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Identifying What’s Important:
If we were to take a positive perspective on COVID-19, it’s vital to identify what is really important to us. This is different for each of us, and its good to reflect upon what the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown had upon you, and what you now value more than you did previously?
What we have seen and heard from people around us:
- How important the feeling of freedom really is. Understanding that just being able to go where you want has such a different feel to it now.
- Your health and mental well-being. The simple act of being able to walk outside and go to parks, beaches and just be among the outdoors makes such a difference to our health – something that many of us have adopted. Continue to make this part of your new routine.
- Black Lives Matter – and COVID-19 brought into sharper focus social causes – helping others, donating to a charity, or promoting awareness of social issues.
- And most significantly, relationships – ie. friendships/family are more important now than ever. With the advent of Zoom and other platforms, connecting with others has been a number one priority and continues to be so.
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Resetting Routines:
Before COVID-19 it’s likely you led a very busy life.
Now that we have experienced lockdown and been in isolation – Western Australia faring better than the other States – have we gained some clarity?
What social activities are essential for your wellbeing?
- So instead of the usual after-work gatherings/drinks that were common before COVID-19, what is now a healthier way of connecting? Going for a walk in the park, along the beach with friends/family?
- Did lockdown bring a greater appreciation of social sports and the benefits of exercising?
- It certainly made us re-think about the usual gatherings that were undertaken before COVID-19 and the simple freedoms that we previously took for granted. We have had to consider what’s really important to us. And what seems to have changed the most, is that many of us are freeing up more time for the things that really matter.
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Gaining Perspective on your Ability to Cope
As health professionals, this year has been the year of assisting people to cope. Many of us have underestimated our capacity to cope.
We heard a lot of distress-type dialogue (from our clients and family & friends):
“It’s a disaster”; “I can’t deal with not seeing my friends/family and not hugging them”; “How am I going to cope not being able to go on holidays”; “How am I going to go cope with the isolation and not seeing anyone?”.
It’s now been 6 months since lockdown and here we are – and surprisingly many of us have coped and are emerging from the pandemic resuming a new sort of normal life.
Unquestionably, there continues to be uncertainty, and there are ongoing challenges, not to mention sadness.
Just like Elton John’s song, “We’re Still Standing”, let’s reset our mindset when it comes to our capacity to cope. Reflect upon your strengths – what’s working for your now and how you have adjusted to your new routine.
Use this reset to help you focus your time and effort differently when it comes to your New Normal. Consider how you used to spend your time pre COVID-19 – was it in a meaningful and important way, or were you just passing the time or getting stuck on repeat, like the movie “Groundhog day”? Reflect on whether you have coped as well as you would like, and take this as an opportunity to focus on how to cope better, or to reach out to speak to someone who can assist you.
Or maybe, this is an opportunity for you to reach out to someone whom you think may not be coping?
There are so many considerations and possibilities when it comes to resetting your life post COVID-19.
