Lockdown Has Become A Routine And The Adjustment To New Normal Will Take A Lot Of Time

Since March 25, India has been in a lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. The lockdown has been extended to May 31 and while some restrictions may be lifted, normalcy is not coming anytime soon. Having said that, normal life shall resume at some point, except when it does, lockdown might well be the new normal for us?

Confused? Kind of expected. So let's break it down for you. Take the example of yours truly. I have been living in Delhi for over 9 years (home is Kolkata, but Delhi is home away from home) and been working in an office in Gurugram for the last 4 years or so. I stay in CR Park. It approximately takes me 90 minutes to get to office. This includes the journey to the metro from my house, waiting for the metro, the metro journey, changing of trains, going from metro to office and of course any minor delays of trains or stopping for too long at a station. Nonetheless 90 minutes is an approximation of how long it takes to go and also how long it is needed to come back. The journey back is tiring for two reasons. Firstly you are physically drained and secondly its rush hour as several people are making the journey back from Haryana to proper Delhi.

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But due to lockdown, our office incorporated the work from home policy. What was once a luxury we used twice every 3 months and only when absolutely necessary, was now a necessity and way to do things. Now all of a sudden that meant I was gaining 3 hours of my time. I could afford to sleep a little extra as the journey to office was no longer in the equation. Consequently, the journey back was out of the window too, meaning I was not as tired after being done for the day. This allows me more time for myself and doing the things I enjoy to pass the time like reading and watching movies.

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Truth be told it is becoming a bit of a routine. Scratch that, it has become one. The only difference between an off day and a working day is sleeping a couple of hours extra because am still in front of the lappy, be it watching something or working. Not to mention reading in the spare time. It's been 2 months and the lockdown is becoming our new normal. By the time office opens up, which is not anytime soon, and I have to make the long journey, well, it shall not be normal for me, for by then willingly or unwillingly I shall have settled into this lifestyle of working from home.

In fact by then it shall be a big adjustment to return to normalcy because what was normal for us once is now no longer that. It will be adapting back to a new, or rather, old way of life.

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However, when it happens, we shall deal with it. As of now, life is at its own pace. Coronavirus is not going away soon, but it won't stay forever either. It's a game of patience, and we need to win it.