It’s scientifically proven that isolation and loneliness can raise stress levels where physical touch or contact is a powerful stress reliever. During the lockdown and  ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is trying to avoid physical touch or contact. But we must remember that we need to maintain physical distance, not social disconnection. We need to maintain “connections” by maintaining distance.

• Expressing feelings of affection and love can also lower stress levels when expressed, it can lower the receiver’s stress hormones and which in turn strengthen their immune system. And a strong immune system is the weapon we must possess right now. Therefore being connected to friends and family members has been very crucial during this time. Here what you can do – 
  • Make a daily plan of connections: Make a plan for yourself. Create a list of daily contacts who you are going to call today. And also ask how they are doing. Also make a plan of what you are going to ask them. 
  • Express care for others: One way to do this is to express love, compassion and affection toward loved ones via regular phone calls or emails or through social media. We can check on our family members who are away, friends and other relatives regularly. Asking someone how they are doing is a simple way that conveys that you care.
  • Maintain Connections in surrounding: Another way to maintain mental and physical well-being is maintaining social connections in close neighborhoods. Practice this by offering a wave or small talk with our neighbors on daily walks in the rooftops. Offer help to those who are at risk with food and necessary supplies.
  • Virtual connections: People around the world are using creative ways to use Whatsapp, Messenger, Zoom, Facetime, and other technology platforms to connect with others. Plan for “virtual happy hours” like family sessions, cocktail hours, lunch breaks, and school study breaks to share jokes, music, stories, and simply talk about anything other than coronavirus. Include this event in your weekly schedule and try to organise this event two or three times in a week. This is a good way to manage stress and keep a functional life.
  • Connection for yourself: It’s not that you always need to express care and support, you may also want these support from others. Assess your own condition and make a plan for yourself e.g., who you are going to approach in distress. You can - 
    1. Call a friend or family member everyday
    2. Seek help from a professional (trin-innovation.com)
    3. Discuss with community support - create a support group network in your own community.

Staying on task can be difficult, but it can be particularly challenging when you are surrounded by constant distraction. Now-a-days, like this always-connected world, diversions are nothing more than a click away. So it becomes very tough to keep concentrated and stay focused in a single task. It is very much troublous for both workers and students. Sometimes we all try to keep concentrated ignoring all the distractions but that lasts only for minutes. So what can be done to reduce distractions and keep concentrating and focusing on a single task? Here are some techniques and exercises.

Improve your Concentration & Focus

1. Find a quiet place where you can be alone and undisturbed. Sit comfortably. Sit with your spine erect.
2. Take a few calm deep breaths, and relax your body, by directing your attention to it, and relaxing each muscle, from head to toe.
3. Start with the first exercise. Devote to it 5 minutes each day. After one week of training, you may lengthen the time to 10 minutes.
4. Practice only one exercise, until you are able to do it without getting distracted or forgetting it, and without thinking about anything else while practicing it. This might take days, weeks and even more.
5. Don’t lose your patient. And don’t be frustrated if you cannot focus. Just continue, and gradually, your ability would improve. You don’t have to be perfect, even partial success is a great achievement.
6. Proceed to the next exercise, only after you are convinced that you have practiced it correctly and with good or reasonable degree of concentration.

To see the exercises please read below.