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Lockdown: A real-life paradoxical experience to survive in new normal conditions


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Thomas A Mattappallil
Christ (Deemed to Be University) in Bangalore, Karnataka / Department of Languages, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Cochin, Kerala, India
e-mail: thomas.mattappallil@res.christuniversity.in (corresponding author)


Saji Varghese
Christ University, Bangalore / St. Vincent Pallotti College of Engineering & Technology, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India


Bibin Sebastian
Department of Languages, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Cochin, Kerala, India


Jacob Alias
Department of Languages, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Cochin, Kerala, India


AGATHOS, Volume 15, Issue 2 (29): 407-420, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.13950291
© www.agathos-international-review.com CC BY NC 2024


Abstract: Lockdown is a paradoxical state of affairs implemented by the government to control the pandemic, in which people remain inside their homes and only leave for necessary purposes. In an ironic experience, it makes a case for people's spiritual aspects of health and well-being to maintain interpersonal interactions during the lockdown. A notion or concept known as "lockdown as a paradox" is applied to examine the rejuvenating influence on welfare, health, and interpersonal relationships. The real-life paradoxical experiences of people will be found through qualitative methods such as textual analysis and recorded testimonials. The main sources for the research include written accounts of people's actual experiences and literary works like My Day’s in Solitude by Annie Issac, Thoughts Unlocked: Lockdown Days Musings by G. Sreenivasan and The Day Before Today: Lockdown Stories by Gayathri Gill Lock Tales. Through personal accounts and first-hand accounts of individuals' experiences throughout the lockdown, the research observes good health and well-being. In the interim, it investigates how lockdowns might be used as a chance for all-encompassing growth.


Keywords: lockdown, paradox, new normal, survive, life


Introduction

A lockdown is a contradictory condition in which inhabitants of a nation are communicated to stay at home to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, where they are only allowed to leave their homes to obtain necessities (Piryani n.d., 1–5). The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a lockdown, affecting relationships and health. This research explores the impact of lockdowns on people’s well-being and relationships, aiming to maintain global sustainability. It uses testimonies and anecdotes to explore the resilience of interpersonal bonds and the “lockdown as a paradox” theory to analyze social connectedness, distancing, standards, identification, communication, inclusion, and isolation.

 This is further elaborated on with the concept of social influence by Wen Marc Lim in his article. He says that,

Taken collectively, the theory of social influence acknowledges that humans, unlike animals, possess volitional control (Lim & Weissmann, 2022), which means that individuals are capable of acting based on their own decision or choice. This is a fundamental tenet that needs to be acknowledged before any social process is considered, such as Kelman’s three-process theory of attitude change (1958) (e.g., compliance, identification, and internalization). Therefore, the degree to which the society (as espoused through social norms) can influence the individual (as reflected through social identification) will depend on how persuasive the social norms are in convincing the individual to identify with that society, and thus, shaping the individual’s desire for social connectedness and social distancing with that society, as well as the subsequent impact that these antecedents have on the individual’s degree of engagement in social interaction and the outcomes of that decision on the individual’s extent of inclusion and isolation in society (W. M. Lim 2022, 4).

Lockdown as a paradox influences the characters and people in lockdown literature to live in New Normal conditions. The term “new normal life” refers to a way of living in which people and characters must change to fit in with the new norms that society is establishing, such as new behaviours, habits, and moral standards (Cordero 2021, 344–45). The new normal life conditions are wearing masks, online classes, working from home, social distancing, and online prayer meetings which are evident in the primary sources.


Work from home

Sreenivasan discusses this in light of his experience with COVID-19 while working from home. He is aware of how his supervisor views this. When his supervisor inquired about his health, Sreenivasan began to consider the inconsistencies.

