Now that we’ve passed the one year mark for quarantine or quarantine-adjacent lifestyles, it’s useful to take a step back and consider how Covid has changed how we think about our lives. There is no doubt that this time has impacted our communities for good, and while there have certainly been devastating effects, we thought we would take a look at some of the ways we may have improved as individuals and even as a society.
Empathy for loneliness
For many busy professionals, parents, students, and outgoing individuals, the concept of loneliness might have felt far away. When the world shut down and we were all confined to our own residences, we all got a taste of what life looks like for some seniors who are much more isolated than we imagined. While none of us would have wished the feeling of loneliness on others, the silver lining we can bring out of it is to remember those who are living a more lonely life and make a point of helping to alleviate that feeling. Whether it’s offering to help a neighbor do household chores like cleaning the kitchen or organizing the garage, or just calling to check in and see how someone is doing today, we’ve all learned that the little things make a big difference in getting feelings of connection and wellness back in our lives.
Rediscovering interests or new hobbies
For the many people who find themselves with long-term unemployment as a result of the virus, it may be a comfort to finally have time for hobbies or interests that fell by the wayside in previously busy workdays. It’s vital to keep mental health in mind when in a major period of transition. Being able to fill some of our time with reading, learning new skills, artistic pursuits, and even learning new job skills can be a very fulfilling use of time stuck at home. In what are otherwise stressful times, it can be helpful and productive to focus on doing what you love, and can even lead you to a new life path.
Having time to contemplate where we are
In a chaotic life filled with work, family, friends, relationships, and obligations, the passage of time moves quickly, and often without us really noticing. It’s easy to wake up one day and realize that months or even years have gone by without much awareness. Sometimes we can even feel despair upon realizing that a milestone has gone by or a goal hasn’t yet been achieved as we had hoped. Having to stay home after losing a job and social connections, especially those who live alone, has left many of us with much more time to examine our lives. Taking time out to really consider the trajectory of our lives has led many people to rethink priorities, career paths, and other major life decisions.
Getting reacquainted with immediate family
For those with children at home, we have worked through the immense challenges of distance learning and work from home directives. In the midst of all the difficulties we have faced, the silver lining is getting to know our kids and families even better. Spending lots of quality time together in our busy scheduled lives used to be more difficult, but now we have come together more often. Maybe you’ve learned the words to your son’s favorite song, or perhaps you’ve gotten to observe your oldest teaching your youngest something she learned in school at that age. It’s overwhelming to be a full-time parent, teacher, and worker, so the simple joys of childhood take on a whole new importance when you get to be around the kids all the time.
Some people are finding that they get to see a whole new side to their partner as well. The working personality that usually doesn’t get brought home can spark a new fascination for couples. It can be fun to see the person you love doing what he or she does during the day when you’d normally be apart. Of course, simultaneous Zoom meetings in a small apartment can provide for difficult logistics, but we’re looking on the bright side here!
While being at home together all the time can feel crowded sometimes, it’s important to take a moment to notice all the little things that we can enjoy while we’re in this time. Is there anything you’ll miss about staying at home when the world fully opens up again? Let us know in the comments!
