Welcome to our present reality. It began (sort of…) with great battles for toilet paper; who knows how it will end? But I have some news for you: the world is not ending. Although no one (for the most part) predicted the proportions of this pandemic and no one can predict the future, the present stands open to opportunity.
Taking all of this into consideration, I present to you a blog on how to stay sane…pandemic edition.
What to Do About the News
Lately, the media has been absolutely berserk. You check the weather and…Coronavirus. You check the news for five seconds and…Coronavirus. You decide to listen to music on YouTube and…Coronavirus.
Yes, this situation deserves all of the concern in the world, but it is smothering everything else and driving some people crazy.
Please educate yourself and keep updated, but do not…I repeat…do not let the media augment your fear past the point of stability. For instance, I used to check the number of cases in Mississippi and the United States every five seconds, and it began to make me feel incredibly anxious and hopeless. Now I only check once a day, document the numbers, and think of it less as “this is the end” and more like “wow, this is truly exponential”. I have no idea if that means anything to you, but I guess I am trying to say that you need to alter your perspective; detach yourself a little bit and do whatever works for you. I also include, beneath the numbers (on a sticky note) something that I am currently grateful for. Somehow, that has changed my perspective a lot.
Also, I said it earlier, and I will say it again: the world is not ending. Stop reading doomsday articles (unless you cope that way, but I still would not recommend it).
Adapting
Adapting to life at home, 24-7, has proven difficult for numerous individuals, I can guess. And it should. Even if you are usually a hermit, quarantine means no fast food, limited trips to the grocery store, and restrictions on even necessary travel. For a lot of families, never before has every member been under one roof for this much time. People with careers are working from their computer more than ever, and almost all students are suddenly enrolled in virtual classes.
Sometimes change can create a lot of fear and irritation, especially if you are losing something once guaranteed in the process. Change can also cause you to feel like you have no control nor motivation, and you may sink into an “in-between” state.
Never give up, though. Figure out what works with you through a series of trials, and do not be afraid to make mistakes. Put together a schedule, and completely disregard it or make another one if you ignore it. Continuously alter your sleeping schedule and daily routine until your level of productivity sits well with you. And sometimes you even have to change your outlook.
Try to hold onto routine, but realize that the future lies too far ahead for clarity, so the present matters more than sticking as close to the “usual” as possible.
Oh, Yeah, Outlook…
Perspective matters a lot, more than you know.
Although I will not say that happiness is entirely a choice, I will tell you that trying makes a difference.
Take off days. If you wake up and suddenly feel horrible, do not force yourself to sit at your computer for hours doing work. Try to complete maybe one assignment and then watch something or look to a hobby. But when everyday of the week turns into an off day, something needs attention. Listen to yourself. Look inward and make adjustments.
Stop thinking “I can’t”.
Stop focusing on everything you have lost, everything that is falling apart.
Do not get tangled up in all of the negative—past, present, or future.
And do not become deceived entirely by nostalgia.
Stop reminiscing about Taco Bell and nacho cheese fries; focus on the now. My heart feels heavy for the brave souls suffering through a relentless diet of canned vegetables and bread, but you can go to Taco Bell when people stay at home like they should, and the number of cases stop doubling. Seriously, please stop taking a world tour; I would like to eat fries before I have white hair. But, anyway, stop reminiscing. If you spend 90% of your day writing sad poetry and listening to sad music, you are letting yourself down (spend 5% of your doing that, obviously). And, no, you should definitely not dwell on the present or future that could have been. I am so sorry you bought a prom dress, but you could wear it to your online classes. (:
(Forgive me if that sounded sarcastic; I was actually being nice.)
So, yeah…focus on what you have to do, and live in the present. If you have to, spend a few days here and there wallowing in melancholy, but adjust to utilize this time to the best of your ability. Stop thinking that you will resume living when when normalcy returns; this is the new normal for the time being. Believe in yourself, never settle, and find what works for you.
Personally, I struggled with finding a new routine. I feel like people spend too much time building routines and adapting to environments that change is startling. I found it difficult to stop associating my house with a weekend mentality. I had no motivation nor inspiration, and I missed my dorm room at MSA where I spent countless hours completing assignments. Then I brought home my plants, and it made a huge difference. Originally, I felt like I was about to suffocate (for some reason). But I tried my best to rearrange my room a bit so that it became a place I actually wanted to live in. And I feel a lot better.
A Few Suggestions to Retain Peace of Mind:
- Drink tea (this has helped me so much, especially if I am stressed)
- Surround yourself with what makes you happy (even plastic dinosaurs)
- Create (even if that means spending thirty minutes decorating your notes with calligraphy)
- Find parts of your day that you look forward to
- Do not isolate yourself, but also takes breaks from socializing
- Go outside if you can! Take a walk or something (it does a lot, I promise—especially during this beautiful season of spring)
- Make a list of things to do if you face boredom
- Spend time organizing your thoughts and confronting your feelings (although do not think too much—you have to actually live, you know)
- Make a list of what you are grateful for (I do this everyday because I need it sometimes)
- Find reasons to be productive and optimistic
- Journal
- Listen to music
- Take a walk every now and then (avoid sitting down all day)
- Think of ways to help the people currently around you
- Know that you do have control of your life, and everything will be okay
- Never give up
Everyone is handling this situation differently. Some are celebrating in sweat pants, and others are scrolling through old pictures and crying. But I hope that everyone remains calm and considerate and motivated. It is okay to be pessimistic (believe me), but keep the majority of it to yourself unless you need to vent (which helps a lot). Look forward to certain parts of your day instead of dreading it all together, and do not allow the media to launch you into a panic. Listen to yourself. Adjust in ways that benefit you. Please do not let yourself down; stop spending hours staring at your phone and sinking into your pessimism (or an infinite void of hopelessness created by your tears).
If you are experiencing problems concerning nostalgia, find solace in the fact that you have something to miss so much. It helps to only relive memories when you are in a good state. Also, it is okay to feel aggravated and upset. This is nothing to scoff at.
All in all, I wish I could say more, but that would most likely lead to another brick wall of text. I hope all of you are well (mentally and physically), and I hope you and your family members are safe. I also hope that—for those of you struggling—peace will find you. Take care and do not fight anyone for toilet paper. (:
A note:
I now realize how much I take for granted—the ACT, fast food restaurants, going grocery shopping, school, etc. I appreciate a lot of things in my life, but sometimes it is easy to expect something to be there. And when that changes… ):
This is not the end of the world. If anything, more people will practice proper hygiene, and more people will be grateful.
May we all survive until the glorious doors of Taco Bell open and the nacho cheese fries supply us with happiness.
peace
