Balanced life in quarantine

 For most of the people around the world today, the recent COVID-19 outbreak is a symbol of how fragile and unpredictable our lives can be in an unusual state of affairs. The virus which has changed the way in which most of us live, work or perform our basic day to day functions is continuing to increase its grasp at an alarming rate with the impact being felt at multiple levels resulting in economic slowdown, business disruption, trade hindrances, travel obstructions, public seclusion and so on

With respect to the continuity of business, companies around the world have switched over to online/virtual modes of working while global mobility has come to a standstill. In India, various states have been exposed to a situation of complete lockdown which has led employers to ponder upon how they can keep their people safe, contain the spread of the virus and continue their operations effectively during this unprecedented crisis.

Personal life impact during quarantine

It was the beginning of March 2020, and everything was going swimmingly. I was halfway through an intellectually stimulating and demanding master’s degree. The academic experience had turned out to be all I had hoped for. The modules explored fast-moving phenomena like business model innovation, big data, analytics and change management. The weeks were intense, and the daily simulators stretched my mind to the limit but I absolutely loved it. 

A big sacrifice we all had to make while staying at home, was compromising our social lives. Gone were the days spent sitting over food and drinks getting to know friends from all over the world

On a personal level, it has been especially difficult being an international student and being far away from home and family amidst the current public health crisis and lockdowns

Social life impact during quarantine

Drastic changes to our routines have forced us to alter our social habits and re-evaluate our relationships - the effects of which could continue into our lives after lockdown

A deadly virus has hit the very basis of our social life and has forced us to follow ‘Social Distancing’. However, we humans are just not made to distance ourselves from each other and cannot ever live an isolated life. Until an effective drug or a vaccine against the Coronavirus is clearly in sight and reaches out to everyone across the globe, it goes without saying, Social Distancing or rather more appropriately Physical Distancing is going to be the new normal for all of us. 

The change of one’s job profile and organization isn’t in consideration over here. While our offices would remain the same, the way they used to operate in the pre-lockdown times would have changed significantly. With new guidelines in place for the employees to adhere to, QCMs would be a thing of the past. We would either meet up virtually or sit keeping a safe distance in conference rooms even for briefest of our meetings. Similarly, potlucks during lunchtimes, and sharing lunch with our colleagues will be forbidden. Hanging out with colleagues during tea-breaks, helping out each other in projects, sharing stationery and of course gossiping… everything will still happen but will happen by exercising extreme caution. Still, whose work profiles permit, they’ll continue working from home. Physical distancing at workplaces will be a topmost priority for the employers, as well as for the employees. A drastic change in the office culture is sure to take us by surprise, at least in its initial days.

What we can do

balance is something most parents really crave. Recent surveys reveal that many parents are eager to make changes so they can work more flexibly, even if it affects their pay, because they know that having time with their children is important.

In reality though, getting the balance right is tricky. Truth is we work longer hours in this country than anyone else in Europe, so chances are when Britain’s parents finally arrive home they may not have the energy for a game of football in the park, or six rounds battling with the maths homework waiting on the kitchen table. Making changes at work by talking your hours through with your boss is a good step, but even if you can’t make big changes, or don’t want to, some small steps – the tiniest changes to routine – can make the biggest difference, to your children and to you.

But you may also feel:

• ✓overwhelmed with too much work
• ✓That you are missing out on family life.
• ✓That you're not there for your kids or your partner.
• ✓Resentful of how much you have to do around the house.
• ✓Too tired or busy to enjoy your social life. 
• This process is just as effective at home, but even rarer. Couples that learn the process of expressing and negotiating their visions, needs and desires are much likelier to stay contentedly together. In fact, it seems to be the only thing research finds these couples have in common. It’s not their wealth, or their intelligence or their backgrounds. It’s whether they have found a constructive way to align and accommodate their inevitable differences.