Oh, 2020.
With several events and changes that occurred in all of our lives, I dare to bet that 2020 has been a roller coaster ride for almost all of us.
Unlike many of my friends, I have actually enjoyed quarantine to some extent. I got to spend so much time with my family after two years of studying abroad and take a break from the peer pressure at school. Generally, due to the pandemic, I definitely did not have an ideal summer, but there were still plenty of delightful things to be grateful of.
Despite the bright side of staying at home, there were many negative factors of it that impact our lives unfavorably. To be thoroughly honest, the bad could have been outweighed the good for many people: online classes, far-distance relationships, difficult financial situation, canceled summer vacation, and so many more. However, I want to put aside all the unpleasant things that COVID-19 has “awarded” us and talk about a few constructive takeaways that I have gathered.
It might not apply to everyone, but I still hope it's worth sharing, reading, and reflecting on. Keep in mind that the article's purpose is to share my insights that I thought deserved to be heard, not to indirectly promote toxic positivity in any way.
Here are the 6 lessons that I, a young adult, have learned in 2020. Drum roll!
1. Health is your Biggest Gift
"It is health that is the real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver." - Mahatma Gandhi
Isn't that right? Throughout the summer that just passed, we were told to cancel several opportunities to have fun.
All for what?
To protect yourself and others.
From what, exactly?
From getting our and others' health in a bad condition.
So, does that mean our need to stay healthy should be more prioritized than our desire to be entertained?
Absolutely!
At the end of the day, we should all realize that decent well-being should never be sacrificed to have fun, to “enjoy life.”
Not every young people out there care much about their health until they are diagnosed with something. Please, don't be that person. It is always easier to prevent than to cure sickness.
Start seeing this pandemic as a warning telling you that your health is your most precious treasure. Stop sabotaging it through unhealthy activities like smoking, vaping, eating junk food, and drinking (not just alcohol, soft drink too). Start looking out for yourself, and you will be thankful one day.
2. Toxic Positivity is dangerous
It doesn't matter what the inspirational quotes that you found on Instagram say, it is not realistic to be joyous all the time. There are times when you are not happy with your life; there are moments when you feel down; there are days when you just feel hopeless. Well, let's be honest here, this year has been mostly filled up with that kind of moments for some of us. Yes, you heard that right: you are not alone!
If you are in that state right now, like I said, it's okay not to be okay. Nothing is permanent, and this too shall pass. Every emotion that you go through makes you who you are, a person capable of feeling and processing even the most challenging feelings and situations in life.
Being joyful is not as important as being emotionally diverse. You no need to feel ashamed of how you feel or what you cannot do at the time. We are all human beings, not robots; we can't function and feel the same way all the time.
3. Being Productive does not mean being busy all the time
I have always been a very dedicated student in high school. I was willing to put in however much time it needed to do homework and take detailed notes and practice extras. I deliberately left very little time for other fundamental needs such as socializing, exercising, and essentially, having fun. In general, I want to be busy and stay busy throughout the day, allowing no “idle distractions” from studying, for I believed that was the only way I could be guaranteed success.
Being at home every day has caused me to be, surprisingly, unproductive and unmotivated. I imagined that by not moving around and having not many things to distract me from work, I would be able to function effectively all day. As it turns out, I could only be productive at certain times of the day.
As soon as I realized that, I tried to work only at that time and allow myself some healthy entertainments, such as drawing or playing the piano. After a month, I checked my work progress. To my own incredulity, I have achieved as much, if not more than when I tried to work all the time.
I just learned a lesson that day: I could achieve things and still have fun. What a silly thing to say as a teenager, right? However, I believe many of us need to hear this too.
Productivity is not about how long you can work, but about how efficient you are in a certain amount of time. Giving in efforts and time is a self-responsible thing to do, but don't make working/studying your life center. After enough years have gone by, it is the pleasant memories of having blasts that we will remember and treasure, not the A+ we got on a Math test.
4. it's important to uplift ourselves
Have you ever felt not enough, no matter how much you have done or tried?
I dare to bet I wasn't the only person who felt the most useless, unproductive, and moody during self-quarantine. As young adults, we often have high expectations for ourselves and regard our achievements, as well as efforts, as "not enough." I wish everyone, not just teenagers, could stop seeing what they are not capable of doing and start celebrating their endeavor, especially during such a hard time like this. Treat yourself like how you would treat someone you love, and remember, it's important to have self-compassion. Don't forget to give yourself a high-five for every endeavor you make!
5. prioritize Mental Well-being and mindfulness
Having gone through difficult mental and emotional states not just throughout the quarantine period, I deeply understand how much one's mental health could affect their life. While physical health problems could be easily noticed and healed, mental health issues are not always that manifested and curable.
With that in mind, let's all start prioritizing mental health and living more mindfully. Be aware of our feelings, thoughts, and well-being in general. Take essential actions when we need them.
Take a break, have a power nap, get away from toxic people, turn on the music and dance, talk to somebody, watch a movie that will make you cry, whatever you need to do to recharge and enhance your well-being. Everyone has a different way to take care of themselves, so take the time to figure out your own.
During a time when our lives negatively change and there's nothing much we could do, it's hard to stay optimistic and joyful. However, that doesn't mean we should totally give up on ourselves and the time we have. Try the best you can to live mindfully and maintain your spirit, because nothing is permanent and this too, shall pass.
6. we are so blessed!
"You never know what you have until it's gone" - Joni Mitchell
It's funny to say this, right? Having the pandemic took so many things away from us, what is there to be grateful of? Why should we feel thankful when our usual social gatherings and weekend shopping were no longer allowed?
Well, before the pandemic hit, had you ever felt truly grateful for those things? Had you ever slowed down to appreciate every family gathering, in-person class, shopping Saturday with friends, or a tight hug from others?
Having been able to do those activities anytime we wanted, we had rarely been aware of its value and realized how fortunate we were. "Thanks" to COVID-19, I had a bigger appreciation for the days I had before and after the pandemic hit. Both of them weren't ideal, but there were blessings in each. Of course, we don't have to stay optimistic and reminded of those pieces of luck all the time; however, I believe it's important to be mindful of them.
These are the valuable lessons that I have gathered throughout 2020. They might sound simple, but are extraordinary.
