When the honorable Prime Minister of the country announced the 21-day lockdown, the nation greeted that with mixed responses. While people saw this stringent measure as a need of the hour to tackle the viral attack, people were unsure of how to keep themselves occupied for 21 days. While some jobs do provide the provision of working from home, in many profession, there is no such option. Also, by saving the daily commute time to work, people are finding a lot of free time in their lives. “How do you keep yourself entertained?” has become a part of most telephonic or video calls in the country.
With more than half the lockdown being over, people are running short of options for passing the time. After tackling their kids, completing all the household chores (in the absence of the house help) and working from home, people are looking for ways to unwind and relax. If you are also on the lookout of fun ways to pass your time read on to choose the best option for yourself.
Watching web series
The lockdown is an excellent time to catch up on web series and use them to keep yourself entertained. Kota Factory, TVF Pitchers, Panchayat, The Family Man, Mirzapur are some of the best options for people looking to explore the Hindi web series. Hoichoi has a good number of Bengali web series that you can consider. Astey Ladies, Japani Toy and Paap are some of the options to consider during the lockdown. English web series to look out for would include Westworld, Money Heist, The Wall, etc.
Gardening
While we understand that you are looking for fun options to keep yourself entertained during the lockdown, this might be the perfect time to reconnect with nature. Irrespective of the type of house you live in or the city of residence, you can always start with gardening. From planting in earthen pots to recycling plastic cans, there are a lot of creative ways that will help you pass your time during the lockdown days. You can also take up some new hobbies in addition to this.
Watching Movies
With the global pandemic reaching all parts of the country, it might be difficult to get your mind off it. One efficient way to ease your mind would be by watching movies. Comedy movies like Forest Grump, Knocked Up or Mistress America will help cheer your spirits during such trying times. If you want to watch something relevant to the times, there are several movies about isolation that you can catch up on. Contagion is an absolute favorite in that genre. With the multiple Oscar-winning movies, Parasite available on Amazon Prime, there is indeed a lot to explore.
Revisiting Old Serials
If you are someone from the older generation, the entertainment options discussed above may not appeal to you. While you may be missing your daily morning walk or the latest episodes of your favorite teleserial, you can keep yourself entertained by reliving the nostalgia of the bygone days. Doordarshan is replaying its most famous serials such as the Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Circus and Bomkesh Bakshi. This lockdown may be a good time to familiarise younger members of your family with these classic shows as you enjoy them all over again.
Audio Books
While exploring new entertainment options to watch out for we cannot skip Audiobooks. While reading a book may not be everyone’s cup of tea, most people love listening to stories. With the Amazon Audible, you will have access to hundreds of stories by Indian and foreign authors. For the days of the lockdown, you can register yourself online and avail access to millions of free audiobooks. #Sunday Suspense, organised by Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM is also a good option to look out for.
Video Calls
While the WHO, Indian government and every well-wisher of yours wants you to maintain physical distancing, there is no reason why you cannot use this time to strengthen relationships. With apps like Whatsapp and Google Duo allowing the option of a free video call, you can indulge in video calls with your friends and family. After all, nothing is as entertaining as old friends teasing each other over the silliest of reasons. For larger groups, Zoom is an effective video calling tool.
Doodling
While not everyone may be an artist, making doodles is a fun activity that everyone can engage in. If you are on the lookout of entertainment options, this is something that will pass your time well. You do not need any special resources to start with this. A sheet of paper and a pen coupled with a creative mind will enable you to create extraordinary doodles. On the plus side, your doodles will be a good source of entertainment for people around you as well. As the lockdown is leading people to spend a considerably more amount of their time on social media, you may want to consider sharing your doodles on your social media page to increase its reach.
Music
Music heals the mind better than any other form of entertainment. In trying times such as this lockdown, it is one of the finest sources of pleasure for humankind. Today multiple entertainment apps specialize in music. Spotify, Amazon Music, and Jango Radio are among the most popular ones. If you are someone who has a musical inclination, this might also be the perfect time to up your riyaaz and move the dust off the old harmonium or guitar. That way, not only will you entertain yourself but will also usher in joy in the lives of other people around you.
Thanks to modern technological advancements, there is no dearth of options that allow you to keep yourself entertained. While each of these may be worthy ways to pass the time, the ultimate question is which of it is most suitable to your taste. With the 21 day lockdown, you have ample time to explore the different options and identify your true calling. For, who knows? The entertainment option that you pick up now may well be your partner for the rest of your life.
Photo by John-Mark Smith from Pexels
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