The coronavirus pandemic has changed life as we know it. While it’s no secret that the pandemic has had a negative impact on people and businesses around the world, you may still be able to see a silver lining in all of this. The changes brought on by the pandemic have forced many of us to adopt new routines, healthy habits, and stress coping mechanisms that will stick around long after the pandemic is over. Here’s how to make the best of any tough life changes you may be facing right now.

Facing Loss and Grief

Experiencing the loss of a loved one is incredibly painful during the best of times. But when you can’t hold a funeral or solicit a hug from a family member, processing your grief may seem impossible. Social distancing restrictions have made it difficult to gain access to the social support we need to make it through the grieving process. If you’re looking for grief support, online communities like griefHaven can offer articles of hope, effective coping tools, and resources to help you track down bereavement support groups.

It’s important to realise that grief may also result from losses other than death. The loss of normalcy that we’re all feeling right now can certainly cause a sense of grief. People are collectively grieving a loss of hope, economic security, and their sense of personal freedom. Acknowledging your grief and allowing yourself to mourn is an important part of the healing process, so don’t be afraid to feel whatever you’re feeling.

Navigating Career Disruptions

As COVID-19 surges continue to trigger new business shutdowns, the country is having a tough time recovering the 22.2 million jobs lost during the initial outbreak last spring. But believe it or not, something good may come out of all this. Many people are taking this opportunity to escape the 9 to 5 grind and pave their own path. If you lost work due to the pandemic, this could be a great opportunity to launch a business!

Certain businesses are thriving right now, especially those offering cleaning services, remote work solutions, cybersecurity consulting, IT support, delivery services, and virtual health and fitness services. Are you thinking about starting a business in one of these areas? Before you get too far, consider forming an LLC to protect yourself from personal liabilities. Learn the process involved in registering a California business so you can submit the right filing forms and fees.

Dealing with Chronic Stress

Navigating concerns about the coronavirus and all of the changes that came with it is bound to cause some stress. But the pandemic has been going on for nearly a year now, and we’re all starting to feel burnt out and emotionally exhausted. How do you cope? St. Peter’s Health recommends coming up with a coping mantra that will help you avoid ruminating on negative thoughts, like “this is only temporary”. You could also try mindfulness meditation, yoga, or therapy. Try to see this as an opportunity to develop coping strategies that will continue to serve you throughout the pandemic and beyond.

Coping with Isolation

Normally, social support plays a key role in helping us cope with grief, stress, and other distressing emotions, but due to the pandemic, many of us are feeling more alone than ever. Finding ways to cope with isolation is incredibly important for your mental health! Thankfully, this crisis has normalized virtual celebrations and other forms of online socialization. The pandemic has shown us how to maintain connections with people when we can’t see them in person, and this has wonderful implications for people who were struggling with isolation before the pandemic began.

As the coronavirus continues, we’re still learning how to cope with all of the changes that have occurred over the past year. From losing work to facing unexpected periods of isolation, we’re all grappling with challenges that we never anticipated. The good news is that after we’ve overcome this, we can overcome anything!