3 Unexpected Ways to Get the Most Out of the Pandemic

The attitude you adopt will determine the outcome of the future

Many people are experiencing the brunt of the pandemic. You or your family are probably going through a lot of frustration and anxiety. It’s a common occurrence in the world today.

You may be grieving the loss of your job. You may be struggling with your kids’ online learning. You may be worried about your financial future.

I am with you on this. A lot of people are in the same place right now. But giving in to the negative and letting the negativity affect your life will not help improve the situation.

In difficult times like these, you have to do the opposite. You have to stand strong in face of the crisis. You have to realize that while the world is on an unpredictable pause now, your life still goes on.

Your mindset plays an essential role in how you cope with negative circumstances in life. Redirecting your thoughts and shifting your mind towards the positive will help you overcome the negative emotions that are affecting you.

As Shawn Achor, psychologist and Harvard researcher said,

“When you raise the positivity levels in your brain, you actually do better work and, generally, are happier.”

You can train your mind to:

• Change how you react to any situation
• Turn any bad situation into a positive outcome

How you decide to live your life now and what you choose to do with it will impact your future. Your approach to life and your attitude will determine your outcomes.

That’s why ruminating about the present situation and possible scenarios of the future will not only drain your mental energy but also push you further into a depressive state.

Research points out that rumination also increases your risk of engaging in harmful coping behaviors, such as unhealthy eating, smoking, and alcohol consumption. This in turn can be a doorway to a lot of mental and physical conditions.

Here is the thing — life is filled with uncertain circumstances.

The tricky part is, when you’re uncertain about something, it’s easier for your mind to succumb to worry and anxiety. Because your brain recognizes the simple fact that there is a possibility that whatever situation you are in could get worse.

But, there is nothing in life that you can predict with 100% certainty. You can’t be sure you won’t get sick tomorrow or that your kids won’t misbehave. You know there is a risk you won’t have a perfect day tomorrow. Yet, you go to bed every night without thinking about those things.

In the same way, you can toss aside your feelings of doubt and uncertainty about the future to open up the room for good things to happen.

Here are three things you can do.

Stop worrying about the future

The best thing you can do now is to stop worrying and letting anxiety creep into your head. Focus on the things that you can do.

Because if you think about it — what will chronic worrying help you achieve? Nothing, other than make you feel more miserable.

Because constant worrying:

• won’t give you more control
• won’t put things back in order
• won’t help you live in the present

What will help you live in the present is to use your time to your advantage.

Focus on the present

Everyone is going through tough times right now. After the pandemic hit, I lost my job. My husband’s business is not doing very well. We had to put a cap on our spending and limit our purchases to the bare essentials. And our kids’ expenses further put a dent in our financial situation.

But you know what? The pandemic didn’t change who I am. I can write when I want to write. I can read when I want to read. I can be more connected with my family and share our moments.

I can be me.

Above all, it didn’t take away my time. It gave me a lot of opportunities for self-reflection and growth. It enabled me to discover myself.

It is through self-discovery that I took a leap of faith and started writing. I was sad and frustrated like everyone else. But I found a creative outlet for my emotions, which helped me focus more on myself and not on the chaos in the world.

The writing was something I never would’ve put my hands on before the pandemic.

You can do the same. Ask yourself these questions:

“What can I do with my time?” “How can I be productive with my time?” “What goals can I set and achieve within a short time?”

Just because you feel angry and frustrated, doesn’t mean you can’t do anything meaningful and productive. Maybe there is a secret passion in your life you never really had a chance to pursue.

Here are some ideas:

• Look into an online business
• Write that e-book you always wanted to write
• Create an online course
• Learn a new skill
• Read and learn as much as you can
• Give virtual lessons in something you are good at
• Network online and send out resumes for job opportunities

To keep emotionally connected to your family, you can:

• Spend time outdoors and take nature walks. Being out in nature will help you find peace and tranquility amid the adversity.
• Stay connected with your friends and family via Zoom, Skype, and Facetime
• Rejoice and have little celebrations with your family over meals

Channel your emotions into creative outlets

Not all motivation comes from positive emotions. Despite all of your efforts at positivity, negative thoughts will still creep in sometimes. A lot of times, the negative circumstances in our lives push us forward and help us make the best decisions. The key is to tap into your emotions and redirect them into creative outlets.

The way you can do it is by connecting with yourself. Find something that inspires you and keeps you busy. Once you connect with your passions, you can rewire your energy into doing what you love the most.

It could be a skill you want to improve on, it could be learning a new language, or practicing a musical instrument. The sky is the limit. Getting creative with your time will help you focus on the present.

The Bottom Line

You can’t let the pandemic crush you and set you on a self-destructive path. You have to move on. Keep pushing, despite the obstacles.

Wallowing in self-pity won’t make the situation better. It’ll only stop you from getting closer to your dreams.

You can choose not to care and let the negativity take hold of you or deal with the situation head-on and rewire your energy into productivity. If you choose the latter, you’ll come out stronger and more resilient. You’ll be proud that you’ve beaten the obstacles and not allowed them to throw you off your path.

“Life moves on and so should we.”

– Spencer Johnson

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