Did you think about the COVID-19 meeting, which has saved you today from bad remarks of your boss? How about that health report you got last week, which, if positive, would have broken your life? (Thoughts Unlocked: Lockdown Days Musings 34)

Sreenivasan, a worker, adapted to lockdown life without justification, maintaining work habits both inside and outside the home office. He recognized the benefits of remote work, including enhanced work-life balance, job satisfaction, and increased creativity, and his supervisor praised its flexibility (Wethal et al. 2022, 325–43). Despite his limitations, he was nevertheless able to integrate eating and travelling by wrapping up his work early. Sreenivasan gave a real response to his work-from-home policy and seemed to find it amazing. During the work-from-home phase, Sreenivasan may have adhered to abstract qualities, which might be items viewed as entities in and of themselves (Gardner n.d., 57–62).

 Sreenivasan adapted to his job by analyzing social, physical, temporal, and material limits. He intensified his examination and created a new normal by suppressing anxiety to maintain positive relationships. During lockdown, he realized his job controlled his home time, allowing him to maintain good health and well-being (Cropley et al. 2022, 3). He successfully managed his internal recuperation during the lockdown by controlling his behaviour and taking breaks. His response prompted the manager to assess the mental health of his staff, enabling them to understand the challenges of working from home and encourage others to do the same (Mohammed et al. 2022).

 He discovered that when working from home, he should continue to lead a healthy lifestyle. Sreenivasan discovered that removing himself from his profession was crucial for his physical and mental well-being. In response, he distanced himself and allowed room and time for others to adjust to the subtleties of lockdown limitations (Jaiswal and Arun 2022). His supervisor approved his work, and his inherent sense of well-being and self-worth drove him to survive the lockdown. He followed guidelines for physical and mental well-being, taking breaks for rehabilitation. This control stemmed from his work. In response to his work-from-home routine, Sreenivasan chose to see any disagreements constructively, divert his attention from worry, and concentrate on work autonomy (Mohammed et al. 2022, 1–21). Sreenivasan's response during the lockdown improved his adaptability, autonomy, and fulfilment, fostering relaxed interactions with family and coworkers. His response raised awareness, equipping them with mental skills and reducing work-related stress, resulting in cordial relationships with family and co-workers.


Online mass and prayers

Rev. Dr. Kurian Mattam claims that the lockdown limited his ability to perform social services and his ability to celebrate Holy Mass. Even though he complied with official rules, he considered them a barrier to the opportunity to grow in his faithfulness to God and others in conflicting circumstances. He realized that his unwavering faith in God gave him the strength to endure the limitations, pain, and misfortune of the lockdown. In addition, he strove to improve his interpersonal relationships by surrendering his internal needs to control his worldly interests. In addition, he took control of his life and learned to live with hope, which helped him manage his fears and problems. Because he was comfortable practising his beliefs ardently, his faith may be described as self-renouncing faith in this context. According to Upenieks, “Greater spiritual seeking during these times, though stressful at the moment, provide individuals with an opportunity to achieve greater maturity in their faith and lean on it more heavily to see them through difficult periods” (Upenieks L. et al. 2022, 857). He may even recommend the same to anyone he is in contact with. He created a positive attitude toward his contradictory living position, which helped him maintain balance in his life. It made it easier for him and the people he interacted with to maintain a cheerful outlook on life (Crea, Filosa, and Alessandri 2021, 739). Lockdown was therefore a fresh start and may be regarded as permission to exist in the new normal. According to Fr. Kurian, by affecting people's emotions, thoughts, and behaviours during the lockdown, this optimism brought about by faith and hope could restore our paradoxical lives.

