”How To Be More Optimistic During COVID-19“ is a collaborative post and includes affiliate links. Please see the disclosure page for more information. Disclaimer – always verify medical information with your doctor or a professional and follow all laws for your location.
It’s no secret that the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic has adversely affected much of the world. The global pandemic first came to light at the end of 2019, and since then, it’s virtually the main topic of conversation by everyone. That and all the other ups and downs of this rollercoaster year of 2020!
There’s no denying that COVID-19 has changed the way most people conduct their daily lives whether using precautions to limit the spread or following government mandated shutdowns. Businesses have been closed and jobs have been lost. Many people have lost a loved one or someone they know.
How in the world can we be optimistic in such a time?
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You are undoubtedly being more cautious about what you do each day, such as limiting contact with people outside your home. And you’re taking extra precautions like wearing face masks, using hand sanitizers, and washing your hands about a million times each day!
But can we assume that COVID-19 is going to hang around like a bad smell for a long time? Or is there some light at the end of the proverbial tunnel? Should you be more optimistic about the COVID-19 situation?
Here are some positive thoughts to consider on the subject and how to be optimistic about the pandemic:
People are more aware of what they do
It’s safe to say that some folks had a blatant disregard for things like personal hygiene. If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us to be more aware of what we are doing with the time that we have each day and throughout our lives.
via GIPHY
People are generally improving things like personal hygiene and covering their mouths when they sneeze or cough in public because they are forced to with a mask. More folks are also taking extra steps to reduce the risk of bacteria or virus transmission from their daily activities by washing their hands more often. I am more aware also when around immune compromised friends and family. Personally, I wonder about the effectiveness of any mask that is not N95 but why would I not want to protect them as much as I possibly can from any lurking disease that I may have and not even know it?
Whichever side of the “Do masks really slow the spread?“ debate you are on, we can all agree that washing your hands is imperative to stop the spread of any disease. Mark Rober, a former NASA employee, creates informative YouTube videos about cool stuff like when he created the world’s largest super soaker. This video below was created in March 2020 about how easily germs can be spread from touching surfaces.
Vaccines are on the horizon
For many people, this is all they need to know to stay optimistic during the pandemic. I wonder if this is how people felt when polio was still around. I am guessing so many momma’s were relived that a vaccine was created but it took decades not just one year. The modern worldwide medical community is amazing and remembering that alone is a great reason to be optimistic!
As you can imagine, the medical community is hard at work, trying to develop a vaccine to protect people against COVID-19. What’s more, they’re also looking at solutions that will cause the least amount of side effects to those that take them. Of course, as J Lyle Bootman says on his blog, it’s best to exercise caution when researching potential new “cures” to COVID-19. There’s no instant quick fix for the coronavirus… yet. Plus, how comfortable can we feel using a vaccine that we might not be able to understand yet what long term side affects might occur? Either way, this vaccine is a sign of hope for many – especially immune compromised people.
Quarantine has taught people more about themselves
You’ll likely have needed to spend a lot of time indoors with your family especially in the areas worst-affected by COVID-19. If you’ve read this blog the last several months or followed my Instagram account, you know all about my family of 5 being in a 1 bedroom apartment for 5 weeks during lockdown. You can put a positive spin on any situation though. Being in quarantine has taught a lot of folks more about themselves and close relationships.
For example, you might have discovered that before COVID-19, you spent little time with their family. I don’t mean that you weren’t around your family throughout the week in the same house. What I mean is intentional time where you pay attention or interact with each other instead of being distracted by things that really don’t matter. Or you might have concluded you want to do more to help others in your neighborhood and community as a whole in times of crisis.
Quarantine has given many people a lot of time to contemplate how they lead their lives and the effects their actions have on others around them. It’s been a great eye opener to where we devote our time and whether that improves our lives. This in turn is a great way to decide how we want our lives to be, well, lived moving forward. What better way to look to the future than with a fresh perspective about what a blessing each day is and how to use our time wisely.
COVID-19 isn’t going to be around forever
Finally, sometimes we forget about the mental impact COVID-19 has on us and the people around us. Having to change how we lead our lives and the things we do socially has undoubtedly affected people’s mental health. People are creatures of habit. Most people thrive in predictability and if any year has been unpredictable, it’s 2020! Keep your chin up and remember that COVID-19 isn’t going to disrupting our lives forever. Plus, it’s only a little over 3 months until the proverbial 2020 finish line.
There are many things to be hopeful about
Lastly, we always have to remember that our hope is not in this world. Our optimism isn’t something that is tangible in our existence. If your attitude is not based in gratitude, then you will always be let down whether it is COVID-19 or just getting a papercut or being hurt by a loved one or losing a job or having to wait an extra 5 minutes at a drive through.
To be optimistic, you have to decide for yourself what is really the main thing in your fleeting life and pour yourself into this. For me, that is Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for my eternal life. We’ve all sinned. Just turn on the news and anyone can see that. Just look at the sidewalk littered with a piece of trash or the oceans pouring over with plastic. Read about the family courts and hurt children. Think about how you had mean thoughts about other drivers on the road. And more. Not one of us is perfect so no wonder we all get discouraged at times (sometimes for days on end). But hope is in my heart and has been on the hearts of many throughout the ages (Read Psalm 25 by scrolling down). Clinging to hope is sometimes one of the best ways to keep moving and to keep optimistic in times like this!
Plus, one positive thing to remember is that COVID-19 won’t be around forever. There will come a point, hopefully very soon, where life can and will return back to normal.
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If you are feeling down or depressed for more days than not, please seek medical attention. If you are feeling like you cannot go on, please call the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or chat here>>> https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/ Or visit the suicide prevention lifeline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Psalm 25[a]
Of David.
1 In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.
2 I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11 For the sake of your name, Lord,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.[b]
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,
and their descendants will inherit the land.
14 The Lord confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart
and free me from my anguish.
18 Look on my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
19 See how numerous are my enemies
and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me;
do not let me be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope, Lord,[c] is in you.
22 Deliver Israel, O God,
from all their troubles!
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