2020 — A year to forget or reset

I can’t go to the gym; well, you can still do dance routines or aerobic sessions at home — just follow Shilpa Shetty, Katrina Kaif, Leslie Sansone, Emi Wong videos. No maid, no cook, I’m dying of fatigue; discipline your lifestyle and eating habits and you can cope better. I can’t meet my friends and chill out at food joints; you can have virtual online meetings and synchronize your timings to cook some mouth-watering delicacies together — YouTube videos have never been more helpful. I can’t go shopping; online marketplaces are plenty — shop to your heart’s content. I can’t go on vacations; save now for that really wonderful vacation you can take soon.

In fact, for every negative, you can think of a positive way of viewing the present situation due to COVID-19. If you have been wallowing in discontent, binge-watching Netflix to kill your surplus time and even driving up your anxiety quotient by feeling miserable, here are 5 more important things you can do to make the most of this unexpected situation.

1. Pursue a hobby, develop your latent skill — Pause to look at your WhatsApp content and you will see dozens of singers and painters uploading their creativity online. People are rediscovering their talent and you should also do the same. Follow your hobby passionately and you will find immense pleasure.

2. Read books — There must be that one book which you always wanted to read but couldn’t find the time. Well, the time is now. Read to your heart’s content; every kind of book to widen your horizons.

3. Add to your skill-set — Online courses are plenty and available for every discipline. Enroll for any course today that you feel will add to your expertise and take you to the next level. Acquiring new skills will add to your confidence.

4. Learn a new language — There are so many different regional languages in India; and even more foreign languages across the world. If you love Urdu shayari, why not learn the language now and flaunt your skill among your friends! Or even learn Spanish, Italian, French or any of the other exotic languages that makes you happy.

5. Plan your finances — On a more sober note, COVID has given us all one big learning — to save for that rainy day. Take a fresh look at your finances and investments and redraft your strategies to save for the future.