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Lockdown Diaries

By Rtr.Anuj Radhakrishnan

Director - PD 2020-21 , RCNMHS

The year 2020 has not only been challenging but also unique in the sense that how drastically the entire world came to a standstill due to a pandemic named COVID-19. In the past 7-8 months there has been significant changes across the globe. People have realized that it is the need of the hour to keep themselves hygienic and maintain social distance not only for their personal welfare but also for the wellbeing of those around them.

As the saying goes "Time changes, people change, situations change. The only thing constant is change". This is very much relevant in today's times as it goes with saying how important it is for us to be flexible and adapt to such changes in the environment. People have realised that it is essential to introspect one's own thoughts and comply with the changes during such difficult times.

Technology has been a boon during times like these, as it has added benefits not only to companies to minimize their costs by doing WFH (Work from Home) but also investors to make online investments, entertainment industry to release their movies and shows on an OTT (Over the Top) platform, friends and families to connect no matter how far they are from each other through online applications, emergence of e - commerce and education to a whole new level as its online and because of which education is accessible to one and all even to the remote parts of the world at their convenience from their home.

There are commercial establishments which have been finding it difficult to survive but at the same time this pandemic has made way for others to grow and earn profits to some or a larger extent. Indeed, the pandemic has had negative effects around the globe but at the same time there are a lot of positives which one could think of.

• People are getting more time to spend with their family: Off - late the ones who have been working at their offices for long hours don't have to commute between their home and their office. Work from Home has been the new trend and the ones who work are able to maintain a proper work - life balance and are able to give more time to their families.

• Importance of Mental Health : Mental Health has been taken seriously and given a lot of importance as it is essential that one be stress-free and not be depressed rather be strong and have a positive mind set during such times.

• A whole new revolution in the field of education: Traditional classroom teaching methods and techniques have gone for a toss and this has paved the way for a change in the education sector. With applications like Google Classroom, Google Meet and Zoom it has been possible for students to learn from their home with just an electronic gadget and a good internet connection. From mock tests and exams to parent - teacher meetings and result declarations, everything can be done online.

• E - Commerce: With social distancing the new norm, businesses like Big Basket, JioMart, Fresh To Home, Grofers, etc have made it easy for consumers to choose and buy the products of their choice using an online payment method and get them delivered at their doorstep with zero - contact among the delivery person and the buyer, all from the comfort of their home.

• Much needed climatic change to the environment: Due to the lockdown imposed by countries across the world, it has given the environment a chance to heal itself from the air pollution created by the transportation vehicles. There has been a rapid drop in the air quality index and we are able to see a much clearer and a prettier blue sky with clouds.

• Discovering new interests and hobbies: People have started discovering new interests and have been experimenting new things every now and then. Such experimentation has led to the creation of new exciting hobbies, some of which could be very useful over a period of time in the long run.

These maybe hard times but together we shall overcome this because after all…

"TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST, TOUGH PEOPLE DO".