Practising silence at home

Still, 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 anyway.

In this age of coronavirus, large swathes of the planet are currently under lockdown and various travel restrictions have been issued by multiple governments. As authorities urge the public to practise social distancing and an increasing number of companies implement work from home schemes, it is likely that many of us will end up spending more time alone. Whether we like it or not, our days of hyper-connectivity, ultra-mobility and 24-7 schedules have temporarily ground to a halt.

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While it is easy to feel a sense of resentment at having to endure mandated doses of solitude, why not look at it from another perspective instead? All that extra time gained from not having to commute to work or by postponing non-essential activities means we finally have the opportunity to take a step back from the hustle of daily life. Sure, you could while hours away bingeing on Netflix or scrolling through nonsensical social media posts. Or, you could have a Nyepi-inspired time-out during your free time to give yourself a mental “retreat”.

For instance, take a mini digital detox by putting your devices away for a few hours. After all, nobody needs to scroll through social media obsessively for up-to-the-minute Covid-19 updates. Instead, enjoy a news-free meal—individual servings please—with small groups of your family or friends and enjoy a good old-fashioned conversation instead.

In Singapore, thanks to the stringent measures the government have put into place as well as the efficient and effective healthcare system that we have, it is still relatively safe to meet and go out, as long as we are sensible about it.

Or use some of this newfound free time to focus on your inner wellbeing by catching up on your sleep debt, taking a long indulgent bath, picking up a good book or signing up for an interesting course to grow your own knowledge.

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There are so many ways to savour some much needed self-care in these times. This quietude is also a good distraction-free opportunity to embark on stress-management practices like meditation or mindfulness.

Need some fresh air? Go for a walk in the park, exercise outdoors or have a picnic by the sea. With fewer people out and about, you might just chance upon some wildlife sightings in Singapore’s cityscape, like the ever-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 forward to the future when the virus is finally brought under control. We will all eventually return to our regular, hectic urban lifestyles. But maybe by then, we might have made it enough of a habit to look for momentary pauses that we are now better able to appreciate the beauty of being still. This might arguably be one of the most important lessons we can take away 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 allow us to revisit our priorities in life, to become more 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 centre of our aspirations.”

Access is a collaboration between Singapore Tatler and CNA Luxury.