Stay Active and Productive During the Pandemic

Robby H. Abror

Anxiety is evident on the faces of children across the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2019 and has spread globally, infecting millions and resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. It is understandable that such expressions of worry arise; during the pandemic, the burden of life has increased for everyone. In summary, social issues are weighing heavily on our hearts and minds. The economy appears to have collapsed, with shops and malls closed, and online motorcycle taxi services have also been affected. Every aspect of life is entwined with the overwhelming anxiety surrounding this crisis.

The public was taken aback by the release of tens of thousands of prisoners to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus in jails. Additionally, thousands of people lost their jobs. As a result, criminal activities surged once again. One by one, those involved were arrested and returned to prison by the authorities or the police. The government found itself in a state of panic, overwhelmed by these events and phenomena.

What options do we have if we are required to quarantine or isolate ourselves at home for at least 14 days? The implementation of the lockdown, or as the government calls it, Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB), has significantly slowed down the country's economic activity.

Social Lockdown, Not a Lockdown of the Mind

The PSBB instruction has faced criticism for being implemented too late, as thousands in Indonesia have already been infected with the coronavirus. Additionally, the ongoing disputes and conflicts of interest between the central and regional governments have created confusion among the public. Many citizens have expressed their concerns that the response to the COVID-19 outbreak has been slow and unprofessional.

The daily updated data from the government is often regarded as misrepresentative of the real situation. Reports suggest that the actual numbers in the field are many times higher than what is publicly announced on screens or TV. The categories that are typically reported, such as confirmed positive cases, patients under surveillance (PDP), individuals under monitoring (ODP), asymptomatic individuals (OTG) who are at high risk due to close contact with confirmed cases, as well as those who have recovered or died, are likely to be undercounted. This discrepancy appears to be an attempt to obscure the reality. A headline from the Kompas daily on April 23, 2020, published just before the start of Ramadan, stated, "COVID-19 Data Transparency is Becoming Increasingly Urgent."

Interestingly, the delivery of news like this is still perceived as a hoax and can be viewed as spreading slander by some netizens. It is indeed “strange but true” regarding the situation in this country. Togetherness is fractured due to criticism or simply expressing truths and views that differ from the government’s stance. The essence of democracy appears stagnant, as if it’s not advancing. Critical perspectives are seen as threats and enemies. The truth is suppressed. What was once rice has now turned into porridge. History will remember this.

Critical voices appear to be ignored. Similarly, input and sharp criticism from economic and financial experts, such as Rizal Ramli—who served as the former Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Coordinating Minister for the Economy, and Minister of Finance during President Abdurrahman Wahid's administration—are often dismissed as cynical. nyinyir.

In a situation like this, it would be beneficial for us to move past the unhealthy and never-ending political turmoil. The terms "cebong" and "kampret" represent the ongoing conflict stemming from last year's presidential election, and they have become tools for restricting our thinking. As long as we remain trapped in this "Large Scale Mind Restriction" or in the cebong-kampret mindset, we will struggle to appreciate differences and will continue to be ensnared in a cycle of hatred and hostility.

For now, using praise, stickers, and “thumbs up” or “love” emoticons on social media can help break the mental barriers between opposing parties who dislike each other, allowing the world to share a moment of positivity. It’s important to remain friendly with everyone and keep working together. Don’t waste your energy on negativity; instead, focus on positive thoughts and productive activities. Remember, PSBB (Large-Scale Social Restrictions) does not mean PPBB (Large-Scale Mind Restrictions).

Striving for Excellence

Staying at home for more than a month, starting in mid-March 2020 and extending through the month of Ramadan and even beyond the Eid al-Fitr holiday, can feel long, tiring, and boring. Despite the Work From Home (WFH) order, only a small percentage of the hundreds of millions of people in this country are able to earn money from home, making it impossible to generalize everyone’s experience. Many people are facing confusion and even despair. Some children have died because they could not get even a morsel of food, unfortunately receiving assistance too late. Others have succumbed to COVID-19. Many are struggling to maintain their lives as best as they can.

There are five types of activities that can help fill the available space and time. These activities primarily involve tasks that can be done inside the house, although some may also be done outside to a limited extent. All of these creative projects can be started immediately, right here and with our own resources.

