The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged us in many different ways. In just a handful of weeks, it has already changed the way we work, shop, interact with people, and so many more. Creature comforts that we used to take for granted are either no more or not at all easy to come by, while services we used to rely on now come with risks to our health. But despite the hardships, it’s truly a testament to the human spirit that we’re able to roll with the punches and adapt. In fact, countless stories of humans being ingenious and creative continue to inspire us to move forward and even be inventive in our own little ways as we hunker down at home.
Leveraging Technology
It’s truly a blessing that almost everyone the world over was able to go into this lockdown with the full power of modern technology easily available and accessible. In many ways, the internet and its innumerable websites, streaming services, games, gadgets, apps, and more have done wonders in keeping people entertained while stuck at home. There are even countless ways to stay productive and healthy, too, with myriad tools to help you work from home, study and learn something new, and even keep up with your workouts.
Of course, technology has also been more than useful in getting things done even when you’re stuck in quarantine. After all, life goes on, even with the coronavirus, and there are some things that just can’t be put in the back burner during this time. Case in point, if you’re on the market for a new home, you don’t really want to shelve your search, especially when you’ve got a set timeline to adhere to. Thankfully, the internet has made it possible for you to attend virtual open houses and “tour” homes using 3D walkthroughs and video chat, which will prove to be truly useful as you buy a home during the pandemic.
Learning to DIY
Now, many services and stores have shuttered in the pandemic because they’ve been deemed “non-essential.” But chances are, you’re now finding that many of these are, in fact, essential to your life to a certain degree. As a result, you’ve likely been forced to fill the void that they’ve left behind through your own DIY efforts.
No doubt, prime examples are barbers and beauty salons. Weeks into the lockdown, people have started cutting their own hair — some with disastrous results. The same thing applies to a wide range of stuff that we may have taken for granted, too, such as pet grooming, nail care, landscaping, and even your daily smoothie fix — the list could go on and on. But the fact is that there’s an infinite number of resources you can again find online that can guide you in getting things done yourself, and this opportunity to DIY the many things that you otherwise would entrust to professionals arguably makes for a refreshing paradigm shift.
Living Positively
Finally, COVID-19 has tested our coping mechanisms in ways that we’ve never imagined. But despite this, it’s also been a catalyst in encouraging people to add mindfulness to their routines in order to have a more positive outlook. Meditation, for one, has become among the top ways to keep a firm handle on mental health during this very difficult time, and it’s easy enough to adapt, with a profusion of apps and videos that provide guidance. Ditto with yoga and other calming self-care practices, such as journaling, breathing exercises, and more.
There’s also no dearth of mental health services and resources online that’s being offered to help people cope with the situation. These have proven to be quite a godsend during this time, too, encouraging people to live more positively and to look to the future with more hope.
Indeed, as difficult as life has become because of COVID-19, it has proven that it takes so much more than a killer virus to crush the human spirit and our general capacity to endure. In time, the pandemic will run its course, so take it as an opportunity to come out stronger, more resilient, and more imaginative on the other side.
By Jennifer Scott at spiritfinder.org
