We are all aware of the famous saying, ‘There is no place like home’. We all agree that a home is a place where we can find serenity and peace. But being at home for an extended period without human contact especially during this lockdown has unleashed a plethora of issues for us - Anxiety, overthinking, and a snowballing negative mental state.

Many people are becoming victims of what we can call the ‘Loneliness Epidemic’.

The biggest reason is of course staying far away from family due to job opportunities in big cities or they are simply trapped in metro cities due to fear of contracting Covid-19 during travel.

Human beings are social animals and we are not wired to staying alone for extended periods of time. That’s why human beings always look for human connections whether in personal or professional lives. We sure have escaped from direct interaction with one or the other toxic colleague/friend but believe it or not our lives have become more mundane nowadays without any drama.

It's time we break the monotony and the loneliness as we have some surprisingly effective ideas up our sleeves. Once you start implementing these ideas you can bring a huge change in your life.

1. Develop a new hobby: 

It sounds really easy and we might already have many ideas regarding which hobby to pursue. But the main thing is to be consistent with your hobby.

Do not try something just because of FOMO. It should be something that you are really passionate about. So spend a day contemplating upon the hobby you want to pursue wholeheartedly. 

Once you have made up your mind, the next step is to search for online classes as you cannot enroll yourself for offline classes in this current situation. There are plenty of sites offering classes & workshops which you can choose from. The aim is to not only keep you occupied but also help you nurture your passion.

2. Get some fresh air:

The catch here is you can also get some fresh air without going out on the streets.

Studies have proven that sunlight helps us to uplift our mood. So why not spend some time tending to house plants on your balcony or taking a walk on your terrace. This way you will get your daily dose of vitamin D and some fresh air too.

If you're fortunate enough to have a garden, now is the best time to get out there. Whether it's spending some time weeding, buying some new plants, or just sitting outdoors with a refreshing drink and enjoying your outdoor space.

3. Keep your brain active:

It's convenient to spend the entire day enjoying a new TV series or watching a movie, but it's important to keep your brain occupied by other things as well. Some indoor games that you can do apart from binge-watching on Netflix include doing puzzles, colouring or investing your time on activity books, such as word searches and brain teasers. All of these would also be helpful for people who struggle with anxiety as their symptoms tend to increase during loneliness.

4. Meditation:

Meditation can help if you are experiencing anxiety or are worried that your stress levels can rise after self-isolation, whether this is due to financial distress or not understanding what life will be like after the pandemic. There are some fantastic apps out there, such as Calm, that make the process of meditation interesting and easy. Plus, it just takes a few minutes of involvement per day.

5. Volunteer Online:

Have you always wanted to teach children, but have never thought about it due to your job in the non-academic sector? Do you think that teaching spoken English on the phone is something that you will enjoy? If yes, then sign up to support ConnectFor and its NGO partner, the Kotak Education Foundation, by teaching English on the phone to children and youth from underprivileged families.

Still not convinced? How about doing something for the physical and mental well-being of the society in the aftermath of Covid-19?

Take this chance to craft cards that wish people a fast recovery, and share some words of support and positivity in these tough times. These cards are sent to local hospitals and to the clients of some NGO agencies in the hope of lifting their morale and giving them some joy. Insider.in provides an opportunity for you to do so.

6. Develop a daily workout schedule:

Exercising is a perfect way to improve your mood and get you ready for the day, no matter what your age or weight. After the onset of lockdown,100s of online classes have become available on a variety of platforms, so depending upon your preference you can either enroll for the classes or you can follow some amazing Youtube channels on fitness too. To make it easier, here's our article on 20 workouts you can do at home.

7. Beauty regime:

Self-isolation has stopped many people from visiting salons and accessing their usual beauty services, but that doesn't mean that you can't have a beauty routine anymore. Try a hair mask once a week to treat your natural hair instead of the standard hair spa services you avail. Also, try some different face masks to help clean your skin. So, if you're trying to hydrate your skin or just want to try something new, there's a lot of natural face packs to choose from!

8. Get organised:

Our final tip is one that's on everyone's list of things to do, but quite often easily ignored. The new lockdown scenario provides the ideal chance to clean the house from top to bottom.  When was the last time you did a major declutter in your wardrobe?

Cleaning can improve productivity and leave you in a healthier frame of mind. It's a great activity which makes you feel satisfied at the end of the day, and once you start you would not want to stop at just one room!