In an age of social distancing, here's how to appreciate the joys of slow living
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In an age of social distancing, here'south how to capeesh the joys of slow living
In these unprecedented times when countries are on lockdown and anxiety levels are spiking from having to practice social distancing, take a cue from Nyepi, the annual Balinese twenty-four hours of silence, in finding the joy in being still.
Take time out to terminate that novel you've been pregnant to, or take hold of upwards on correspondence the old-fashioned way. (Photograph: Unsplash/Annie Spratt)
25 Mar 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 21 May 2022 11:03AM)
Every year during Nyepi, the Balinese new year, the entire Island of the Gods goes silent for 24 hours. On this day, which in 2022 occurs today (from 6am, Mar 25 to 6am, Mar 26), everything literally grinds to a halt.
Businesses and roads are closed. Internet, television, and social media access are suspended. Simply vital public services such as hospitals, the burn down department and the police force are granted access. Everybody on the island, locals and foreigners akin, have to find silence, which includes non talking.
Typically, travellers would avoid visiting Bali during this fourth dimension, so that they would not become "stuck" with zilch to do. That is a chip of a fallacy. People still exercise things, albeit in a much more than muted manner. As the bustling island temporarily hushes, for the Balinese information technology is a time for quiet introspection away from the distractions of the modernistic world. I've been told that equally information technology gets nighttime, the night sky is peculiarly bright because there is no lite pollution from street lamps and building lights. And with no vehicles on the road, the polluted air also improves for the day.
In recent years, an increasing number of upscale wellness resorts on the island have started to hold silent meditation retreats during Nyepi to give visitors the opportunity to experience the profound benefits of this unique festival.
Unfortunately, 2022 volition not be the year I get to be a function of this. Equally a responsible denizen of the world trying to practise my part in reducing further transmission of COVID-19, I sadly but willingly cancelled my upcoming plans to visit Bali.
PRACTICING SILENCE AT Dwelling house
However, you do not necessarily have to travel to experience a moment of contemplation. In fact, most of us are probably currently going through some form of enforced silence anyhow.
In this age of coronavirus, large swathes of the planet are currently under lockdown and various travel restrictions take been issued by multiple governments. As authorities urge the public to practice social distancing and an increasing number of companies implement work from dwelling schemes, it is probable that many of u.s. volition finish upward spending more fourth dimension alone. Whether we like it or not, our days of hyper-connectivity, ultra-mobility and 24-seven schedules have temporarily footing to a halt.
While it is easy to feel a sense of resentment at having to suffer mandated doses of solitude, why non look at it from some other perspective instead? All that extra time gained from not having to commute to work or past postponing not-essential activities means nosotros finally take the opportunity to accept a step back from the hustle of daily life. Certain, you could while hours away bingeing on Netflix or scrolling through nonsensical social media posts. Or, you could have a Nyepi-inspired fourth dimension-out during your free time to give yourself a mental "retreat".
For instance, accept a mini digital detox by putting your devices away for a few hours. After all, nobody needs to scroll through social media obsessively for upwardly-to-the-minute COVID-19 updates. Instead, enjoy a news-free meal – individual servings please – with small-scale groups of your family or friends and enjoy a good old-fashioned conversation instead.
In Singapore, thank you to the stringent measures the government have put into identify likewise every bit the efficient and effective healthcare organisation that we have, it is however relatively safe to meet and get out, as long as we are sensible about it.
Or employ some of this newfound gratuitous time to focus on your inner wellbeing by catching upwards on your sleep debt, taking a long indulgent bathroom, picking up a good book or signing upward for an interesting course to grow your own knowledge.
In that location are so many ways to savour some much needed self-care in these times. This quietude is also a practiced lark-costless opportunity to embark on stress-management practices like meditation or mindfulness.
Need some fresh air? Go for a walk in the park, do outdoors or have a picnic by the ocean. With fewer people out and virtually, yous might just chance upon some wild fauna sightings in Singapore'southward cityscape, like the always-popular smooth-coated otters of Marina Bay or a family of red junglefowl (the wild ancestor of the domestic chicken) in Tanjong Pagar. The simple joys of nature are here, right at our doorsteps.
Fast frontward to the futurity when the virus is finally brought nether control. We will all eventually return to our regular, hectic urban lifestyles. Simply maybe by so, we might have made it enough of a addiction to look for momentary pauses that we are now better able to appreciate the beauty of beingness still. This might arguably be one of the well-nigh of import lessons nosotros can accept abroad from this pandemic – besides the importance of frequent hand-washing, of course.
As French molecular geneticist-turned-Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard wrote in a recent newsletter, "These unfavourable circumstances can also let united states to revisit our priorities in life, to become more than clearly aware of what really counts in our existence, and to put friendship, benevolence, social ties, the quality of relationships with others, mutual aid and cooperation, and all that contributes to a life worth living, back at the middle of our aspirations."
"These unfavourable circumstances tin can too allow united states of america to revisit our priorities in life, to get more than conspicuously aware of what really counts in our existence, and to put friendship, benevolence, social ties, the quality of relationships with others, mutual assistance and cooperation, and all that contributes to a life worth living, back at the centre of our aspirations." – Matthieu Ricard
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