I want to personally Thank Melissa Howard for writing this great article and the resources she provides at her website Stop Suicide. I hope you enjoy the valuable resources she provides our community.
Managing 3 Major Life Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic
A couple of months ago, you probably began each morning by waking up early, getting ready for work, and then driving to your office. Maybe you would get a drink with your coworkers after clocking out, or maybe you would try to get home early to make dinner for your family. But slowly, the COVID-19 pandemic changed every aspect of your usual schedule.
Your company decided that everyone would work from home, or perhaps your boss had to break the bad news that you were being furloughed. Your children found out that school would be closed for the remainder of the academic year. And one by one, all the local businesses that you would frequent announced that they would be shutting their doors until it was safe to reopen. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many big changes to our lives. Here’s how to manage a few shifts that you might be facing right now.
Talking to a Therapist
In these difficult times, you may be feeling concerned about your mental health. Perhaps you’ve made your first virtual appointment with a therapist who is accepting new clients remotely, or maybe you’ve been considering talking to a professional, but you’re just not ready to take the leap yet.
Making the decision to pursue psychotherapy isn’t always easy, but sometimes, it is necessary. Yes, your first session may feel uncomfortable and awkward, but your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and enduring the rough patches of this healing journey is worth it in the end. Psychology Today suggests writing in a journal to keep track of things you want to discuss in therapy. Plus, there are other steps you can take to boost your spirits during this time of isolation, like adopting a new pet to keep you company.
Making a Big Career Change
Have you been laid off or furloughed over the past few months? Perhaps you left your job voluntarily because you did not feel safe going to work. If you can relate to any of these scenarios, you might be seriously contemplating a career change. If you were thinking of applying for new jobs before this pandemic, there’s a good chance you’re going to seize the opportunity now.
SmartBrief recommends investing lots of time in virtual networking to connect with hiring managers and recruiters. If you’ve lost your job, but you wanted to work on finding a new position right away, check out job sites like Upwork to find positions in fields such as marketing, accounting, web development, customer service, and website copywriting.
Taking on DIY Projects
Chances are, you’ve taken a few steps out of your comfort zone since the COVID-19 outbreak began. Maybe you’ve cut your own hair, picked up a few seed packets to start a vegetable garden, or started some home improvement projects that you normally would have hired a contractor to take care of.
It’s not easy to get used to doing these things on your own, but knowing that you’re capable of handling these DIY projects by yourself can actually give you a confidence boost in the long run. You may even discover a few talents that you didn’t even know you had! Keep practicing, and these tasks will start coming naturally to you.
Eventually, life will return to normal; although some of the changes you make now might stick. Whether you actively chose to adopt some of these changes on your own or you’ve simply had to roll with the punches and accept whatever has come your way, you can learn to thrive in your new circumstances. After all, change is what forces us to grow.
3 responses to “Managing 3 Major Life Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic – An Article by Melissa Howard”
Yes, this pandemic has affected the mental state and one needs to take care of mental health as equally as we care for physical health.
It’s a brilliant post you brought out, a much need of the hour.
Thank You Dr. I hope all is well with your practice during this time. There is much change occurring, but one thing remains very stable, the need to adapt to new situations. As we do this, we will create avenues for a new normal. Thank you for reading.
Dear Dr. Thomas, thank you all well here in India except for the fact that this pandemic has badly affected the rural farming community and so we are trying our best even in smaller ways to bring some progress.
I look forward to read more of your post.
Take care and stay safe