Summary

The author found happiness during the pandemic by discovering purpose through self-improvement and appreciating life's essentials, including health and relationships.

Abstract

The pandemic's onset and subsequent lockdowns initially left the author feeling lost due to the closure of social venues and the absence of typical leisure activities. However, this period became a transformative experience, leading to a reevaluation of what truly brings happiness. The author replaced time-wasting habits with productive routines, such as learning Italian and starting a blog, which provided a sense of accomplishment and purpose. The pandemic also instilled a deeper appreciation for the author's health, friendships, and family, as well as the smaller joys in life. Abstaining from alcohol during lockdowns further contributed to improved mental health and better sleep, reinforcing the author's newfound happiness and well-being.

Opinions

The author believes that happiness is not derived from short-term pleasures but from finding purpose and appreciation in life.
Prior to the pandemic, the author felt they wasted time on unfulfilling activities like watching Netflix and playing video games.
The lockdown was seen as an opportunity for self-improvement and personal growth, not just a period of restriction.
Productivity and self-improvement are described as addictive, with initial successes leading to further positive habits.
The author expresses regret for not utilizing time more effectively before the pandemic.
There is a strong sense of gratitude for the author's support network, especially family and friends, which became more evident during isolation.
The pandemic highlighted the importance of health, with the author recognizing it as true wealth.
The author views giving up alcohol as a significant factor in achieving mental stability and better sleep patterns.
The overall sentiment is one of thankfulness for the personal development and insights gained during the pandemic, despite its challenges.

The Pandemic Taught Me How To Be Happy

Lockdown was a blessing rather than a curse

About a year ago, the UK went into its first full lockdown. Everything I ever valued was closed. This included nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and even gyms. Suddenly, most of my hobbies were gone, and I felt a little lost.

Like most people, I now had tons of time on my hands. Hours upon hours of doing whatever I wanted to do. If this happened a year or two earlier, I would have suffered a serious episode of depression and anxiety.

Instead, this was the beginning of something special. I experienced a realization that happiness does not come from short-term highs. It derives from finding purpose and appreciation.

The Discovery Of Purpose

Prior to COVID-19, I was a serial time-waster. Much of my free time was spent engaging in fun but worthless activities such as watching Netflix and playing video games. I shudder to think about how much self-improvement I missed out on.

Ironically, the pandemic caused the opposite to occur. Little by little, I introduced beneficial tasks in my day. It all started with learning Italian. Despite having a father from Italy, my understanding was extremely limited. In any case, I made the decision to do 1 hour of Italian every day. This birthed the start of productivity rather than procrastination.

It wasn’t exactly a strenuous task, but sticking to it and seeing progress gave me a sense of accomplishment. For at least a small part of the day, I was doing something positive and learning something valuable.

Productivity is like a drug. Once you introduce advantageous routines, you start to want more. My next project was to start writing every day. I had fantasized about being a sports journalist when I was younger, yet I had never written an article in my life.

Soon after, I created my own blog, and this gave me an unexplainable sense of excitement. For the first time in my life, there was something that belonged solely to me. Visualizing its potential growth inspired me to keep writing until now.

The sad thing is before the pandemic; purpose didn’t seem to exist in my life. Lockdown provoked me to be more useful with my time. It provided me with happiness that wasn’t present in a previous life, only focused on the short-term highs.

Greater Appreciation For The Things I Have

We are all guilty of taking our lives for granted. Most of us don’t realize how lucky we are, and I was definitely one of those people. It took a deadly virus to kill millions of people for me to realize how short life is.

In particular, I am grateful for the friends and family I have in my life. Being at home most of the time forced me to spend quality time with those in my household. While zoom calling, my friends made me appreciate them further.

Before the pandemic, I was on autopilot. I would never once think about the network of people I had to support me. Yet now, this has changed; I appreciate and care more than I ever did before.

Let’s not forget about health. If COVID-19 showed us anything, it’s that health is wealth. All the money in the world could not save you if you’re severely unwell. Thankfully, I experienced very mild symptoms when infected. This was another eye-opener to how everyone’s situation is different. And how being fit and healthy should not be taken for granted.

It got to the stage where I began paying attention to the small and trivial things. Like the food on my table and the roof above my head. It sounds exaggerated, but during such a crazy time in the world, I was appreciative of everything I had.

I Stopped Drinking Alcohol

A major part of my routine when things were “normal” was to go out once or twice a week and get drunk. It was fun in the moment, but there were many repercussions the next day and several days after.

We can call agree hangovers aren’t fun. For me, it was always the effects on my mental health which were worse. Anxiety and feelings of depression would spike around these times. The thought of how much money I spent the night before would make these symptoms more distressing. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t feel myself until at least a few days passed.

The Bars and clubs closing removed my incentive to drink alcohol. I have always looked at it as a tool to relax in social situations. So I had no issues giving it up when I was at home all the time.

However, I did not anticipate how much better I would feel. They say what “goes up must come down” and that epitomizes intoxication. Removing this sudden elevation in mood allowed me to feel mentally stable. There were no periods of prolonged recovery where I had to wait until my brain readjusted itself.

Furthermore, my sleep improved drastically. It’s difficult to feel your best when you’re not well-rested. Not going out and staying out till late allowed me to regulate my sleeping routine.

Final Thoughts

Even though this pandemic was a tough time, I am grateful for the effect it had on my happiness and well-being. I have emerged as a different person who is not as concerned with the short-term highs. Moments of beauty and inspiration are not fleeting. They manifest in everyday life when you have purpose and appreciation.