The COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders have taken a toll on all of us. We’re stressed out, we miss our friends and family, and we’re ready for things to get back to normal.
But there is a way to start making this situation feel more positive right now, and it’s something all of us can do no matter where we are. To start feeling better, simply focus on reconnecting with yourself.
Here are three easy ways you can make the truly powerful choice to reconnect with yourself (and reap the benefits) during quarantine.
Reevaluate your goals, and set new ones.
You’ve never had more time to just sit and think than you do now. Use the time you used to spend commuting or packing lunches to think about your goals. Think about where you’re at, where you want to be, and how you’re going to get there. Consider how staying at home has impacted your previous goals and explore the reasoning behind them.
For example, maybe getting fit used to be more about how you looked on the outside, but now it’s more about how you feel on the inside. That’s all that really matters when nobody can see you, right? Perhaps that lesson is something you carry with you from now on, and you can adjust your goals with that in mind. And now that you’ve refocused your goal on how you feel, you can try incorporating more self-care into your routine, like meditating or journaling.
Foster the relationships that bring you joy.
During quarantine, we’ve had to learn new ways to connect with those we hold dear, and we’ve prioritized relationships with those who support and uplift us. Maybe it’s making dinner with your family, long video chats with your best friends, or finding support in a like-minded community. Think about the people you’ve been most in contact with and those who have reached out to make sure you’re doing alright.
These are the relationships you want to put your energy into. When life gets back to normal, don’t let it be the end of virtual game nights with out-of-state friends or book club with your siblings. These relationships are the ones that help you become a better version of yourself, so keep working hard at them.
Find new hobbies you love, and discover new talents.
As they say, variety is the spice of life. This is the perfect time to get creative and start doing all the things you’ve wanted to try. It could be playing the piano, starting your own blog, or learning to cook — now that you have the time to give it a go, you might be a natural.
You may even hone your skills so much during this time that you make life easier on the other side. Why not learn to cook healthy meals for you and your family? Once you’re more confident in the kitchen, whipping up something quick and nourishing will be a no-brainer when you’re back to rushing home to make dinner after a long day at the office.
So, ready to start reconnecting with yourself? Give these ideas a try!
