Finding Peace During the Pause | 5 Ways I've Kept Calm

Have Compassion for Yourself

During this current crisis, I kept asking myself: why didn’t I save my money better? Was it necessary I bought those concert tickets in advance? Why did I spend nearly $500 on Valentine’s Day? Why did I go out to eat so many times last month – I could’ve saved that money! 

Blaming yourself for something you had no idea would turn this extreme is unfair and unrealistic. How on earth would I have known that my last shift at my job would be ten days before rent was due, along with all my other bills. How could we have prepared for a crisis with such short notice? The answer is you can’t and it’s not your fault. If our government couldn’t properly prepare, how could we? During this crisis, it’s wasted energy to go backwards wishing you could’ve done things differently and it is also unnecessary anxiety thinking where you would be right now if things hadn’t gotten worse. Focusing on the positives of right now is the only thing that should occupy your mind. Be nice to yourself and remember you’re doing the best you can and that is enough. 

Crying

After losing my job, spending over $600 on movers when moving out of my apartment, arguing with the accounting office on why my taxes have to be reprocessed for the second time delaying my return, my bills still being deducted even after deferring them but because I forgot to turn off my automatic payments I was still being charged, all while watching my account balance decrease little by little, I was eventually found sitting in the shower crying my eyes out and pulling my hair FRUSTRATED with the world. 

It has been an emotional rollercoaster for all of us. I tried to keep it together by reminding myself that it could be worse. I was trying to find the silver lining and positives during this pandemic but, it eventually caught up to me and I couldn’t take it anymore. I was sad, angry, scared, and not embracing my emotions properly.  

Once I became aware of my true feelings, it was easier for me to understand my thought process and handle it in a healthy way. Once I cried and acknowledge what I was feeling it was easier to accept it, let it out, take a deep breath, and start again. 

Limit Social Media Intake

Social Distancing calls for escaping reality (since there is nothing else to do throughout the day) so our social media intake has heightened. I have found myself (just a little) resenting those who have portrayed perfect lifestyles on social media, for example: celebrities. Of course, there has been an immense amount of positivity through influencers and celebrities telling us to stay strong and stay home which can feel reassuring. However, it’s quite hard not roll my eyes while they also chant “we’re all in this together!” while they sunbathe in their resort like homes and we’re scared to go grocery shopping and struggling to pay our bills. Sorry Beyoncé, but we’re not in this together. 

Along with the good intention there are also pretty brutal things online due to this crisis. Just the other day my mom told me she found a video of a man in New York who jumped off a building because he had the coronavirus. In addition, my boyfriend also found a video of a man who threw acid on an Asian woman’s face because he blamed her for the virus. That is not the kind of content anyone should be seeing right now. Pick up a book, listen to music, watch a funny movie, or binge on a cool show to stop yourself from going in too deep in the media. 

FaceTime Long Distance Friends

It’s crazy how much I would complain about not having enough time to catch up with old friends or just talk to anyone in general. I normally work nights and a lot of my friends (including my sister) up north work 9-5 jobs, leaving very small windows for us to normally catch up and talk. I’ve tried to embrace this new free time to actually talk with my friends and really catch up with how they’re doing. 

Talking with my friends has been so therapeutic and relaxing. Knowing I’m not the only one who is frustrated and scared during this epidemic has made me feel like I’m not so alone in all of this. 

Getting Fresh Air & Praying

My family and I have respected the CDC regulations and have listened carefully to the news. We stay in quarantine, applied social distancing in everything we do, and of course have washed our hands consistently for twenty seconds. While still respecting the new laws, we have taken advantage of the loop holes that still allow us to feel human and alive during this time. Just like the pictures shown I have gone on picnics in a nearby neighborhood while social distancing, my boyfriend and I have gone on walks, fished by local lakes, and bought to go food to support local businesses (or when I don’t feel like cooking.)

In the walks, I’ve taken or even when I’ve gone running (which I haven’t done that much), I like to pray and thank God for my health and all the blessings I still have surrounding my life. Things may not be the way we’re used to it being, but we should be thankful for the time we often took for granted, the change of pace, and the chance to change our lives for the better without work and daily life stresses getting in the way. 

I want everyone to know that regardless of what I say or anyone in that matter says during this time, what you’re feeling as an individual is valid. This time spent in our homes is not a productivity contest, it’s not a time to pick up a new hobby or learn a new language – this is not a vacation or a three-day weekend, this is a crisis! So, if the only thing keeping you sane is reruns of The Office while drinking merlot then that’s okay, you’re not doing anything wrong! Whichever you decide to cope during this epidemic is your process and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.  

I hope you found some entertainment through this article and would love any feedback, thank you for taking the time to read my content. Stay safe everyone!