Author: Ng Gha Yuan / Sri KDU Secondary School

I’d be lying to myself if I said that I wasn’t a little ecstatic upon hearing the news of the lockdown that was initiated in our country a few months prior. A few extra days off? Any high school student would gladly take it with minimal complaints. However, I can’t say that I feel the same anymore as those few days slowly turned into weeks and then months. Boredom has been slowly eating away at my mind with each passing second and it’s driving me insane, to say the least. I am sure you feel the same way too. Hence, I’ve conjured up a few ideas that could alleviate our misery during the ongoing Movement Control Order (MCO).

It is without a doubt that exercising is a very beneficial pastime. Being cooped up indoors is not an excuse to skip your daily workouts. Thanks to mankind’s greatest invention, the Internet, you can easily access a variety of free workout videos online and perform them right on your bedroom floor. Exercising has been proven to brighten your mood as it triggers your brain to release ‘happy chemicals’. There have also been a few workout challenges circulating the internet which can help motivate you to stay fit during the MCO period.

Also, I’m surprised that not many of our fellow Malaysians have jumped on the balcony concert bandwagon. There was only one such occurrence which happened at the beginning of the MCO period and it seemed to have ended there and then. Malaysians should really continue this trend as not only does it spread positivity in a community, but it also promotes good-neighbourliness. All it takes to host a balcony concert is some dedication and hopefully coordination.

Lastly, the MCO period should also be seen as an opportunity for organisations to host competitions that people usually don’t have the time to participate in. For example, short film competitions. With almost everyone having ample time on their hands now, they could simply take part in the competition to try something new. These types of competitions can help spark creativity in our nation and maybe even help people discover their newfound passion.

In conclusion, many fun activities can be carried out during the MCO period. The MCO period should not only be seen as a burden but also as a chance for all of us to grow and discover ourselves.