How I Transformed my Life Thanks to Lockdown

Introduction

Like most people, I cannot pretend to have welcomed the announcement of the lockdown in a positive light.

To understand my situation, I’ll begin with a little flashback to introduce myself.

My name is Asma Elferkouss, I graduated from Sorbonne University in Paris with a master's degree in Applied Economics, then a master's degree in Translation.  When announcing the lockdown, I was still completing my studies and working as a trainer in two language centres. 

I was juggling all of my different activities without having time to focus on myself... I never had enough time, and I felt obliged to be constantly doing something.

It was not easy to stop overnight. I am used to being stressed and I felt stressed just being trapped between four walls, not being able to go anywhere.

As someone who is always fleeing, I found myself constrained.

In the beginning, I kept myself as busy as I could, watching television shows and comedies in particular.  But, I got tired of that very quickly...

I felt imprisoned in the true sense of the word. Oppressed, with no idea of how to escape...

Then, it clicked for me: I could die too, and I couldn't accept it, first out of fear and then out of spite. I didn't want to die when I hadn't yet lived...

Having nothing to lose, I started making small changes in my daily life, and they made all the difference.

Today, I work for myself. I published my first novel In the Pursuit of Meaning and I am learning how to use my skills in service of my own ambitions and my life mission.

Below, I am sharing some practices that I have used to help me change my life.  I