During the quarantine period, social comparison is suffocating as Internet is
flooded with what to do and what not to do during quarantine, truck loads of
information is out there. It is good to spend your free time doing something
productive or learning a new skill. However, it should come from within and
not as a result of social pressure or buzz around.
Every time I check my Instagram, there is another person doing
this or that
challenge, bingo games or workout challenge, somebody is
making Dalgona coffee or someone else is channelizing their inner
chef by making momos. Others are
reading books, learning a new language, indulging in self-care aka
putting on face masks, doing online certificate courses and whatnot.
We are expected to turn out into evolved individuals by the end of this
lockdown. We are expected to be fitter, prettier, and more skilled.
While some of us are enjoying all these nominate-challenge things. There are
people out there who are feeling disturbed or worthless. People are
questioning their self-worth, their ability to learn, cursing themselves for
procrastinating, and being harsh on themselves for not being able to keep up
with others.
Some of us are trying to maintain our sanity, fighting the stress and
anxiety
caused due to pandemic, dealing with the fear of being trapped
(Cleithrophobia), handling
Obsessive Compulsive Behaviour
(fear of infections, cleaning and re-cleaning), struggling with loneliness or
depressive symptoms
(living alone and away from family).
We might get overwhelmed with all these circumstances, by not being able to
follow a proper routine. How about leaving social comparison aside and
accepting ourselves? Give yourself time, live in the moment and take deep
breaths. Go with one day at a time. It is completely ok to do one thing at a
time. Also, it is ok to do nothing for a while because sanity over
productivity always.