Summary

The website content provides guidance on making the most of life during a pandemic shutdown, emphasizing personal responsibility, adaptability, and self-improvement.

Abstract

The article titled "How to Make the Most of Life — Even During a Shutdown" addresses individuals grappling with the challenges of the pandemic, acknowledging the unique experiences of everyone under similar restrictions. It suggests that despite the limitations, we are all presented with choices that can improve our situation and contribute positively to our community. The author points out that the pandemic has leveled the playing field in many ways, compelling people to spend more time at home and adapt to new routines. While the situation may lead to feelings of depression, the article encourages readers to live with the pandemic rather than against it, focusing on acceptance and finding ways to thrive both physically and mentally. Strategies include maintaining physical activity, getting outdoors, engaging in virtual social interactions, and pursuing personal development through writing and reflection. The author, Øivind H. Solheim, inspires proactive behavior and self-care during these trying times, offering practical advice on how to stay connected and nurture one's inner life.

Opinions

The author believes that each individual's experience of the shutdown is unique and that we all face similar choices to make the best of the situation.
It is expressed that accepting the circumstances and living with the pandemic, rather than resisting it, is a healthier approach to mental well-being.
The article suggests that physical activity is crucial for both physical health and mental health during confinement.
Spending time outdoors is highly recommended for maintaining a positive mood and overall well-being.
The importance of nurturing friendships and relationships through virtual means is emphasized, despite the inability to meet physically.
The author encourages readers to use this time to develop their spiritual potential, engage in creative activities like writing, and even share their experiences publicly on platforms like Medium.
The article promotes a proactive mindset, urging readers to take initiative and control over their lives amidst the pandemic.
It is suggested that readers consider using AI services, like ZAI.chat, as a cost-effective alternative to ChatGPT Plus for enhancing performance and functions during this period.

How to Make the Most of Life — Even During a Shutdown

This is for you who, like millions of people around the world, feel trapped during the pandemic

You are a unique, special individual. As an individual, you experience the world in your own special, unique way.

Your experience of the shutdown is not the same as everyone else’s experience of the shutdown. We can experience these times very differently even if we are all exposed to the same restrictions. But we are all also facing the same choices. We can all do something where we are, and what we do can be of great help in the situation we are actually in.

We are more equal

We are all part of a large community, and perhaps we are in this time more equal than we are otherwise used to being, because we all have to spend more of our time in our home than in ‘normal’ times. We can try to tell ourselves that everyone is having a hard time now, but it may be a little helpful to know that your experience is similar to what others experience. They are, like you, forced to spend much of their time inside their apartment, in their house.

After all, you have become used to work from home. You should not meet other people physically. You can only meet virtually people you might otherwise have met in person.

You have, like almost everyone else, lived in an involuntary prison. This has been going on for almost a year, it bothers you, and it’s completely normal.

You have so many things you would do. You have plans you would like to realize, you have people you should meet. You have family that you are not allowed to meet as often as you would otherwise meet them. All of this may make you a little depressed. It’s perfectly normal, it’s how many people feel, and it’s not good to have it that way.

Live with the pandemic

But think that this is something you can not do much about — not the basics, not the pandemic. But you may think that you should try to live with the pandemic and not against it. Do you see the difference?

To live — both in prosperity and in adversity — means a lot, and something that is very necessary and important in life, is to have the ability to accept. Accept in the sense that you see that you have to put up with it, because you just have to.

And you are the right person to find out how you can have a full life with good quality in the best possible way during the pandemic — as in normal times.

When we are forced to spend much more time in the home where we live, it becomes even more important than before to find ways to be physically active. Keeping the body in good physical shape is also very important for mental health. Therefore, you may want to equip yourself with an exercise mat at home and do strength and tension exercises.

Not least, it is very important to get out of the house! It should not be so difficult, especially if you live in an area where there is a short way to open spaces and wide streets, open air area, forest, fields or mountains.

There is a direct relationship between physical and mental health, between how your body functions purely physiologically, and how you feel “inside you”.

Being active, both physically and mentally, helps!

Physical activity can often have a direct positive effect on mood. In the same way, the mental, the way you think, the way you feel, the spiritual can affect your life. It’s about getting into pro-active mode, taking initiative in your life!

Maybe one way to start is to start thinking about the best things in life.

What are you most grateful for in your life?

How can you act to get the most out of life?

You are the one in power

For example, what can you do with your family and friendships that are now coming more into the distance? You can not physically meet as many friends as before, but you can think about what you can do to take care of friendships and relationships, which you can fully resume when the pandemic is over.

It is about being active yourself, and not letting yourself be overwhelmed by negative thoughts.

You can take steps such as finding ways you can be in virtual contact with people. You can use your mobile or computer, you have Skype, Zoom, Teams, FaceTime, Duo and more.

How about writing?

You can also use the opportunity to get to know yourself better, and to develop your inner, your spiritual potential! Think, daydream, analyze, comment, ask questions, tell yourself little stories about how you feel in your life.

You can use your mobile phone to dictate and get the email program or publishing platform, e.g. Medium, write down what you say. When you have finished speaking, of course, you must carefully review what you have dictated, because no dictation program currently provides 100% correct written versions of what you dictate.

Maybe you can write a diary, a story or even an essay about your experiences of living during the pandemic. Or you can write a secret letter to a secret friend.

You can even — if you want — publish it on a platform like medium.com. Then you’ll probably get readers and you’ll probably get feedback too, and that’s good!

© Øivind H. Solheim , @oivind47, hiker, teacher, author of novels, poetry, articles, essays, short fiction and experimental writing. [email protected]