My last four articles discussed a variety of ways in which our memory can get affected in the lockdown. What can be done to limit the damage?
Firstly, give structure to life. Even in the
lockdown, I precisely know the day of the week, because of set routines. In the
last fifteen years, Mondays and Thursdays have been my rest days from
gym/running. My long runs happen on Sunday mornings. In the last eight months,
none of this has changed. (When lockdown was strictest, I ran for two hours
around my apartment block, still only on Sunday mornings). Whether you are
working or not, establishing routines keeps your body and mind alert.
It is useful to create a calendar for events, however
minor. They could be unpleasant ones like filing a tax return, or dull like a
passport renewal. Put a date, and since there is not much else, treat them as
big events to look forward to. Making
timetables, lists, setting alerts helps create a structured life.
Write a diary every day. Before going to bed, or the
next morning. Reflect deliberately on the day. You will always remember
yesterday better than the day before. I have been writing a diary for the last
34 years. Though every day in the lockdown feels similar, when I looked back at
my March-April entries this year, I found many interesting things I had already
forgotten about.
*****
The world has been facing a “loneliness pandemic”
before Covid-19. People can be lonely without being alone. Go out for long
walks. One hour in the open air is relatively safe and healthy. Set a weekly day
to take your family for a drive around town. Walking or driving, change routes,
take unfamiliar streets. Don’t use GPS. If buses are safe, take a bus at random
and go till the last stop. Try to absorb and appreciate what you see outside.
Be a tourist in your own town. Usually foreigners and
Lonely planet guides know more about your town than you. Use the lockdown to
really explore the city you live in. Better still on foot or a bicycle.
Stop online shopping. With precautions, visit a
variety of shops and markets.
Many people working from home are sick of video calls.
For audio calls, leave your desk, walk outside. In any case, talking on the
phone with the laptop screen in front of you is bad multitasking, unethical as
well. Usually, the other person figures that you are not listening.
*****
Unless you are absolutely vulnerable, try to meet
people. Physically. It may not be possible to meet the people you want to
meet. In that case, meet those who are available. I meet my
fellow runners every morning at the local park. They may not be my closest
friends, but they are accessible. We share stories, rumours and gossip.
If meeting three-dimensional people is not possible,
make a list of thirty people (ideally from outside family/work) you really
enjoy talking to. In the calendar, put a date against each name, and call them
in that sequence. Set aside an hour to talk daily. Finding an hour is not
difficult, you have saved that much on commuting any way. You will be surprised
at the level of happiness the call generates.
*****
Try memorizing poems. Or a series of dialogues from a
play or movie you love. In school days, we memorized poems, but stopped after.
Lockdown is a great opportunity to try and see how much time we take to
memorise a single poem.
Reduce as much stress as is practically possible. Not
everything is beyond our control. If your internet/Wi-Fi connection is a source
of worry (because four family members must use it every day now), take two or
three different connections. It is money well spent. Reduce clutter from your
life. Take a break from Facebook for two weeks. Switch off your WhatsApp and
see if it really makes a difference to your life.
To preserve memory and sanity, we must reduce the cognitive
overload.
Ravi
I hope I am part of your list of thirty people
ReplyDeleteThank you. We have definitely enjoyed being a tourist in our own neighbourhood
ReplyDelete