9 stories to help you stay optimistic during tough times

1. History of the army past

Semyon Filimonov

Permian

Because of self-isolation, I just had a lot of free time. You don't need to get to work, you can't meet friends and relatives - I sit around the clock in an apartment. So that life does not turn into a routine, I began to come up with different ways to entertain myself. The first step was to take apart the cabinets. I advise everyone to do the same if you haven't already!

In the closet, I found long-forgotten things: souvenirs brought from trips to the sea, gifts from people close to me, and even soldier's paraphernalia, which I have preserved from my time in the army. Personal military regimental number, photos from the oath of the battle banner - very pleasant nostalgia.

2. A story about a ridiculous hairstyle

Masha Pchelkina

Moscow

Usually my husband has short hair, so self-isolation was a test for him. Around the fourth week of home regime, he decided he was overgrown. And by the sixth I had no more strength to endure the "long" hair, and he asked me to help.

There was only a beard trimmer on hand. We decided to try it, but for some reason we set it to 1 mm at once, and then everything went out of control. I suffered for a couple of hours, and only shaved a few square centimeters. The husband looked like Gary Oldman in The Fifth Element. It looked funny and ridiculous. It couldn't go on like this.

We began to think about how to simplify the process, and remembered that my husband's mother had a hair clipper. We live somewhere about half an hour away from each other - we would not have been able to pick it up on our own. But there was a way out: we ordered the "Delivery" tariff from Yandex. Taxi. The machine was with us in half an hour. With her, the process went many times faster: in 10 minutes the haircut was completed.

They did not send the machine back. Who knows how long self-isolation will last!

3. Broken phone story

Irina Snegireva

Marfino, Moscow region

A couple of days before the introduction of the access control, I bought a new mobile phone. The joy of the purchase did not last long: in less than a week, it simply stopped turning on. I looked for advice on the Internet, tried everything I could - to no avail, and then, on the advice of my daughter, called the company service center.

From there a courier came to me and took my phone for diagnosis. What exactly was the problem, I don't know yet, but now the smartphone is being repaired under warranty. They regularly send me SMS - they tell me at what stage the work is. And when the phone is repaired, the courier will bring it back.

4. A story about dangerous desires

Victoria Korovashkova

Nizhny Novgorod

On April 2, I turned 30. I didn't want to have a big holiday. The closer the date got, the louder the voice of my inner introvert sounded inside.

What can I say, dream more carefully: desires tend to come true. Exactly a week before my personal holiday, our entire office was sent home to work remotely, and on March 30, self-isolation began in Nizhny.

Since then, as if someone turned on the accelerated mode. When you are at home 24 hours a day, you stop noticing the days of the week. Sometimes you are surprised that the alarm clock is silent in the morning, and then you realize that the next working week is just over. But self-isolation also has its advantages: finally, there was time for things that I constantly put off. I remembered my forgotten hobby and I am embroidering brooches from beads. It's a pity, there is nowhere to wear them.

5. A story about building materials that save lives

Dmitry Mamonov

Director of delivery to the client in the omnichannel format "Leroy Merlin", Moscow

Due to the self-isolation regime, we had to transfer most of the stores from the standard work format to the so-called Dark Store. We do not allow visitors to the sales areas, and the employees are focused on assembling and issuing orders - both for self-pickup and delivery. We had to significantly strengthen our logistics capacity, for this we attracted Yandex. Taxiand they took over about 10% of our deliveries.

Over this month, we have had two interesting cases. In the first, a client called and said that there was a fire in her country house. Building materials were urgently needed to return at least a roof over their heads. The delivery schedule was fully scheduled for several days in advance. But we got into the position, promptly collected the order and sent it on the same day using Yandex. Taxi.

The second case was not so severely damaged, but also urgent. In a private house, electricity was generated by a generator, but it broke down. The whole family was left without light and heat, but we quickly resolved the issue with delivery.

