Entering a New Year in a Pandemic: How to Maintain a Positive Attitude
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We finally are out of the “dumpster fire” that was 2020. We can perhaps look back at our naivety as we started last year: Thinking that something like a pandemic could never happen with our sophisticated scientific knowledge, medicines and sanitation. Wasn’t that something that happened in the dim past around world war one called The Spanish Flu? How bad could it really be if it did happen? The flu kills a few thousand each year. That is awful. That was never going to happen to us. Right?
Well, it did and here we are. It still is going on even though we have hope to combat and end it with the vaccines that are coming online.
The challenge we face is how to keep a positive attitude with the pandemic still going on.
Let’s take a look at what might help you stay in a positive frame of mind.
Here are some ways to stay optimistic:
Envision the life you want to live once the pandemic is over. Travel bans will be lifted, we will be able to visit friends and family around the country and the world. You can start a file or folder with travel information: places you intend to see and things to do and go visit. Making the contents of the file a family project and discuss with others what you are intending to do and see. Start to dream the dream of travel and the freedom you will have.
Check in with people you know who have been vaccinated and see what their experience was like getting their shots. Inquire on how that has affected their view of the pandemic. Soak up anything they say that is inspiring and brings hope to you about getting vaccinated and the pandemic ending.
If possible, create a travel fund or a restaurant fund. You can look up places you want to try and discuss where you might travel. Keep it simple and make a list to support local businesses you can support right now and get takeout meals.
The days are growing longer so start getting out to parks locally. Be prepared for rain and colder weather by having rain jackets and down coats at the ready. By getting the coats and boots to keep you dry you will be prepared for any opportunity to get outside. It is surprising how energizing it is to be outdoors and taking walks.
Use this time to clean out your basement, etc. so you can do some “spring cleaning” to prepare the way for better times ahead. Just cleaning up a room can make it feel bigger and decluttering a space helps declutter the mind.
Even though challenging make the effort to keep in touch with friends and family. Have a “watch party” on Prime Video so you can have the same experience of watching a film and them discuss it afterwards. Or you can start an online book club to share the books you enjoy reading. Most of us are missing a sense of being with others. Connecting in a book club online is not ideal but it does work.
This difficult time is unprecedented, and it requires us to gather all our resources to make it through. By taking these steps you can be farther along on your journey with a positive attitude.
