Oh what a time it has been. Just when we all thought that 2020 was going to be the best year yet, a global pandemic has taken over and affected the lives of millions of people around the world. Although the halfway point to the end of 2020 is almost in sight and the weather is becoming warmer and milder by the hour here in New York, I’m living in one of the epicenters of the disease and anxiety is lingering in the breezy air.
This situation should of course be viewed from a holistic point of view, with so many front-line workers sacrificing themselves for the public health and governments struggling to juggle the health of its citizens and the economy. However, I have to admit that there are personal struggles that I have faced because of the lock-down period as have many others, I’m sure. While everyone has rekindled their relationship with Netflix, hand sanitizer, and surgical masks, my fiance and I have officially decided to postpone our August 2020 wedding to 2021. We want to emphasize and honor the importance of social distancing, and even if a social gatherings like a wedding were legally allowed in the U.S., I doubt everyone will feel 100% safe by that point in time.
This major decision on top of the mundane routine of working from home week after week (talk about those back to back Zoom calls!) has really taken a toll on my mental well-being. On some days, I lose motivation to do everything, sinking in the couch and binging on episodes of TV shows that I’m not even that interested in. I think what makes this slump worse is that as you look forward to the end of this disaster, you realize that by the time it’s over, you will probably have wasted a precious year of your life doing nothing at home.
Away, negative thoughts! To charge my days with positivity and happiness, I’ve come up with some ways to cope with this Coronavirus slump.
- Get a Move On!
As a fresh college student at NYU, New York City was my oyster. I loved roaming around different neighborhoods to visit restaurants, museums, festivals, or just to people-watch. Nearly seven years have passed, but my love for wandering in the city has still lived on to this day, now fueled even more by the fact that we have a 2-year old beagle that needs constant walks to burn off all his energy. Naturally, not getting to go outside to resume my normal outdoor activities was one of the biggest challenges during this season. So I try to make the most of my walks with our beagle Coco to get some fresh air (with a mask on, of course), veering to blocks that are less populated to squeeze in a light jog. It also doesn’t hurt to take a break from work and go for a stretch and a sun salutation. Staying active and not letting your muscles deteriorate is also crucial to maintaining good health during this time, along with staying clean and hydrated.
2. Refresh & Organize
Especially after moving into my current apartment with my fiance last year, I’ve taken the liberty to decorate and fill up the space with so many things, many of which I love but also do not necessarily need. My obsession with the Konmari method started when I first read Mari Kondo’s book the summer after college – but what do you do when online shopping and collecting endless pieces of home decor also spark joy!? After going through bouts of throwing out things that I don’t need only to buy MORE stuff, I’ve come to terms with the fact that this is in fact my happy medium. Instead of stressing out about how I can’t be a minimalist and be satisfied, I try to organize the things that I currently have, and the list of things that I truly don’t need would just fall into place. It can be the smallest of things, like reorganizing the kitchen cabinet and putting your pantry items in little mason jars, to cleaning your vanity and throwing out the expired makeup products that had been sitting there unused. I recently replaced the dingy metal shoe-rack in our entryway with a bamboo one that’s much cleaner and stable. I also ordered a bunch of candles to freshen up the space with some beautiful fragrances. When something you’ve done makes a visible change in your home, it will leave you with a sense of fulfillment – and what better time to focus on improving your home then now?
3. Embrace Your Lazy Days
I’ll be honest, even though I complain about having to work from home right next to my fiance who is also WFH and floods my ears with jargon-filled work calls that I attempt to block out with my earphones, it is nice rolling out of bed and logging onto work without having to look presentable and commuting to the office. This lifestyle is nevertheless a double-edged sword, as I’ve in fact been working more hours than I would have if I were physically clocking in and out of the office. Someone shoots out an email, and I’m expected to at least skim through it right away because everyone knows that I’m probably home and five seconds away from my computer. I think this leash that my ‘home office’ (aka the dining table) has on me plays a big role in how fatigued I feel at home sometimes. So I’ve been trying to really unplug during the weekends, and really just enjoy my days at home. I know a lot of people out there are like “Make use of this time at home! Learn a new language!”, but sometimes you just have to learn how to relax. If something piques your interest, go for it (like the paint by numbers project I spent hours and hours completing). If all you want to do is lounge around and chill, then by all means go for that as well. If that’s what you genuinely want to do, embrace the full experience and let it recharge you enough to move onto the next activity instead of letting the laziness take over and dragging you into a slump.
4. Stay Connected
While unplugging from work has been an important goal of mine, there is nothing wrong with utilizing technology to feel productive and, well, socialize. For example, me writing here is a way of forming a little connection of my own to the outside world. But more importantly, I’ve been spending a lot more time Facetiming my family back in Korea, as well as my sister who lives about a 20 minute walk from me but still feels distant at times because of the quarantine. As I’m writing this paragraph, today was actually supposed to be the day I fly out to Seoul for my Korean wedding. Instead of letting myself wallow in sadness, I’m choosing to make a phone call to Seoul and chat with my mom, who must be equally bummed out about it. Although digital, the camaraderie of friends and family is still there for everyone to share. Just look at all the Zoom parties that have happened in the last few months.
5. Count the Little Blessings
Lastly, count your blessings. This is such an obvious one but perhaps the hardest to do sometimes. My family and friends are healthy, I’m healthy and safe. I’m alive and breathing. I have a job and a roof over my head. In fact, I have a family that loves me and a dog that is thrilled to have me home all day (and becoming rather needy). I haven’t run out of food and can cook or order whatever I want. I have the time and the luxury to cheer and clap every evening at 7 p.m. for all the healthcare workers here in the city. The sun rises every morning despite how bad things get. We have a platform to have Sunday Church service virtually and give thanks to all that we’ve been blessed with despite the tough situation. Take every moment of thanksgiving and use that to crush all those negative thoughts that cloud your mind.
Maryseeo 