6. The story of the mechanical "dog"

Vlad Pokusa

Moscow

I work for an IT company, so I switched to remote work without any problems. I used to spend 2 hours a day on the road, but now I don't - I started getting better sleep, working more productively and spending more time with my wife and cat.

But, to be honest, by the third week of self-isolation from sitting around the clock at home I was tired. So I go out for a walk within the permitted limits: every day for an hour before bedtime around the house. To make it not boring, I threw competitions on activity in the Apple Watch to my friends.

Even in Moscow, it is allowed to walk the dog. I don't have it, but I have a drone. Every time I joke that I have him instead of a dog, and on weekends I go out with him for a walk - I lead him next to me. While walking, I launch it and shoot a video, and then edit at home. This allows you to somehow distract yourself.

7. The story of the black cat and online performances

Anastasia Lapteva

Kazan

At the end of March, our university was transferred to a remote mode. Many students left to sit out the pandemic in their cities, including my friends. In Kazan, they left their cute black cat Felicia. My neighbor and I were asked to walk and feed her. We did this for some time, and then we thought that the cat was probably lonely, and decided to take her to us. We did it at our own peril and risk: the landlord is against pets. But I didn't want to leave the cat alone, and there was no need to walk down the street once again. Now three of us are isolated: me, a neighbor and an illegal cat.

There is no time to get bored: in the morning I teach English online, in the afternoon I “go” to couples, and in the evening my neighbor and I watch films or performances. By the way, a plus of self-isolation is that many theaters show their repertoire online. I am a big fan of the Gogol Center, but I could not attend their performances, because I do not live in Moscow. Now I watch them on YouTube.

8. A story about a cozy birthday

Ekaterina Churakhina

Moscow

On April 22, I turned 30. I was planning a cozy poetic apartment block: I would read poetry with guests, play the guitar, cook food together. There were about 30-40 people to come, including friends from other cities who even bought tickets. Alas, life had its own plans.

I didn't want to believe that everything would have to be canceled, but at the beginning of April it became clear that Plan B. Replaced loft apartment with Zoom party. It turned out to be cool: we chatted, sang, danced, played the guitar. One friend made a thematic quiz about literature and art and even added a few questions about me.

The most memorable moment of the whole party: friends asked me to turn away, and they themselves took cupcakes with lighted candles in their hands. I made a wish and blew them out remotely. It was so touching, I even burst into tears.

The party lasted four and a half hours. They also gave me a bunch of gifts: on April 22, probably 15 couriers arrived, and then for several more days I received flowers, tea, fruits and other pleasant things. According to my observations, the most popular gift in spring 2020 is food: both ready-made meals and just groceries. By the start of the party, I had a full table, I didn't even have to cook.

I'm so glad that I spent my birthday just like that. The holiday turned out to be very emotional, and even my friends living in other countries were able to visit it. So if an important date fell on self-isolation, do not be discouraged - look for pluses in any circumstances and enjoy the moment.

9. A story about family leisure and a gift to a friend

Robert Valeev

Kazan

I work as a buyer in a DIY hypermarket chain, our assortment includes essential goods, so the work did not stop for a day. My colleagues and I were immediately given a certificate giving the right to get to the office and back. For a month now, all my movements along the street have been the path "home - work - home". Plus, sometimes I go to grocery stores and pharmacies near my home.

Children perceive self-isolation very differently. For my son, this is a holiday or a very long vacation. Of course, he misses socializing with peers. And physical activity is not enough. But mom is now at home all day, and I spend all my free time with the child. We play, read, do mathematics, sculpting, watch new cartoons, train on the instructions of the trainer from the section. And even sometimes we go out into the yard for a walk, but, of course, we avoid contact with other children, and when we come home we treat everything with an antiseptic.

Meeting with couriers has become an integral part of life. We arrange delivery 4-5 times a week: we order ready-made food, groceries, clothes. I even chose a birthday present for a friend. He has it on June 12, but I decided to order in advance while I have free time. If self-isolation is suddenly extended until summer, I will send the gift by courier.