First, read books that may have never been touched before, or finish reading those you have started. Summarize the insights gained from these readings and store them in a digital database on your computer, laptop, or mobile phone. This resource can be useful for writing, preparing lectures, sermons, speeches, and more. Additionally, you can use the summarized content to create concept maps (mind maps), which could serve as drafts for a book, novel, short story, or poem.

Second, create a variety of creative activities, such as making handmade items. You can try your hand at flower arrangements, baking cakes, decorating rooms, and more. Additionally, consider selling your creations online or becoming a reseller for products sold by your friends. The Ramadan period is a great opportunity to make use of your skills. For example, some friends sell ruthob (young dates), the benefits of which can easily be found online, while others offer delicious Iranian dates. Although some people may have reservations and refer to them as "Shia dates," it's interesting to note that even dates can be associated with different ideologies.

Third, Fill your time with self-improvement and enhancing our environment. Perhaps we have been too busy to focus on personal growth or we might feel that we are already perfect. We often spend too much time judging others and forget to reflect on ourselves. We should strive to identify what we lack and work to improve those areas. Some say, "If you feel like a nobody, then do something!" If we don’t hold official positions, we can still engage in meaningful activities.

Philanthropy is about showing love for others by fostering a sense of humanity and providing social and financial assistance. During challenging times, like a pandemic, many people in our communities or congregations need our help. We can initiate open donations and create WhatsApp groups to mobilize friends and family to contribute funds or food. It’s important to remember that some individuals in need may feel embarrassed to ask for help; therefore, we should take the initiative to share and deliver food directly to their doorsteps. Let’s work together to assist the poor, support orphans, and donate a portion of our resources to those in need. Additionally, we should not forget to support our own relatives and family members.

Fourth, it's time to check our house for any maintenance issues we might have overlooked. We may have broken door hinges, dead lights in the rooms or outside, damaged wall paint, cracked ceramics, dysfunctional taps, sagging roof tiles, dirty bicycles, motorbikes, and cars. We also need to consider the children leaving items like clothes and plates lying around. We are the ones who best understand the “domestic problems” in our households, and now is the perfect time to address them. Gather your cleaning supplies: a broom, brush, soap, pliers, and any other tools you might need. Let's act quickly to make improvements. Who knows, maybe the neighborhood sparrows and cats will stop by to visit your well-maintained home!

Fifth¸ when this article was written, we were in the fasting month of Ramadan. There is nothing wrong with creating a list of ways to foster togetherness in the family during this time. Due to the pandemic, the MUI (Indonesian Ulema Council) issued a fatwa and various Islamic mass organizations urged worshippers to pray at home, which includes forgoing congregational prayers at the mosque, such as tarawih and breaking the fast together. It's certainly a sad situation, but understanding the history of tarawih can provide clarity. During these challenging times, we can focus on maximizing the five daily congregational prayers and tarawih alongside our family at home. We should also increase our reading and memorization of the Quran and strive to complete it.

There are many activities we can engage in to enrich our lives, such as surfing the internet to discover inspiring books. We can also download religious texts or uplifting films. Some recommended reading includes works by Samantha Ettus, such as The Experts' Guide to Doing Things Faster: 100 Ways to Make Life More Efficient (2008), Scott Belsky's “Making Ideas Happen” (2010), and Malti Bhojwani's “Don't Think of a Blue Ball” (2012). Additionally, the writings of well-known motivational figures like Napoleon Hill, Kevin Murray, John Maxwell, and Robert T. Kiyosaki offer valuable insights.

All religions provide meaningful traditions for fostering a spiritual and intellectual environment. Although many places of worship are currently closed, it doesn't mean that our connection with God is lost. In fact, spending time in solitude can deepen our worship and bring us closer to Him. In the silence, religion can become a comforting refuge of faith. In our busy lives, we may have drifted away from the presence of God, but He remains in the hearts of believers, ensuring that His devoted servants are not overwhelmed by sadness.

Stay optimistic and have a good day. Remember Allah, think positively, share, exercise, and be happy.

Written by: Robby H. Abror. The author serves as the Deputy Chairperson of the Association of Islamic Faith and Philosophy (AAFI) and is the Secretary of the Association of Indonesian Philosophy Education Providers (APPFI). Additionally, He serves as the Head of the Islamic Faith and Philosophy Study Program at the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Islamic Thought at UIN Sunan Kalijaga in Yogyakarta.