HOW NOT TO GET USED TO “STAY AT HOME”

Stay at Home order is very pertinent for us at this. It is part of the things we must do in order to keep our world away from this Coronavirus pandemic as soon as possible. That is what is most important now; that is the only sacrifice expected of you: Stay At Home! It is an order that has been given to us by the health practitioners who working day and night so that we things can be restored to normalcy as soon as possible. And the only thing they have requested of us is to stay at home while they continue their work. If we will help them win this battle anytime soon, we must try by all means to abide by what they require from us. Stay At Home.

As we seek to obey this order however, the question comes to mind concerning the nature of our daily lives when the Stay At Home period is over. What will be the aftereffect of this period in our daily life—economic and family life especially?

As many people have opined, it is evident that many things we are used to may not go back to how they used to be. There are many activities in our economic life that may not go back to what it was before the outbreak of Coronavirus. It is therefore wise for us to start to prepare for what could be. And this start by preparing ourselves mentally. Mental preparation is the first important step that we need to put in place. I have therefore highlighted in this post 3 tips to aid you prepare mentally on how not to get used to ‘Stay At Home.’

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT STAY AT HOME ORDER IS SITUATIONAL

In my Developmental Psychology class during my undergraduate study, many factors were identified as contributors to a personality formation. This includes Environment, DNA, etc. but one thing was also identified, the fact that Situation forms people. The kind of situation an individual is subjected per time sometime determines how they will respond/react to that experience. Hence the reason where always advised (by an anonymous writer) never to take “a long term decision simply because of a short term pressure.” This period no one can deny that it has been the most challenging for many people. It is also undeniable that it affects the majority more than the minority who can move on with their businesses and making their money without leaving the comfort of their homes. This period for many people who live on daily earnings has been so challenging; even many of the salary earners who are not government workers are also ‘feeling the heat’ of this period as many business activities had to be put on hold. Many people are being laid off their jobs right now. As at the time of this writing (just this morning), Arik Airlines has cut the salary of their staff by 80% while 90% of their staff are being placed on probation.

This has forced many people to become Social Media beggars with a trending topic like hashtag #Babiala and all sorts; notwithstanding, it comes to be reasoned that situation changes people. No one can particularly claim how they will react in a situation until they find themselves therein. On the other hand, no matter what this period looks like at your end, never forget it will soon be over. Never forget it is situational and it will soon be over!

THAT STAY AT HOME PERIOD IS TOO SHORT TO FORM A HABIT

There is a general opinion often heard among people which says when you do one thing consecutively for 21 days, it becomes a habit. It opines that if you commit yourself to a personal or professional goal for 21 days consistently, in 21 days that practice should have become a habit. And once you have established that habit, you can continue to practice until it becomes a lifestyle. On the other hand, habit formation researchers have opined that cultivating a habit is not as easy! According to a recent finding led by University College London research psychologist Pippa Lally, the presented data was based on Self-opinionated ‘result’ not research based—which means there is a chance the people were not absolutely correct or truthful. On various font, forming a new habit is oftentimes much longer than 21 days (nbcnews).

SEE STAY AT HOME ORDER FOR WHAT IT [Truly] IS

The issue of Coronavirus Pandemic brought to mind one of the illustration from the Bible. When Jesus came to Bethsaida and a black man was brought to him, pleaded to Jesus for a touch. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the city gate. He then put spit in the man’s eyes, laid hands on him, and asked, “What do you see?”

Funnily the man look up and says, “I see men; they look like walking trees.”

Jesus had to touch him the second time before the man could totally regain his sight. Probably Jesus felt that was not the right way to see or the right thing to see; and it could as well implies that that’s not the right way to see things. A personally derived lesson from the illustration teaches that Jesus saw a need to touch the blind man the second time because it is not enough to [just] see, we must see the right thing in the right way.

In addition to the aforementioned tips, DO NOT forget to also continue work on building your immune system. It is very important that we accept the fact that coronavirus may not be leaving human community as soon and quick as we may all desire. At least not until when the researchers are able to come up with their vaccine. And following the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) declaration of re-opening of economy starting from May 4^th of year 202, it pertinent that you remember that lifting the Stay At Home order does not imply victory over the coronavirus pandemic. Do not forget that the War against Coronavirus is not over yet! That we are not yet in post covid-19 era; we still fight on.

Therefore, while we await the result (vaccine) from the health researchers, you must keep working on building you Immune System. It is very important. So on this note I will recommend based on the prescription suggested by Dr. Mike Oye, a certified naturopath, to eat more fruit and vegetables.

You can follow this link to his page for more details

In conclusion, you also have to stick to your Routine. If there are practices that worked for you over time, probably in your place of work and other activities, continue in that routine even during the time of staying At Home. Keep practicing them as you Stay At Home or planning to venture into remote work.

I hope you enjoy reading. Are there other ways you think we can apply on how not to get used to Stay At Home? Don’t forget to drop your comment and views on it