 On the other hand, Fr. Kurian acquired the ability to deal with hardships, setbacks, and difficult circumstances in life. He developed this ability by living a devoted life to God and carrying out his responsibilities with sincere faith. It showed that he battled for everyone and himself in the paradoxical circumstance, acting like a knight of faith. In Kierkegaardian understanding, “to exist as spirit, as self, is to live in faith and as a knight of faith” (Hall 1995, 12-41). As a result, Fr. Kurian became a man of faith in difficult circumstances and gained a positive relationship with God, the “self,” and people. He prayed for the benefit of his faith communities, for instance. In response to the meaninglessness of life, Fr. Kurian found purpose in Holy Mass, prayer, and ongoing interaction with his friends. It demonstrated how one had to battle relentlessly against the odds to become hopeful in the face of absurdities and inconsistencies (Kusumalayam n.d., 45:228). Fr. Kurian’s acts demonstrated altruism and service-mindedness, which helped him build relationships within the religious community. It aided in his and his acquittances' ability to lead fulfilling lives (Kenkmann et al. 2022, 315–316). The freedom, charity, and compassion Fr. Kurian showed his friends demonstrated his optimistic and faith-filled reaction to the lockdown. He consequently felt joy from his never-ending pursuit of happiness, love, and the truth (Dion 2021, 25). The study looked at how Fr. Kurian and his followers' experiences in faith communities with self-examination, faith, hope, self-denouncing, common good, and altruistic service helped them think practically about living with reciprocal reciprocity in the new normal conditions during the lockdown (Rassendren n.d., 296).


Mother – video calls

Annie’s mother was unable to see Annie; she became agitated and inquired about how Annie survived the lockdown. She purchased a smartphone for her mother, who loaded WhatsApp as soon as she received it. Throughout the pandemic, she was specific about whom she wanted to visit and speak to.

On getting her smartphone, the first application she installed was WhatsApp. Though it was a test of patience for me, she finally learnt how to do video calls. She was really happy that she could see me while talking. But within a month, the video call become an occasional weekend ritual (My Day’s in Solitude 22).

Annie’s mother picked up the skill of using WhatsApp video calls during the lockdown. The other option available to Annie’s mother in this situation—since they are unable to meet in person—is for her to make video calls using WhatsApp. During the lockdown, her mother spent more time interacting with her, which helped to allay her fears of the COVID-19 pandemic. Annie feels that her mother consciously tries to care for her son and daughter and to be aware of their well-being. During the lockdown, she asks Annie for assistance in using her newly acquired smartphone, which she uses to make video calls on WhatsApp. While Annie acknowledges her responsibilities and has promised to teach her mother how to use WhatsApp video conversations, she has denied ever assisting her mother. This carries over to the obligation of looking out for one another while they are alone. Annie remembers how much her mother cared about her subjective well-being. The main purpose of her mother's WhatsApp video calls is to inquire about her daughter's wellbeing. Intimacy was demonstrated by Annie's mother's concern, which she felt throughout the lockdown and in the evidence she recalled. As a result, she will always remember her video calls throughout the lockdown.

 In Annie’s and her mother’s cases, video conversations were crucial to maintaining a sense of social contact. Annie recalled that her mother thought video chat was the best method to interact with people in person. It was used before the lockdown, but video chats were a common way for us to stay in touch with one another and communicate our emotions and worries to the people we care about. During the epidemic, Annie’s mother spoke with her via video conversations in this way. Annie recalled that after she began video-phoning her mother each time, it significantly lessened her worries about her. She could show Annie her love, care, and devotion, giving her more bravery and self-assurance during the lockdown (Marler, Hargittai, and Nguyen 2022, 37). By avoiding the restrictions of space and time, it was discovered that they shared a sense of continuity and continuous belonging. The development of a mother’s emotions was greatly aided by digital contact, which made Annie, while living alone, want to stay near her mother and remember her love for enduring the lockdown.


Social distancing

Gayathri Gill stated that she was unsure whether or not to adhere to social distancing since she was concerned that her family may contract the COVID-19 virus given its unpredictable spread. In her work, The Day Before Today: Lockdown Stories, she described her predicament of adhering to social separation as a lockdown precaution put in place to stop the COVID-19 virus from spreading.

SWEET COLD WINTRY SMILE. CHECK. Standing in my social distancing circle. Check. My eyes firmly on the doorway. Check. Nose inside mask inside hoodie. Hand inside gloves inside jacket. Check. Four People allowed in at a time. I’m third in line, this may take a while. Air pods in. Ambience out. Check out” (The Day Before Today: Lockdown Stories 45).

