Today marks 8 full weeks of quarantine; of social distancing; of working from home. Each week seems to have a personality. Week 1: A bit exciting! Week 2: Repetitive. Week 3: Smooth…. Week 6 seemed to hit hard, and week 7 felt a bit lighter. With each week, we get closer to the day where stores, restaurants and businesses open up again, while acknowledging the potential to be delayed yet again.
There are many unanswered questions that arise, including ‘when will this end’ and ‘when will I see my friends’ and ‘when will I hug my family?’ ‘When will they get married’ and ‘when do we get to travel again?’ With time, the answers will come; for now, we practice coping with the distress of the unknown, and finding new indoor hobbies.
It is easy to get caught up in the discomfort and anxiety of the situation, and this makes it extra important to find gratitude whenever possible. We should not neglect the negative as it arises, the events missed and the connections strained, but we can make space for the positive aspects of this time.
Things I am grateful for during Coronvirus
I bring awareness to gratitude when noting the following:
- Reading. Over the years my reading list has grown exponentially, and I finally have had the time to work through these books. I am taking advantage of this time, and the extra time without a commute, to focus on this list. Choosing books in which I am interested has helped me to have something to look forward to on most if not all days, as well as exercise my mind in a different way.
- Video calls. In order to stay close to loved ones in a time of separation, I have used video calls for communication. I’ve been able to celebrate birthdays and play games with friends and family members through video. Though we discuss the events in the world, it has lessened when we have other activities to keep us occupied. This is an excellent way to challenge the feeling of isolation, and switch up the daily routine. One way to stay connected and feel less lonely is to seek a therapist through video call.
- Family. Mother’s Day has typically been a day of praising my mom and being able to acknowledge all she does for her family. This year was no exception. I am grateful for pleasant weather and masks that made it possible to spend time with family.
- Colleagues. Despite the challenges of working from home, I am grateful for a group of colleagues that collaborate as well as my team does. We all have different home environments with differing schedules, and we work together to accommodate each other’s needs in order to maintain a healthy work-life balance and accomplish all of our tasks.
- Partner. On a typical day, my husband and I part ways early in the morning and reconvene later in the evening, as many couples do. Working from home has given us the opportunity to spend lunch together, take walks, and see each other’s work ethics. We’ve been able to give each other the space we need to work, while being in the same environment throughout the day. In a way, being together daily reminds me of our honeymoon, which is time we cherished together.
Sooner or later, life will open up and return to a busy pace. I look forward to those times ahead, while realizing that I do appreciate aspects of the current climate, and try to stay mindful and present when finding gratitude.
