Waiting on the Unknown

The past month has been a difficult and scary time to say the least. As we are entering in our second month of COVID-19, it can seem like our current situation is endless. Everyone has made drastic changes: From how or if we are working, staying at home, and distancing ourselves from friends and families. You may be asking yourself, “When will life go back to normal?” “When will all of this be over?” It can be hard to wait for something unknown, especially something like waiting for a pandemic to end.

If you are finding yourself restless during this time, these tips may be helpful:

• Regain a sense of normalcy: Safely recreate aspects of life before COVID-19. Maintain relationships, continue to do activities you enjoy, and get some fresh air (while social distancing).
• Carefully letting go: We do not know what the future holds after COVID-19 is over, but parts of what we once considered to be normal, may change. This is not to scare you, but rather help establish healthy expectations as we wait in the unknown.
• Allow yourself to process: Allow yourself to grieve, feel, and process everything that is going on. It is important to be in tune and mindful of your emotions during such a stressful time.
• Establish your own sense of control: Waiting can make anyone feel like they do not have as much control over their circumstances, but there are still many things that are in your hands. You decide things like what you eat, how you spend your day, and who you talk to.

Remind yourself that this is temporary: No matter how endless this seems, remind yourself that things will begin to get better. The current situation we are in will not last forever. While there are certainly unknowns about what the future holds, continue to remind yourself that this is temporary.