How does one cope with hard times? – It is a question that most people are contemplating amid the pandemic, but the answers seem elusive for most. Listening to music, writing poetry, reading, walking, exercise, playing with pets, chatting with good friends, writing, gardening, or simply zoning out can be therapeutic. But this pandemic has gone on for more than 1.5 years and everyone is looking for it to end. The end of the tunnel seems far away.
How long can hobbies carry us forward? When the pandemic began last year, I enrolled in so many courses, listened to so many webinars and read so many books that it led to eye issues and my personal computer and phone crashed!
Everyone wanted 2020 to end because they somehow believed 2021 would be different – ‘the promise of a new day’ to quote Paula Abdul . But 2021 turned out worse for most people with COVID-19 taking lives and people scrambling for oxygen cylinders. Now, things are better with vaccination, but we are not out of the woods yet.
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Last year, I wrote entries in an app called Presently to record my gratitude and remain positive. This year, I’m taking care not to burden myself with too many tasks that lead to burnout. Saying no is an important part of staying alive and sane.
It’s common to get psychosomatic illnesses when one is stressed. A migraine, neck pain, body pain – these can wreak havoc on your wellness quotient. Almost everyone I know has experienced this. If you are feeling this way, I see you and hear you. Take care and get well soon.
I plan to get back to reading once my eye issues are better. These are the books on my TBR:
- Composition of a woman by Christine E Ray
- The Kitty Party Murder by Kiran Manral
- All Aboard by Kiran Manral
- Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
- The Beach Read by Emily Henry
And several others.
Which books have you been reading?
