Hitting reset on 2020: How will your life look post COVID-19?

By Joyce Chong

When we kicked off 2020, there was a sense of optimism of the possibilities that a new decade could bring - a fresh start, projects to commence, travel plans, plans for socialising… all of those things we had taken for granted. Then COVID-19 hit. And with it we saw routines thrown into chaos - we were forced into working from home and grappling with new technology (Zoom anyone?), many of us ended up homeschooling (whilst trying to work concurrently), we stayed away from loved ones, and …social distancing! Mental health was affected, collectively we suffered from global grief (though there were some silver linings), and we learned to adjust. Here we are, six months down the track, and for many we are firmly set on defining our New Normal. But what if we used this as a chance to reset, to reflect on what isolation during COVID-19 has taught us? Below are 3 things we can all tune into in our post COVID-19 life.

1. Hitting reset on routines

Chances are, pre COVID-19 you led a very busy life and probably attempted to squeeze every minute out of it. Perhaps it looked a bit like this:

• Early morning gym, commuting to work, after-work social catch up or playing sport, the dinner rush;

• Early morning rush to take the kids to school, school drop-off, getting through work and a long To Do list, school pick up, afternoon activities, then dinner rush;

• Busy weekends jam packed with social activities from morning until night, interspersed with grocery shopping and grooming appointments, seeing where we can fit in catch ups because…we should.

Now that we have been in isolation, and had to do without many amenities (with gyms, restaurants, and bars shut, and social sport grinding to a halt), have we gained some clarity? Do we now see:

• Which extra curricular activities are essential for your wellbeing? Maybe after-work drinks with friends were common pre COVID-19, but now that you’ve adjusted, could going for a walk in the park a different (and healthier) way of connecting? Or, has lockdown brought greater appreciation of social sport and the benefits it really brings (exercise and social connections)?

• What is truly essential? Can we subtract from our busy pre COVID-19 routines and pare things back? This may mean revisiting your beauty routine, or dinner preparations, to scale things back and free up more time for things that matter.

2. Identifying what’s important

One of the ‘gifts’ of COVID-19, if we were to take a positive spin on what’s been happening for the past six months, is that it’s helped us to identify what’s important. This will look different to different people, but consider what impact lockdown has had on you, and what you value more now than you did pre COVID-19:

• Those friendships and relationships that are more important now than ever. Maybe rediscovering baking with your children, or weekly catch-ups with friends (Zoom party, anyone?) are what really matters to you and help you feel connected to others.

• The feeling of freedom, even if it is along the lines of not feeling tied down to routine. It could mean setting aside half a day to do whatever springs into mind in the spur of the moment.

• Tuning in to social causes to help those less able to help themselves, perhaps championing a cause, donating, or even promoting awareness of a social issue on social media.

• Your health and wellbeing. Perhaps getting moving and/or being in green spaces is what does wonders for your health and wellbeing. If so, make this a part of your new routine.

Use this reset to help you focus your time and effort differently when it comes to your New Normal. Consider how you used to spend your time pre COVID-19 - was it in a meaningful and important way, or were you just passing the time or getting stuck on the hamster wheel of life?

3. Gaining perspective on your ability to cope

 Sometimes we underestimate our ability to cope. Catastrophising self-talk, doubting our ability to pivot and adjust to a new way of life, or using language that dials up our distress (“It’s a disaster”, “There’s no way I’ll be able to go without my annual holiday”, “I can’t deal with not seeing my friends and hugging them”).

And yet here we are, six months down the track, and for many of us, we have managed to cope and are starting to emerge from the pandemic. Yes, there has been uncertainty. Yes, there have been moments where our ideals didn’t match up to reality. And yes, there have been sad and challenging times.

But we are still standing. And with that, let’s reset our mindset when it comes to our ability to cope. Reflect on the strengths that you have shown when it comes to adjusting to your new routine. Reflect on whether you’ve not coped as well as you would like, and take this as an opportunity to focus on how to cope better, or to reach out to speak to someone who can help (like us!). Or, it could be a chance to reach out to someone whom you think may not be coping that well to see if you can help them.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to resetting your life post COVID-19.