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The Indian government has announced a 21-day national ban that will create a feeling of fear and panic. This loss of normalcy, an idea now confirmed by experts in the field, causes you to waste time, including sluggishness and weight gain.

It is a scenario that is currently common to all of humanity. For one thing, I've found better ways to look at it and address it. This is a comprehensive list of things you can do to improve yourself. 21 days of blocking and 21 days to form a habit of reading literature or doing what you always wanted to do in life.

1. Untangle your mind through meditation

During this initial blackout period, we notice that news is constantly being bombarded with information about Covid-19. Of course you want to stay up to date, but you don't want information overload.
The best way to do this is meditation. Just 10 minutes of mindful breathing exercises in the morning are enough to relax you. I use the headspace app to help me with it, and it's the only thing you need right now.

2. Build your personal identity

Have you ever googled yourself If so, did you find yourself in the results? No? Then you have to start building your identity. With the Always Online culture, your personal identity and a certain online presence is the new way of distributing a business card.

It is easier for me to say because I am a digital marketer, but I believe that every professional today should have personal branding. You can start creating a website or simply update your online profiles via LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

3. Reconnect with the family

This is perhaps the most popular and warmest activity you can currently do. Start talking to the members you live with, then call those who are not there. If you live alone, call a family member who is closest to you. I know that sometimes just showing a sudden love can be difficult, but trust me, your call will only be returned with the same or larger size.

New Zealand credit statistics
Video calls are much better. On Facebook you can group up to 49 people against the 3 on WhatsApp.

4. Learn mathematics again

As an average student, I still find math when shopping a bit difficult to understand. I know it's super easy, but I often make mistakes. Now it's time to brush up on some key concepts such as basic probability, statistics and geometry. If not for you, at least the children in your life can get a helping hand with their homework. Start with this guide from Wikibooks (the measurement section is good).

This is me! Credit Bizarro.com
This can also be a precursor to an interest that can become a secondary affair.

5. Read success stories

This is my favorite helper for leisure activities. When I'm not reading, I check corporate websites of top companies and personal websites of personalities that I look up to. Malcolm Gladwell, Vani Kola, Melinda Gates, Anand Mahindra, Sudha Murthy, Azim Premji, Yuval Noah Harari and Gwyneth Paltrow are some people that I actively follow. You can also start with your favorite athlete, film actor, writer or businessman.
This should also be done if you are not facing a pandemic. It is much better than reading the books about being successful, trying hard but delivering nothing.

6. Create a new routine

Trust me when I say that since the March 25 lock in India, I have managed to get up around 9:00 am and go back to sleep at 1:00 am. I woke up on the first day to dispose of the garbage (because the garbage collector no longer offers his services) and now I'm going to close this week with my own record.
Creating a routine that you can continue to follow once normality begins can make a huge contribution to self-development. Allocate time slots for eating, working, exercising and having fun. Your biological clock takes care of everything else, including automation.

7. Learn a new skill

It may be something related to your job or a new concept that you would like to learn more about. Whatever it is, I can no longer stress the importance of skills development. Now you have time, so try it out without fear of failure.
Many online course portals offer free courses due to Covid-19. So this is the perfect time to learn new skills and get certified.

8. Read books and other literature

Everyone I know keeps suggesting this and I want to push it forward. It doesn't matter if you are not a reader. Just take a book, magazine, magazine or visit the New Yorker to read some articles with opinions. Who knows that you may learn something new and useful!
Don't want to spend money on books? Here is a free library with over 1.4 lakh books made available to you by the internet archive.

9. Write stories

If you're not a reader, how about writing something? You don't have to be a writer to write anything. Simply open a Word document and write a story that comes to mind spontaneously. You will be amazed by your own imagination and skills.
Wattpad can inspire you.

10. Learn music

Now I know that this takes the idea too far, but listen to me. Listening to music is a real pleasure (and something you and I both do today), but knowing the instruments you hear can be an even more exciting experience. This Ableton website is a good place to start.

11. Practice getting up early

I told you about my routine changes during the blackout period, and you also heard about these stories of "Get up early, succeed". What exactly is stopping you from trying?
If waking up early is a problem because the snooze button is there, why don't you try going to bed early? It is magically helpful.

12. Practice freelance

Have you always wanted multiple sources of income but didn't know how? Think of a skill that is bankable and use it. Do you like finance and can you really distinguish a ULIP from an ELSS? Brush them up and start writing finances. On websites like Upwork.com and Freelancer.com, you can start and slowly build up part-time activity. You can also do accounting, social media marketing, Instagram advice, website development and whatnot. The possibilities are endless here.

Credit Upwork.com
If this virtual workplace thing becomes the norm, you and I both need to think more seriously about freelance work.

13. Detoxify your body

Setting a routine may not be enough if you focus on getting well during the lockout. You must also detoxify your body by drinking vegetables, nuts, and green tea instead of the milky-sugary one.
If you focus on eating more fruits and vegetables in those 21 days, you will notice a significant change in your body's chemical balance and overall appetite.

14. Teach what you know

If schools and colleges are closed and children cannot meet their assigned curriculum, this can be a great opportunity for you to share your own knowledge with the children in your life. It doesn't have to be a calculation or a history lesson about bubonic plague. You can start teaching humility, good manners, conversation etiquette, and online discipline. Then you can start trigonometry if you have to.
If you have teenage children, now may be a good time to start sex education.

15. Practice illustration

I sometimes scribble when I am bored with another activity. Today I have a scrapbook full of ridiculous looking drawings. They are not worth a rupee, but they are valuable to me and tell me something about my imagination and my subconscious. It's also a big stress buster because you won't be judged by anyone.
For illustration, you can start with pen and paper or choose the digital route and start with Paint 3D in Windows 10.

16. Learn a new language

If I am not talking about Duolingo, have I spoken at all? Learning a new language is always an overwhelming experience and it will take some time to get used to the words, grammar and syntax. You have almost 3 weeks and that's enough to get started and at least the basics of a new language.
Do not jump directly into German. Instead, aim lower and start with an Indian language that is closer to your mother tongue. If you know Hindi well, try Sanskrit, Urdu, Marathi or Gujarati. If you know Malayalam, check out Tamil, Telugu, Tulu or Kannada.

17. Cook good food

You may already be doing this.
If so, keep trying new things with your spouse or family members and enjoy spending whatever your taste.
If not, just one question: what is stopping you from starting pancakes?

18. Write a book

This is a great tip if you've always believed you had a book in you. Start now. Get inspiration from my tip # 5 if necessary.
It's just about opening and typing a word processing document on your computer.

19. Practice healthy eating

In addition to my tip # 13, this can help you get out of the lockdown as a healthier person. Avoid junk food (not that it is currently readily available) and focus on fruits like bananas, apples, guavas, and mangoes.

Figure 2 – ScoopWhoop.com credit

20. Think of a business idea

A meme has circulated about how today's successful startups started during the 2008 financial crisis. Now that we're going into another possible recession, you may as well be playing with your business idea.
Start with a rough business plan and model and share it with your potential partners. I did that when I first thought of a mobile binge-watching app that couples who live separately can sync their ads with.

21. Practice yoga

Another way to focus on your health is to practice yoga. Combine it with recommendation # 1 and get out of this mess that looks and feels good.

You and I will come out of this pandemic together than better versions of us. We have the choice of viewing the glass as half full and not half empty.