Coping with COVID.
We’re eight months into 2020, and almost nothing is as I thought it would be. I graduated, earning my Masters degree, only to have no formal ceremony. I passed the national exam to become a certified counselor, only for virtual therapy to become the norm (which I’m not super happy about, but I get it). I even had to celebrate my 25th birthday with a Zoom “party,” instead of brunching and hanging out at some of my favorite spots in Atlanta.
That being said, as someone who believes that everything happens for a reason, I’ve made peace with the fact that this year, is just completely out of my hands.
It’s above me now.
By choosing to let go of my desire to control everything, I am trusting God to take care of me through it all. My spirituality has been extremely helpful during this time, and it’s my main way of coping with this pandemic & really everything else that’s going on right now.
I know everyone reading this may not share my spiritual/religious beliefs. And that’s okay. The point of me telling you all of this anyway is so you know that having a healthy outlet where you can release your worries and re-center yourself, is crucial to resiliency. The ways in which we choose to cope with life’s challenges can either push us towards growth or keep us stagnant.
A few other ways that I’ve been coping:
Taking care of self: For those of you who don’t already know, I’m a HUGE advocate for self care. I’m a firm believer in the power of putting yourself first and intentionally setting some time aside to take care of you. It’s important to have a self care routine in place, that way if something unexpected happens (like COVID) that adds stress to your life, you’ll be better equipped to handle it.
Limiting social media: While I agree that it’s important to know what’s going on in the world, there is such a thing as overexposure. During quarantine, I’ve found it helpful to limit the amount of time I spend on social media. That way I don’t become overwhelmed or anxious due to all of the negative things going on, and instead, I am better able to focus on the good in my life.
Staying connected: I’m not gonna lie, social distancing has probably been the most difficult adjustment for me. The lack of in-person social interaction has not only heightened feelings of isolation/loneliness for me, but has reminded me of the importance of human connection. While video calls and group messages aren’t necessarily how I saw 2020 going, I’ve learned to do the best with what I have. After all, we’re all we got and we gotta keep each other encouraged. This won’t last forever, but getting through this will be much easier if we do it together.