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The type of isolation we are dealing with is not being studied deeply even by the researchers. So, there are no right or wrong ways to deal with current situations. But, we can learn from other kinds of isolation and see how we can combine them to try out the solution to our problem.

So, when people live in a restricted space, mostly in the countries currently where there is 24/7 curfew or something like isolation, they are at a vulnerable place psychologically.

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A study was done, on a few prisoners living in strict lock-up cells. They had food and water and their washroom, but no human contact. What happened as a result is, they became extremely anxious, forgot how to interact and lost their sense of identity.

Now, you might be thinking that we are not prisoners and we have cell phones, also we are living with our families. But not everyone is living with their families even now. Some people are still staying out of their home towns for work or because they are stuck or something. And in some cases, people living with their families also feel isolated. It is just this digital age has created so much of a generation gap that even if some people try, they are unable to make their parents understand a few things they are going through. A few people might have gone through a break up with their partner during this time or might have lost their job. Some students are anxious about their future because everything seems uncertain as of now.

Let’s come back to losing the sense of identity thing. Now, this is quite common these days. People faced so many problems due to the lock-down and economic crisis or even had some personal issues. The key to deal with such things is to do something meaningful. And by that, I mean your weekdays should be structured. Now, for the people who are working, they don’t have such issues because their working hours are pretty much the same. Though, they face other work-related challenges, which we will discuss in the next post.

The people who are not doing any regular office work, they need a lot of motivation to get through the weekdays through a routine process. And at the end of the day, they end up being anxious. So what can be done to stay peaceful during self-isolation?

1. Have a sleep schedule

Sleep at the same time every day. That will help you fall asleep faster. Sleep is very crucial as we have seen in the last few posts. Sleeping means being in a state of relaxation, which is of utmost importance for all our primary body functions.

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2. Have a reason to wake up

Now this might sound strange, but the early risers usually start with this thing only. They find a reason to wake up earlier than everyone else. Your motive to wake up could be anything from workout, reading, writing to taking a walk in the park.

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3. Have something to do

You might have said at least once in your life that I wanted to learn this or that but didn’t get time or didn’t have the resources. Well, there cannot be any time better than this. Invest in yourself. Maybe you wanted that physique, might have wanted a cooking channel, needed time to paint or write or sing or learn a guitar. Just do it. Stop procrastinating. You planned a lot for this year, but still, here you are living with no certainty of the future.

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4. Share your values with others

If you have something that you might think mean something to even two people, then teach them that. Share your knowledge. It can be of so much value to other people. Also, it makes you feel good about yourself.

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5. Help the unprivileged

When you are anxious, you want to take control of your life. So, the best thing you can do is take control of somebody who is not as privileged as you are. Acts of kindness release serotonin, which increases trust, reduces fear and anxiety.

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6. Find your purpose in life

This thing just freaks out a lot of people around the world. What is your purpose in life? I struggled with this question during my college years.  And even when I was about to join my new job. It takes time, but once you find that, your life becomes just so meaningful. You remain calm even in the times when you see everybody around you getting all panicky and stressed. When you see that bigger picture, you are no more afraid of petty things. The best time to ponder upon this is when you are in isolation.

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“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Stay safe and stay motivated! There is so much to look forward. We will get out of this gradually.

In the next post, we will discuss working from home and its issues.

Happy Reading!