To say that life has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic would be an understatement.
Very few of us can say the “new normal” of a country in lockdown has not had a profound effect on our lives, both physically and mentally.
But, despite the challenges of being confined to our homes, there are a few silver linings to the cloud that we’ve been living under.
1. Reconnect and bond with our families
Whether you’re living with your family or miles apart, there’s no doubt that the lockdown has brought us all “closer” to our families.
Families that would otherwise be rushing around with the general hustle and bustle of daily life, from school runs to grocery shopping, homework and working overtime, all suddenly found themselves stopping and being together for longer.
This enforced bonding time has given us all the chance to reconnect, whether physically or digitally, with our families. Spending time cooking, cleaning, and hanging out with family has helped us newly appreciate the ones closest to us, those we neglected the most during our daily lives.
2. Learn to love cooking again
Whether you’re an avid cook or a complete novice, there’s little doubt that lockdown has forced you into the kitchen in more ways than one.
Initially, the sudden loss of access to restaurants and takeaway meals meant that we were all stuck digging through recipe books for inspiration in the kitchen.
Having home-cooked meals together as a family is not only great for our physical health but feeds the soul as well. Being able to control what goes into our food means that we know exactly what we’re eating each day. And don’t forget the savings staying home and cooking will have added to your bank balance!
3. The true value of friendships
Like spending more time with our family has been a great benefit, spending less time with friends has demonstrated their true value. Many of us were forced into Zoom and WhatsApp calls with groups of friends as our ability to see one another was removed. This time with one another might be different but will have solidified friendships for years to come.
4. A greater appreciation of what we have
Like most things, we only really appreciate what we have until it’s gone. The same could be said for the “normal life” we’ve had before the global pandemic.
Many of us may have taken the simple things in life for granted without even knowing it. When forced into radical change through an event like lockdown, we’ve suddenly realised the importance of what we’ve had before and only now truly understand the value of it.
Mental health during lockdown has been a struggle for many of us, but learning to appreciate what we have is something we can all be grateful for.
If you find yourself struggling mentally, don’t forget that all GetSavvi Health members have access to a counselling benefit.
5. A greater understanding of our own physical health
Like mental health, our physical health has been tested during the lockdown. Gyms, parks, beaches and other public places had been closed at the start and some are still unavailable to us. Our physical health has, without a doubt, suffered during the lockdown and given all of us a greater appreciation of what we had before.
As the lockdown continues, we all need to be aware of our physical well-being and ensure that we make our health priority number one, and that includes having medical cover in an emergency.
References:
5 Positive Effects Of The Lockdown On Our Health
Coronavirus: Eight ways life in the UK has changed
Coronavirus: Why spending so much time with our children could have unexpected benefits
Five Lessons to Remember When Lockdown Ends