2020 will go down in history as a memorable year. While the medical community had always anticipated its possibility, its arrival inevitably caused chaos.
With the release of various vaccines to fight the disease, a glimmer of hope now lights up the horizon.
COVID-19 Landscapes
Some confess that COVID-19 has been, for better or worse, their turning point, while the other have contributed their unwilling share of suffering, and still remain tortured from its impact on their lives.
Still, many have found in COVID-19 a bittersweet experience.
A good lesson to glean from all this is that being part of a solution is always better than being part of a problem.
And, that by working as a team, we can make for a better community.
While this article’s brevity cannot encapsulate the totality of COVID-19’s impact, here are a few areas closer to the home front that we can improvise for.
Children
Millions of children this year have been impacted by the lockdowns and stay-at-home orders as a result of this outbreak.
While some had the opportunity to switch from in-person classes to online learning, there were those who, either through poverty or geographical disadvantage, missed out.
Many teachers in rural schools took up the mantle of superheroes as they flipped through heaven and hell, jungles alike, just to get enough internet connection to bring education and homework to the needing students.
Nevertheless, children have been robbed of hands-on experiential learning since last year.
Experiential learning, and socialization, are essential building blocks for childhood development, thus making this a major challenge for education in 2021.
Mums & Dads
The silver lining to lockdowns, and working from home orders has gifted many families with the chance of being together.
Some families have thrived, with each parent carving out a workplace to attend to their duties, and equal spaces for children’s online learning.
But every incident is always like a coin: there are a front and back to it.
While many have benefited from the lockdown order, others see this as a stressful dilemma of surviving.
Domestic violence has soared drastically throughout the globe since the lockdown order started, with victims stuck at home, and nowhere to go.
Living together has been clouded with fear, angst, and rage – a veritable pressure pot ready to explode.
While working from home has kept families together, even in stable ones, tensions can arise when deadlines loom, and family duties demand attention, with no let up, causing a new, invisible kind of stress within parents and workers alike.
The Economy
The global economy has taken a beatdown. At the home front, things are looking gloomy.
Many have lost their jobs, businesses shut down, and trending ‘pay cuts’ have affected people from all different walks of life, in many sectors of the economy.
Some may have switched industries to keep food on the table, while others have had to rely on the charity of others to help them survive through each month.
Seniors
As high-risk individuals, our golden seniors have had their social life significantly curtailed. Additionally, those who do not live with children, and grandchildren, are left to face isolation and the fear of dying alone.
While the easing restrictions have helped, the mental impact has rooted deep within the seniors and will remain for a long time…
Managing COVID’s Impact
COVID-19 is here to stay, until and unless an effective, and safe vaccine is found for all strains.
For now, it is, and will still remain, as a war between humans and the living condition, with no certainty.
To help you manage the mental impact of COVID-19, here are a few suggestions for you to take to heart.
Move It
Exercise is a great way to release the pent-up stress.
Have everyone at home go out for a breath of fresh air, and exercise, depending on their capability, and age. Aim for a daily quota, if possible.
Exercise, in any form, releases endorphins which are the “feel-good” hormone. Plus, it is fun, and when coupled with laughter, increases the endorphins, thus multiplying the benefits that come with it.
Relax
While it may at times seem impossible, enabling yourself a little “me” time will do you a world of good.
There is no right or wrong way to relax. Do what works best, whether it is meditating, practising mindfulness, Tai Chi, jigsaws, or just reading. The choice is yours.
If in the hubbub of the day you feel the stressors starting to overwhelm you, deep breathing and stretching exercises will help you feel at ease.
Otherwise, take a quick break, walk around your garden, or make a quick call to a friend. Breaks help ease tensions so you can concentrate your energy as you get back into the swing of things.
Let’s Talk
As parents, it is innate in us to try to solve the problems our little ones face. At most times, we succeed in doing so.
However, with COVID-19 we do not have all the answers, plus there are no quick-fix solutions at the ready. Additionally, the problem is exacerbated when someone close to you contracts the virus.
Paying attention to the cares and concerns of the children helps ease worries, even if we are unable to provide solutions. Talking about things help them cope.
No matter how grave the situation, honesty is always the first step to take if we were to solve it.
Keeping Healthy
Whether working from home or not, eating healthy and ensuring sufficient rest makes for a happy, healthy family.
Additionally, eating together keeps family bonds strong. If work conditions and school commitments do not allow a lunch gathering, try making it a routine of having dinner together.
When everyone is at the table, steer clear of fractious issues for peaceful mealtimes.
This Too Shall Pass
As cliche as it sounds, COVID-19 will fade away, one day. The good experiences of our time under restricted movement will go the long distance in keeping us together.
The darkest night is just before the dawn. Here’s to looking forward to a new dawn, sooner, rather than later.