She stated that while people were urged to wear masks, wash their hands, use sanitiser, and maintain social distancing to prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading during the lockdown, they were nevertheless permitted to walk outside and buy necessities. Social separation keeps oneself apart from other people in public to avoid being touched or subjected to any visual or auditory cues from another person or characters (Saha, Goswami, and Saha 2021, 295–300). Despite adhering to social separation, Gayathri Gill was conflicted over her concern about her family contracting the COVID-19 virus due to its unpredictable spread. By keeping her distance from the businesses in public areas, she demonstrated her anxiety about what would happen after going out to buy necessities. Stated differently, she felt restricted in her movements both within her home and outside it. She became aware of how her neighbourhood, stores around her, layouts, and residence were all beginning to resemble paradoxical spaces.

 Gayathri Gill, on the other hand, was tired of the social separation that was in place throughout the lockdown. She was worried about the consequences of living in the house or other domestic space and going public, thus she found it hard to adhere to social separation. Because of the problems of social separation in public spaces, she decided to adapt to domestic spaces. In addition, she decided to practise social separation to safeguard her family and herself if she needed to go grocery shopping. Lockdown tactics caused her family and her to undergo abrupt adjustments. Gayathri Gill's sudden behavioural changes were brought on by the lockdown and were explained by Hall’s theory of cultural norms.

Cultural norms are the most important factors to describe the preferred social distance. Hall stated that what is intimate in one culture may be personal or social in another, and suggested that there are specific customs regarding the spatial behavior. He grouped the cultures into two different classes: contact and noncontact cultures. Contact cultures use closer interpersonal distances and engage in more touching, whereas people in noncontact cultures exhibit opposite preferences and behaviors (Sorokowska et al. 2017, 579).

Lockdown limited Gayathri Gill’s life in the non-contact culture, despite her deep yearning to be in the contact culture. She had to reconsider her life after becoming aware of her existence, and she bravely and optimistically challenged both contact and non-contact cultures. The most beneficial adjustment to her daily routine and behaviour was her decision to purchase groceries online. She closely adhered to lockdown protocols to stop the spread of infection and support or enhance his family's health and wellbeing (Hu et al. 2021, 1127). In addition, Gill overcame feelings of uncertainty, loneliness, and existential fear brought on by the social separation that ensued during the lockdown. The digital media outlets assisted her in lowering her fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus (Zolnikov and Furio 2021, 249).

 On the other hand, Gayathri Gill decided to stay in the domestic area to safeguard her family from the COVID-19 virus. According to the study, she made the right decision by buying online, which allowed her to spend a lot of time with her family. She spoke with her family, friends, and neighbours via video conversations on WhatsApp, which served as a substitute platform. Gayathri Gill conducted office and personal meetings in their private area using Google Meetings, Zoom, Imo, and Microsoft Teams (Teater, Chonody, and Hannan 2021, 44). In addition, she could go on with her family's needs during the lockdown. Her personal, home, and professional environments had all become liminal, according to the study. Consequently, she was able to give her life purpose in this transitional area. The study also looked at how she adjusted to this new method of supporting her life and relationships since she believed that by living together in the home, their lives were becoming more meaningful (Dykstra 2009, 91–100). They had enough time to spend together after a long time because of the lockdown. In addition, she helped the family members feel a sense of acceptance in the contradictory home environment. In particular, this belongingness is described by Baumeister and Leary’s Belongingness Model (1995) as humans having, “a pervasive drive to form and maintain at least a minimum quantity of lasting, positive, and significant interpersonal relationship” (Smith, Leonis, and Anandavalli 2021, 14). It made it easier for them to live under the new normal. She thus took care of her family’s physical and emotional health, strengthening their relationship.


Google meet, Zoom and Microsoft team – online education

Tensin stated that he was not enrolled in any universities or schools because their parents were afraid of the COVID-19 virus spreading and would not send them. Simultaneously, students’ anxiety levels in household settings increased due to increased screen usage and smartphone addiction. It harmed the psychological and physical well-being of the learner. Several factors contributed to his increased stress levels, including his worry about his education, getting out and seeing friends, travelling, taking online classes, and his safety and that of his family members (Hargreaves et al. 2020, 1917–1923). He felt hopeless and anxious because he thought his parents were not getting along (Tso et al. 2022, 54). Tensing, in particular, realized that being under lockdown was denying him the chance to explore and discover the purpose of his life, which made him fearful of being alive.

