The Top 3 Lessons From Spending Time at Home During the Pandemic
The positive lessons I learned in the last year.
It’s mind blowing. In a few weeks, we will finish two full years of living in this pandemic world. For a while, it looked like there was light at the end of the tunnel. Instead, with the continual development of new variants and vaccination hesitancy, it looks like we’ll be in this world indefinitely. There’s no doubt we will soon face more lockdowns and demands for social distancing.
All the extra time at home is a challenge for many. As a young person, I was never home. I stayed away all day, whether I was at work, visiting friends, or out hiking in nearby parks. Home was just a place to sleep and shower.
Spending much of the last two years at home has taught me a lot about myself. It’s unnecessary to always be on the go. You can have a productive and fulfilling life right where you live.
Here are the top three of the lessons I learned from spending time at home during the pandemic.
You Can Do a Lot From Home
In the beginning, I dreaded the thought of spending so much time at home. I imagined being bored out of my mind or completely stir crazy. How would I spend my time?
It took a few weeks to settle in to the new reality. I won’t lie. Depression hit me hard, and I struggled to function at all.
“This is not the way,” I told myself.
Then I consciously began looking for things to do. I rediscovered my love of cooking, explored new projects in my yard, and spent more time writing than I have in years.
“He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The results are amazing. My yard has never looked better. I can’t remember ever eating so well, and it’s unbelievable how much online content I created. And boredom? Who has the time?
Much of life is about mindset. At first, I only thought of the things I couldn’t do. Negative thinking was a downward spiral I had to stop. I started looking for things I could do. The more activities I found to keep myself occupied, the more ideas popped up in my mind. Now it doesn’t feel like I have enough time at home to do everything I want.
Look around your home. What projects can fill your time? Can you explore your creativity or finally organize that garage? The possibilities are endless.
You Can Learn New Things
For decades, I promised myself I was going to learn Spanish. Not only is it the second largest language group in the United States, it’s also tied to a culture I admire. Most of my dream vacation spots are locations with Spanish as the primary language.
My life was so busy before that I kept making excuses. I’m a writer, bookkeeper, tax preparer, community volunteer, and care for my aging parents. I didn’t think there was room for anything else.
With all the additional pandemic time at home, I no longer had that excuse. Time was no longer an issue.
It started simply. I downloaded the Duolingo app and spent five minutes a day doing fun learning exercises.
Duolingo is an app that teaches you a language in a way that feels like playing a game. I love online gaming, so it was right up my alley.
Now, I spend about 15 minutes a day play-learning. I’m amazed at how much I’ve learned from the simple app.
A few of my tax clients speak Spanish. It’s thrilling when they say something in their native tongue, and I understand it. A whole new world is now open to me.
If there’s something you’ve always wanted to learn, why not start today? I started with the free version of Duolingo, but if language learning isn’t your thing, find something else. The possibilities for learning on the internet are infinite, and much of the content is free. Pick something and get to it.
You Can Show Your Love
For me, showing affection for my friends has always meant going to visit them. I want to be with them in person so I can see their expressions. I want the opportunity to put my arm around them if they need it.
Being stuck at home doesn’t have to limit your ability to show love. You may not be able to touch someone physically, but with today’s technology, you can do just about everything else. With video streaming apps like Zoom and WhatsApp, you can see the person and read their facial expressions.
You can also express your love through the messages you send. Even short text messages saying, “Thinking of you,” or “I miss you,” can brighten someone’s day.
I also rediscovered the art of greeting cards. Before the internet, I was the “card guy.” I sent cards for everything. One friend even joked that I was going to create “You’re Welcome” cards so I could send more.
“If I were asked to name the chief benefit of the house, I should say: the house shelters day-dreaming, the house protects the dreamer, the house allows one to dream in peace.” — Gaston Bachelard
I loved shopping for cards, writing positive messages, and sending them out. It was a joy I’d almost forgotten.
I received many emotional replies from my friends about the cards I’ve sent during lockdown. Their appreciation warmed my heart.
In this digital world, we rarely think about sending a paper card. Yet, many of us treasure the cards we receive and keep them for years. I have boxes full of the cards I’ve received.
I found a free option here, too. Since in-person shopping was impossible, I started making my own cards with Canva. It created a fun outlet for my creative energy while making something truly unique to send out.
You Can Do More
Yes, this pandemic world is frustrating. Worse still, it looks like it’s going to be with us for a long time. Even so, there are lots of things we can do to keep our lives full and productive. Remember these three lessons.
- Explore the things you can do from home.
- Pick a topic to learn more about.
- Meditate on ways to show love to others.
These are only three of the lessons I learned during social distancing. What things have you learned? Please share your thoughts in the comment section.
Until next time, keep fighting.
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