The decision by the Cabinet Meeting of January 18, to impose another lockdown on City of Kigali in a bid to control the spread of Covid-19, has changed the lifestyle city residents. Sports activities are strictly prohibited in Kigali during lockdown as per the cabinet resolutions but residents are encouraged to exercise from their homes or neighbourhoods but in compliance with the Covid-19 preventive measures. The lockdown is, however, imposing people to adapt to a new life while staying at home. Here are some nine things you can do to remain positive during the lockdown. Engage in in-door sports You are allowed to walk or jog in your neighbourhood, but do not go beyond your village as it’s prohibited. And when you venture out remember to observe Covid-19 protocols like social distancing among others. Dr Rachna Pande, a health expert, told The New Times that regular physical activity keeps the body healthy and mind fresh and also serves as a good diversion to occupy the mind. “Any physical activity like cleaning the house, cleaning the car, garden work, etc. is good, as per one’s interest and capability. It also helps to kill time,” says Dr Pande, cautioning people to avoid alcohol, tobacco use, and excess caffeine during the lockdown. She adds that regular prayers, yoga and or meditation also would help in keeping the mind stress-free and also strengthen it while a regular sleep, waking time table is also important to maintain for good health. Take a walk around home and neighbourhood, enjoy nature, the blue skies of Kigali, the chirping of birds, the freshness that comes with less traffic on the road. Just take time out to appreciate nature and the scenic views that we rarely notice when we are caught up in the usual hustle and bustle of urban life. Reverend Jean Pierre Uwimana, a Social Sciences academician and Sociology lecturer at the University of Rwanda, says; “When you take a walk or change what you were doing, it keeps your brain fresh but when you keep doing one thing, it really gets your brain tired.” Reading and online learning There’s a lot of stuff to read out online. (You can read online books through Audible, Kindle, Google Play (for Androids) and Comixology and Viz Media (for Apple) or even Anybooks among others). Connect with family Get to learn more about your children or parents, or your other relatives you stay with. For those in distant places, make time to know how they’re coping by calling and texting them or connecting through social media platforms like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram. Embrace online shopping and delivery services Mobile money payments are now allowed by most businesses around town and they are an effective way to avoid using hard cash, which can easily spread Covid-19. Learn a new skill Skills such as cooking, baking, knitting, etc. are essential in our daily lives. There are also lots of other skill sets you can online. Don’t overly focus on things you have no control over Stressing out over things you can’t change can only drain your energy, drive you crazy and potentially leave you depressed. Learn to cope with unwelcome reality. “One should not fret over what one has no control. Try to be in regular contact with close ones. Avoid negative minded people’s company,” says Dr Pande. Laugh and keep your sense of humour Laughing and making fun can improve your quality of life (please cite scientific research on this). Do lots of it. Don’t take life too seriously. Uwimana said is important to share your happiness with people around you and speak out all those things that you are thinking to free up your mind and make it fresh. “When you are happy, when you laugh, it positively affects your life expectancy and, on the other hand, it is an opposite consequence for people who don’t like to laugh or those who live an unhappy life. It also helps you to be more productive in whatever you do and that can a good for people who are working from home,” he explained. Extend support to your neighbours who are struggling during this period The lockdown means many people are barely able to put food on the table, let alone eat three times a day. Local leaders are resourceful when it comes to identifying needy members of the community. Reach out to family and friends in need. Times like these require us all to look out for one another, and it does inject a good dose of happiness and self-worth when you lend a hand. Dedicate time to say a prayer if you can and reconnect with your spiritual life.
