It was been more than two weeks of a total lockdown here in Dubai in additional to the other three weeks before when I have started working from home. More than a month since gyms closed down, cinemas, malls, restaurants and beaches. This is not news, as the whole world is taking the same measurement in some form or another. Social distancing to flatten the curve and contain the coronavirus fast spread. Unprecedented in my life time or parents time, something new that no one of us has faced before. Yet, we are here, dealing with it, each on his own way.
For me, I am staying home alone in my apartment in Dubai. So much time on my hand, something that I am happy to have. Although I miss all of the closed activities and miss my friends and family, I have try to fill my time with some different activities that I enjoy. Here is a list of what I do, outside my home working hours:
1. Writing
I finally managed to find time to write this blog, and happy that I am doing it. I haven’t blogged for sometime now as I was focusing on writing my next book. The good news is that during this lockdown I managed to finish writing it! Hurray, it is exciting as it sounds. Took me more than two years and was a tough challenge. A really tough one, imagining a different world where gender is divided based on height rather than sex. Lots of imagination, and most of my worry has been in developing the storyline and trying to keep it as exciting as possible. I am still not sure how the readers will perceive it, but hopefully will do once it sees the light and gets published – probably by end of this year.
2. Yoga
I miss going to the gym the most, and it felt bad when the decision came out to close gyms. To be honest, it was the rational thing to do, and thank God they did, cause otherwise I would have kept on going to the gym and probably caught the virus. I was also sad to know that the crossfit box (Goldbox) I have been going to in the past two years closed permanently. The news came after the announcement of closing gyms for two weeks, but now it is lost for good. It was such a nice gym with a very nice community and amazing trainers. Loved going there, despite my struggle with crossfit as sport and my mixed feelings about it.
Nevertheless, trying to stay fit without a gym is not easy. I ordered some weights online but they are yet to arrive. At the moment I discovered Travis Eliot on youtube, and I am in love with his Yoga classes. I have been doing a daily yoga class for the past 5 days and I am enjoying it a lot. I wanted to challenge myself for a 30 days daily yoga, but today felt a bit tired after 5 days and decided to skip the day. And here I am, blogging instead!
3. Nintendo Switch
I am loving my nintendo switch and has been lucky with my choice of games recently. The most beautiful and entertaining one that I finished yesterday is “Ori and The Blind Forest”. If you are a gamer, then it is a must play. Go and get it. I really loved it. Before Ori I finished “Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze” and enjoyed it as well. And I just downloaded “Hollow Knights” yesterday hoping it will be as good as Ori, but till now I didn’t feel it.
4. Netflix/Suits
I finally reached season8 of Suits. Amazing show and I enjoyed each and every episode. I only started watching it recently from first episode and got hooked. I love all the characters, especially Donna and Harvey. Would they ever be together? If you haven’t watched it, then you should. And yes it is okay to commit for all the 8 seasons. I don’t know why, but I like shows that never ends.
5. Doodling
From time to time, I pick up my ipad and just doodle. Recently I feel stuck with these colored owls that feels like a good fit to angry birds. It relaxed me and I enjoy it!
6. Tik Tock videos
I’d like to believe that this is a phase and will fade out, but this new trending app is so much fun. It is amazing the amount of creativity it allows. Whenever you open the app you’d feel the urge to just jump in and do your own silly video. I had created my own fair share of that but now on a break. Till when, I have no idea!
7. Reading
I am currently reading two very nice books. The first one is “The Book of Collateral Damage” by Sinan Antoon. It is the first time that I read for Sinan and I am impressed by his creativity. He is different than other Arab novelists. His book is deep, creative out of the box and entertaining all at the same time. It is an archive to everything that is lost in Iraq due to the war. Very sad and strong statement. Highly recommended.
Second book I am reading and finding it very engaging is “The Body: A guide for occupants” by Bill Bryson. It is very entertaining and informative at the same time. If you want to learn more about your body, then you have to get this book. They should make it a mandatory read for schools. After reading “Sapiens“, “Homo Deus” for Yuval Noah Harrari and “Why We Age And Why We Don’t Have To” for David Sinclair, I realised that I enjoy reading informative scientific books and decided to order “The Body”. It didn’t disappoint me at all.
What about you? How have you been managing during the lockdown?
Fadi Zaghmout فادي زغموت 