Reflecting on 2020

This year has been both frustrating and unsettling in many ways that are probably very obvious to most - the coronavirus definitely wasn’t something I think any of us were anticipating in 2020 and has affected literally everyone in one way or another. It’s already reorienting our relationship to the outside world, the government and even to each other which raises many questions; when will we see any form of normality? Will touch itself become taboo? How will the virus affect certain industries that have been suffering from the outbreak long term? 

It’s all very daunting to ponder and witnessing the huge social and economic changes happening across the world can really take it’s toll. Daily figures and statistics that get thrown our way as well as tier changes in different parts of the UK further heightens the feelings of dubiety that we all share. Many people have been left feeling isolated from their friends and loved ones throughout the year and we’ve been forced to stay indoors away from the people we cherish most. Although self-isolation and social distancing are crucial for managing the health crisis, it has all come with a price; people have lost their jobs and no longer have stable incomes which can be devastating for families that were already struggling to make ends meet. Even more tragically however, many more people have lost their lives throughout the pandemic - a heartbreaking realisation. 

With all this circulating my brain, I found myself being mentally burnt out a lot of the time, especially during the first few months of the first lockdown that we experienced. I remember waking up in the mornings whilst being furloughed and wanting to just roll over and go back into a dream state, away from the complexities of COVID-19. As humans, I think we are hard-wired to have the impulse to dwell on the negatives that life brings, but I don’t think that means being this way is inevitable and I think that cultivating a more peaceful outlook is possible for everyone, even if it may take some work and patience. I have been blessed throughout the pandemic overall because I am able to earn an income, be close with my loved ones and have the ability to support myself financially - I recognise my privileges but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for me mentally. As the new year approaches, I am feeling a hell of a lot more optimistic, and I thought I would share what I’ve been doing since the start of 2020 to progress to this point.

For me, maintaining structure during my isolation period helped me massively with feeling productive and in control of my life. I think the uncertainty of the virus can leave you feeling lost and disorderly because, as we have all witnessed, restrictions and even another lockdown can be dumped on us at any given moment. Recognising what you can manage within your own life can feel refreshing and can help keep your thoughts more orderly rather than being intrusive and plagued with anxiety 24/7. It’s okay to start small with this, perhaps have a vision of one thing that you would like to get done that day or write a list of tasks that need doing - sometimes completing the most boring jobs can help you feel grounded and can bring a sense of normality amongst the madness.

I’ve always been drawn to the outdoors, but this year I have found myself spending more time outside than inside. I have racked up a lot of steps since March because I found that popping on my walking boots and wandering around forests and fields has significantly reduced my stress levels. It’s a chance to get fitter, have a break from the house and escape into nature and wildlife. I have also found that even something as small as keeping house plants has been mentally beneficial to me this year; tending to a plant can help us to appreciate the power we have to nurture, and gives us a sense of achievement when the plant flourishes. If indoor plants aren’t your cup of tea and if you are unable to take in the great outdoors through nature walks due to disabilities or other reasons, I would definitely recommend finding a green space outside (whether it’s at a nature reserve or your own garden) to sit and take in the world around you. Finding a new hobby or sport that you can do out and about is a bonus. Some of the happiest, most relaxing moments that I have had this year have been outside with friends.

Switching on the TV to hear never ending negativity surrounding the coronavirus is overwhelming for your mind and can definitely put a huge strain on your mental health - obsessive checking of the news can cause unnecessary anxiety because you’re persistently putting yourself through feelings of stress, fear and panic over things that aren’t even in your control. Keeping up to date is one thing, but checking the global database of confirmed cases dozens of times per day is a compulsive behaviour that doesn’t serve anyone. Personally, I don’t watch day time telly but I do follow news sources on Twitter - reducing the amount that I read and setting a limit on my information intake has definitely settled the ol noggin a fair amount. Instead of scrolling through endless fear-mongering news articles, I found that shifting my focus on staying connected to the people I love and care about keeps me occupied in a more wholesome way. Even reaching out to someone you trust to explain that you’re struggling with an unhealthy news cycle can be supportive, they may be able to help keep you preoccupied with something that isn’t going to keep you up at night. Also it’s important to remember that not everything you read online will be necessarily true and if it’s disturbing your peace or if it’s making you draw up catastrophic outcomes in your head, don’t be shy in deleting news apps or unfollowing pages/people that aren’t helping matters. 

So what are my thoughts on 2020? Undoubtedly, it has been shit for countless reasons for us all due to the corona outbreak. However, I always try my hardest to find the good within the bad that happens and a wonderful thing that has come from this year for me was realising what I had been taking for granted. I think a lot has been put into perspective for me and life seems a little more fragile than it did before, which can help you become more mindful of the space around you and people that are in it. Spending time with my family, being outside in nature, being more conscious of what I cook and eat, being more thoughtful of others and their health, reconnecting with people around me...all of these things have been brought to light in my life throughout the COVID pandemic and for that reason, I am truly grateful. We are not alone, even if sometimes we’re convinced that we are, there is always someone there that we can lean on when the tough gets tough. We have each other, so it isn’t really all doom and gloom after all. ❤️