 Conversely, he claimed to be less physically active, have inconsistent sleep patterns, and have a poor diet, which led to weight gain and a decline in cardiorespiratory fitness, as well as social and emotional stress for their family and financial strain (Cortés-Morales et al. 2022, 381–90). Being confined to a room hindered his ability to develop normally and impaired his social cognition and emotional development. Strict prohibitions were imposed upon him and his friends, such as the inability to play in parks or streets and the prohibition against touching anything (Katawal 2014, 153). In addition, his unemployed parents were living in poverty. At first, he thought that the lockdown meant he could stay at home. He dreamed of being free to go as they pleased, but in the end, they discovered how detrimental starvation at home was to their social, emotional, and physical health. These mental health issues had an impact on the pupils’ academic performance and were evident in their home lives.

 He desired to live a meaningful life in his own home and to be free in their eyes. He investigated how the lockdown limitations increased their stress, worry, and terror. He experienced long-term emotional effects from this traumatic moment, which lingered in their thoughts. Unfortunately, he was unaware that he was under stress. He consequently recognized the significance of mental health (Idoiaga Mondragon et al. 2022, 8).

Mental health does not exist on its own. It is an integral and essential part of overall health, which can be defined in at least three ways – as the absence of disease, as a state of the organism that allows the full performance of all its functions or as a state of balance within oneself and between oneself and one’s physical and social environment (Bhugra et al. 2013, 3).

After looking into his mental state, he discovered that he was even less fond of not playing, hanging out with friends, and doing things. During the lockdown, he felt uneasy, uncared for, and unduly reliant on his parents for everything. Additionally, it informed Tensin about health issues like anaemia, sinusitis, and migraines (Majumdar, Biswas, and Sahu 2020, 1193). Tensin's teachers and parents helped students recover from psychological distress through counselling, preparing them for new normal conditions. They encouraged open communication, creative activities, household work, and lockdown measures, allowing students to live freely and behave normally (Ray, Goswami, and Kumar 2022, 7). He took the initiative in reading habits which encouraged him to improve his linguistic abilities. These empirical experiences made him more confident and bolder in the paradoxical spaces.

 Consequently, he responded to their dilemma of attending classes by attending meetings frequently to enhance his interaction level in online classes. He said that his college uses synchronous or asynchronous communication to solve the major problems faced by students, parents, and teachers (F. P. Lim 2017, 230–34). It solved the dilemmas experienced by him and his friends in social spaces. Besides, he finds that teachers gave creative assignments that would make them think and move within their space for academic activities (Forbes et al. 2012, 273–80). The author's e-learning habits transformed their academic approach, fostering a better understanding of collective values and reducing anxiety during lockdown, while also enhancing the virtualization process in domestic spaces. He experienced attention, socialization, encouragement, and support from his family and staff during the lockdown. Consequently, he told the staff to give creative assignments to people of higher- standards who were self-sufficient (Palau et al. 2021, 190). Online education provided a stress-free way for students and staff to make their lives meaningful in domestic spaces during lockdown. It helped parents cope by cutting fees and imparting holistic values. Students expressed interest in returning to college through online meetings, and Professor Patricia responded by using online modes for classes, counselling, meetings, and mentoring (Cahoon, McGill, and Simms 2021, 443–450).


Conclusion

The study found that the new normal conditions like online prayers, classes, social distancing, WhatsApp video calls, and working from home have drastically changed the lifestyle of people during the lockdown. It shows the strong spirit of people in the recorded testimonies and lockdown literature to survive in the new normal conditions. The study also identifies that the dilemma and paradoxical choices made them choose the right values—attachment, love, care, well-being, and belongingness—for them to survive in the new normal. Lockdown, as a paradoxical situation in the initial stages of people’s lives, has become part of their lives. The above testimonies, experiences, and anecdotes of people are true examples of people’s lives in harmony in the post-COVID world.


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