Some People Are Thriving In the Pandemic. How?

While the stress of constant change and minimal ability to plan the future has been a major part of the pandemic, not everyone’s worse for it. For some, the pandemic has offered some unique opportunities for improved mental health.

 

Decreased Social Pressure

For those who find it difficult to say no to every outing or favor, reduced social contact may have helped lower stress. Whether it’s that you’re not getting as many requests or you’re more comfortable with saying “no” now that you have a “good excuse,” the resulting rest and peace of mind you’re receiving from fewer social obligations is actually improving your mental health.

 

Less Running Around

While many felt the cabin fever, others felt the freedom of simply getting to be home. You may be driving less due to working from home, searching the stores for unnecessary items to buy, or not having to tote the kids back and forth to practice. With less open, and potentially even less safe to partake in, you might find that you’re on the road less and have more time in the day.

 

Pollution Reduction

This isn’t just the global reduction in pollution I’m talking about—which is certainly good for physical and mental health. I’m also talking about the pollution that can come from toxins from mold to cleaning products that you might find more of in stores and office buildings than in the more controlled environment of the homestead. Intense florescent lighting and increased wires and electrical waves can also be a drain on mind and body. Working from home and going to stores only when absolutely necessary may be benefitting you by more than just reducing your chances of getting COVID-19.

 

More Time

As suggested above, without having as many opportunities to fill your days to brim with outings and errands, you may find yourself with extra time. Extra time opens up many possibilities including extra time for housework, to devote to self-care, to tend to your unfinished projects, and to spend with your children. While this can get out of hand quickly and become overwhelming, the people who are looking for that little bit of extra time are finding success through use of it.

 

Learning Something New

Early on in the pandemic, people dove headfirst into baking and other homemaking projects. Learning something new didn’t end with recipes and home improvement, however. Just about everyone has had to learn a new way of life through this pandemic and, even if you found it stressful, it has challenged you to becoming more aware, seeing your environment differently, and learning some new tactics for daily living. Learning, as I’ve talked about before, keeps the mind active and protected.

 

While I know it is not all a silver lining, this is something we’re in for a while longer. Some people have thrived because the way the world worked before wasn’t working for them. I hope that if you’re one of those people you take the lessons learned from this and continue to do what works for your going forward. If you have been doing more self-care, don’t let it stop when the pandemic is over. If you have been aware of your surroundings more than ever, don’t stop being mindful when the pandemic is over. If you got something out of this, don’t let it go.

The world is full of negative experiences and this is a big one. However, if you get something good out of it, hold onto that. You were meant to have it.