makeup artists of all time. But I assure you, there's one thing you wouldn't say and that's, "I'm bored." This engages the whole family without complaints and you gather knowledge in a vast manner, be it from Netflix, Hotstar, Amazon prime, MX Player, etc. The theme is to grow out of your rigid choices and explore everything, be it of any genre.

Lastly, to all the adults, who are working from home, please do not forget to take it easy. Yes, economy could be crashing, uncertainties are increasing, death tolls are skyrocketing. It has been a bolt out of the blue for everyone. Maybe homes don't provide the same cold air central A.C., large spaces, high speed Wi-fi and the continuous battle for data between children and adults. Frustration is bound to happen, but hey, relax!!. Corona scare puts forth a pressing need to stay calm, spend quality time, connect with relatives and friends long forgotten, and mostly, rejuvenation time for the mind, body and soul. The utmost priority is to increase immunity levels and mental well-being.

Empty your cup so you can fill it with new innovative ideas, understand how powerful simplicity can be. It is in times of darkness when stars shine the brightest. As Nelson Mandela once said, "The depths of oppression create heights of character", similarly, Tragedy has the immense potential to spark something great inside you!!

Cheers!

SAYALI SACHIN