-The Lock-down Tag-

#29/100

I went through Anusha’s post on her blog for this tag and found her answers super cool and interesting. She very graciously decided to nominate me for this tag and I’m extremely thankful for this sweet gesture. Please do check out her blog, she has put out some pretty amazing stuff out there that’s sure to mesmerize all the readers. (https://blatherskiite.wordpress.com)

This time I won’t be picking out specific nominations, please feel free to nominate yourselves for this tag if you find it worthwhile. 🙂

Rules for Award

• Thank the person who nominated you
• Answer the blogger’s questions
• Nominate other bloggers

Answers for the questions asked by Anusha :-

1. Overall, how are you handling the quarantine?

I’m sure like any other introvert, this quarantine has been more of a blessing than a hindrance to me. I’ve had a hectic routine every since I got out of school and have never spent such a long duration of time at home. Some days I was productive, on other days I just did nothing. My hectic life was on pause this entire time and I’ll most definitely cherish it for years to come.

2. Have you violated any of the restrictions? If yes, what rule(s) did you break?

Violating rules freaks me out! My conscience will kill me if I even think of doing anything out of line, so no.

3. What viral recipes have you tried during the lockdown?

I don’t keep a track of any viral recipes but I did cook a lot during the lockdown. I started with baking, had a lot of failed attempts before I could bake a proper cake for my mother’s birthday. Here’s a picture for you guys. I was very thrilled when it turned out decent enough, my mom loved it!

4. What activities have you missed the most during quarantine?

The only thing I missed was outdoor running.

5. Do you wear a mask when you leave the house?

Yes, most definitely.

6. Are you an essential worker? If yes, what is your job title?

I’m not a frontline worker but I do work for a bank which has been categorized under essential services. I am a business analyst for the treasury function of a private bank.

7. How do you exercise during the lockdown?

I absolutely love working out. Even before the pandemic struck the world, I preferred working out at home and have never set foot in a gym. I follow HIIT workout routines on YouTube.

8. Have you subscribed to any new subscription services since the lockdown started?

Yes! I started meditating regularly during the lockdown to calm my anxious mind. I use a brilliant app called “Headspace“. It has amazing courses on meditation and mindfulness and has been helping me out a lot. I subscribed to their annual pack when I stumbled upon a huge discount on their website.

9. What did/does your daily schedule look like before the pandemic started?

My day used to start at 6 am, workout for 30 mins and get ready for office. I had to board the 7.30 am local train for my office. I used to study for my upcoming CFA Level 1 exams on the train or utilise the time to watch movies/listen to music. Post work I reached home by 7/7.30 pm, freshened up and study again for an hour. I spent time with my mother, talk on the phone with my sister who stays in a different city and sometimes catch up with my close friends. Weekend mornings were reserved for runs and the rest of the day was spent in relaxing or catching up on shows/reading books/meeting up with friends.

10. Do you think that the pandemic is getting better or worse?

I honestly am not following the news related to the pandemic at all. I hope and wish it gets better as soon as possible. Thinking about it makes me very anxious hence I decided to divert my mind from it as much as possible.

Questions for the nominees (Same as the ones I answered)

1. Overall, how are you handling the quarantine?
2. Have you violated any of the restrictions? If yes, what rule(s) did you break?
3. What viral recipes have you tried during the lockdown?
4. What activities have you missed the most during quarantine?
5. Do you wear a mask when you leave the house?
6. Are you an essential worker? If yes, what is your job title?
7. How do you exercise during the lockdown?
8. Have you subscribed to any new subscription services since the lockdown started?
9. What did/does your daily schedule look like before the pandemic started?
10. Do you think that the pandemic is getting better or worse?

Thank you so much for reading and for appreciating my work. It means a lot! 🙂

Show me the money

Too many people spend money they earned..to buy things they don’t want..to impress people that they don’t like.

Will Rogers

#6/100

I’m closely connected to a person who has a money spending problem. This person’s entire life revolves around money. He wants to earn money without working too hard for it. He isn’t able to part with the money earned by him, no matter how insignificant the sum is. He piles on loans after loans and doesn’t wish to repay them, a very uncanny thought which leads him to believe that money received through any source is his to keep. Ironically, this person also has a family to fend for. How does he manage his responsibilities you ask? Sadly, by ignoring them. When the breadwinner has difficulty in managing finances of his family, other members have to rise to the occasion. The family thrived and shone in adversities without the help of the supposed patriarch.

Now that he is old, his source of money is on a constant decline. The concept of saving money for future needs never crossed his mind. This person has a weird understanding of money. As far as he is concerned, he can never have enough money, is always short of it and keeps asking for more. When it comes to his family members who are working hard to be independent, he believes that they have an unnatural source of money and demands his share frequently. He only asks about the sources of income of his family members or any person for that matter and conveniently excludes the expenditure. When it comes to money, this person’s idea of ‘living in the present’ has been detrimental to his survival. I have no clue how and when he developed this problem.

So how much money is really enough? Why are humans so crazy about money? Everything that surrounds us is profoundly affected by money. People work on jobs they absolutely hate to keep their family afloat, some indulge in criminal activities to survive, others just to add to their huge pile of money, some compromise their soul, happiness, passion, hobbies to earn more, some save through the entire life to spend on their retirement, money really governs all our minor and major decisions in life.

How much attachment to money is really enough? When we start dissociating ourselves from our core personalities just for the sake of earning money, we gradually lose interest in our life and have difficulty staying happy. Is earning more money worth losing our sleep and happiness over? When should we stop? People are on a constant chase of earning money, spending it on materialistic things that give momentary happiness and seek constant validation from the world at large. Why do humans care so deeply about other people’s thoughts?

There are a lot of unanswered questions about money in my mind. Money enormously affects every human to walk on the face of this earth. My only wish for the world at large is to focus on making happiness a necessity rather than considering money a source of happiness. Figure out ways to keep yourself sane and happy without involving an unrealistic amount of money. Is that really possible? If we stop and pause, list down things we really need for survival and compare it with everything we end up buying on our impulse shopping trips, we surely would find things that give us no happiness or usage. Happiness, sanity, peace and calm is what keeps you afloat during hardships and let’s you hold your hope high for the future. Let’s try and work on improving our quality of life than blindly earning money.