How I Find Joy During the Pandemic
This entire year has been full of unpredictable events. With COVID-19, there has been suffering and isolation at rates we’ve never experienced. I’m grateful to be healthy and still have work, but the pandemic has taken a toll on me too. Social distancing can be difficult at times. It’s also stressful to hear about all of the ways people are struggling.
Despite this, I know I still need to prioritize my physical and mental health. I’m also more intentional about enjoying certain things in my life. Here are a couple of the things I do to find joy during this tough time.
DIY Manicure
I’ve been working remotely for a couple of years right now, but working remotely during a pandemic is completely different. As a freelance marketer and writer, I spend a lot of time on computers. Color can have an impact on your mood and I’ve found when I do my nails it makes work more enjoyable. When I look down at my nails, I’m able to see something that makes me smile. It’s a little way to make each day brighter.
I know a lot of people prefer to get their nails done professionally at a nail salon. However, this wasn’t something I did often prior to the pandemic. Right now, there are areas where people can go to nail salons while also maintaining proper safety precautions.
For people who DIY their nails like I do, I encourage you to try different types of nail polishes. I personally like the Sally Hansen brand. It’s affordable and I can typically find the brand in most stores and in places online.
Like most people, I didn’t know the pandemic would last this long. But, over the months I’ve gotten a lot better at doing my own nails. They don’t always look amazing, but I try not to take it too seriously.
Curate my social media
Social media is a wonderful way to learn about news, career advice, and to see the latest jokes. But, we should be mindful of how we’re using social media during this time.
There are a couple of things that I do to make sure I’m using social media in a healthy way.
The first thing I do is to pay attention to how I feel when I’m consuming social media. There are times when I notice I’m getting too angry or sad when I’m reading tweets. Now, there’s a term for it, people are calling it doomscrolling and even Merriam-Webster has made it an official word. Doomscrolling is the time when you feel like social media is stressing you out, but it’s difficult to stop scrolling. Obviously, this isn’t helping anyone, so if you realize you’re doing this, it’s time to put the phone down. Have a mini dance party or take some time to hang out with your pet. Any activity to help you remain present will work.
There are also times when I check Instagram instead of concentrating on my work. I acknowledge the fact that sometimes it’s harder for me to concentrate. I know about my work habits, so I utilize one of my effective time-saving tips. For me, I work better when I have a solid schedule. As a freelancer, I don’t always have a standard schedule. Yet, a set schedule helps me focus. I like to create my own general schedule at the beginning of the week. As the days go by, I adjust as needed. This schedule keeps my stress down and my productivity up.
Another tip is to mute or unfollow any person/account that makes you feel bad. In my opinion, there’s already enough negativity in the world. I unfollow accounts when I notice people are spending their time insulting others or have a pessimistic attitude. This doesn’t mean you have to unfollow people who discuss complex topics. But, those accounts should be informative, hopeful, and also offer solutions. If the accounts don’t do that, it may be time to unfollow them.
Once you’ve unfollowed a couple of accounts, it may be a good idea to follow some accounts you like. One of my favorite Instagram accounts right now is Paula Sutton. When she went viral, it was because people were insulting her. But, after the added attention, she got a lot of new fans (me being one of them). She posts a lot about interior design, fashion, flowers, and includes parts of her own life. Her life does look beautiful, but the main thing is she does activities that bring her joy. I think people were projecting their own insecurities on her. Her Instagram account is a timely reminder to pursue the activities that make you smile. Life isn’t perfect, but we can have joyful moments.
Trying new recipes
Cooking is not my thing. I cook only because I have to eat. At the beginning of the pandemic, I had very rigid meals that I would eat. The stress was impacting my hunger and for some reason, I didn’t always feel like eating. To deal with this, I created a couple of easy recipes for me to cook.
Eventually, those recipes became mundane. So, I started to research new recipes to try. This added some spice to my otherwise normal schedule. I can’t say I love cooking, but I certainly do enjoy it more. I’ve also surprised myself. I didn’t think I would be able to cook new things, but I’m glad I tried. Pinterest is my go-to for new recipes.
Fun Home Workouts
There are people who feel comfortable returning to the gym while practicing safety precautions. But, I’m still not comfortable going back to the gym. Thankfully, I’ve found a solution to this. YouTube Workouts.
Prior to the pandemic, I never considered YouTube as a place to find workouts. While I was still a teenager, I learned all of the ways to properly use weight lifting machines. I also was a cheerleader for a couple of years. So, most of my perspective on fitness is more traditional.
One day I thought “I want a dance workout”. After a little bit of Googling, I found myself on YouTube. One channel I like is PopSugar Fitness, but my personal favorite channels are The Fitness Marshall and Madfit. These workouts are seriously fun, but they make you strong too. When I need a break or have a bad mood, I take a workout break. Those extra endorphins can have a huge impact on your day. This can also be a great option for people who are trying to find ways to increase their daily activity.
