Did anybody ever dream to operate out of home consecutively for around
four months barring few exceptional cases? The answer would be a big “No”.
However, the current situation has made it exceptional for everybody. The third
decade of this century has started in a very topsy-turvy fashion. The word
“corona” has reached to every nook and corner of the world. Whether it is a kid
or nonagenarian, each one is aware of the hazardous corona virus. Almost the
entire world was in a standstill position, there was complete lock down.
Economies shrinking than ever before, reminds people of “The Great Depression”
days. Recession has somewhat crept in and employees have been provided with
pink slips. The migrant workers and the daily wagers are sensing the utmost
pain. In the midst of this killer corona, Mother Nature has devastated lives
through Cyclone Amphan, tremors, locust attack etc. adding insult to injury. Even
though people have started living with it, but the fear and anxiety is still looming
large on the horizon.
Companies have to let their professionals to operate remotely. The
contours of professional life have been changed; home has become the new
office. New employees are on-boarded virtually while exit formalities are also
done in a similar manner too. Women employees are running a double-show
ensuring effective business delivery as well as the role of a perfect
home-maker. At the same time, male employees are extending their hand to their
spouses for the house-hold activities. Many people have added new routines to
their lives while some others have revived their earlier habits. Schools have
been doing online classes which made my six-year old son used to Zoom/Google
Meet ensuring the headphone & microphone are working as expected before his
class. My father who is a retired Govt. official never saw me taking calls and
attending back-to-back meetings became quite flabbergasted. Now he is used to
the way we operate. Families have started watching mythological TV serials of the
80’s such as “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana” together which are telecasted now
again. I have started adapting to situations such as my son running in between
and showing his BMW M3 GTR drawing and asking for feedback while I am in the
middle of a meeting. My apartment society’s circumference would be around 200
metres and I never used to walk inside it because of a short track. Now, I am
jogging for around 10 kilometres in the same premises. Aren’t these all changes
in our lives? Many people are questioned about managing the current situation
which is nothing but a paradigm shift in everybody’s lives. Neither the
state-heads nor the CEOs of all organizations would have ever dreamt about this
in their wildest of their dreams. However, a crisis has happened and it needs
to be dealt with when the exact solution is in progress. Per me, it’s all in
the mindset. Your mind is the pivot. Then the question arises – “How to
maintain the mental equilibrium in the midst of such unprecedented times”.
In spite of the horrendous impact of this corona pandemic, the medical
and police & security personnel continue to be the beacon of hope and
strength by putting their lives at stake. Their indomitable courage and
selfless service brings back the smile on each one’s face. They work day in and
day out to ensure there is minimal loss of life. This kind of service which may
be a part of their daily routine, inculcates in every individual the resolve to
fight against this dreadful disease and I am not an alien to it. I try to share
the same with my little one too. Also, every morning, I keep on discussing with
my ageing parents regarding these unsung heroes which includes but not limited
to doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other medical personnel, NGO professionals and
the khaki-dressed personnel and their level of commitment. The basic intent
from my end is to spread positive vibes across the home in these worrisome
moments. Few days back, there was a terrorist attack in Handwara (J&K)
where 3 CRPF personnel lost their lives and 7 others were injured. These Army
jawans are engaged in their BAU activities even in these hardest of times
barely thinking about their families. It has not only boosted my willpower but
also brought in more positivity in life and more balanced mental equilibrium.
“The show must go on” irrespective of anything and everything. I have passed on
the same to my family, relatives and well-wishers so that their mental
wellbeing is maintained and each one of them remain healthy both mentally and
physically.
Whether you adopt yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, walking,
running, exercising, playing musical instruments, reading books, blogging,
listening to songs, watching movies and/or web-series, gardening etc., it’s
individual choice to keep themselves upbeat during this catastrophic situation.
Actually, for me it’s a blessing in disguise, every crisis provides an
opportunity and covid-19 is no different. How we lift ourselves in these times
is of paramount importance. When I peep through my balcony window in the
morning, I see people applauding the activities of the sweepers and other
street workers, which was not the case earlier. This is the positive impact
that Corona has created in a short span. Team members and office colleagues have
come closer than earlier. Mindset of people have started changing towards
empathy and affection leading to more bonding amongst them. The need of the
hour is to maintain business continuity and at the same time ensure family
safety. This reminds me of Charles Darwin’s theory of the survival of the
fittest. Each one of us need to be more disciplined in leading a healthy life
and sustain a work-life balance. Scientists and researchers across the globe
are working on the vaccine diligently to provide the much-needed relief to the
entire humanity. The day is not far when we would see the normalcy back in our
lives. I wish the corona virus allows the entire human race to lead a mask-free
and sanitizer-free life. This reminds me of a famous quote from Michael Jordan
– “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn
around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around
it.”
