Did we really spend all last year trying to make sense of the world only to find ourselves here once again? If it feels like we’ve been on hold for far too long listening to that same tone, stop and start up again. We’ve all been listening to that message telling us that our call is important and that they will be with us shortly…just hold on a little longer. We’ve been on hold, waiting our turn until 2022, when everything should go back to being normal again.
We’re not in 2020 anymore. So why does time feel so warped? It’s like we just keep living the same year again and again. 2021 was like a carbon copy of 2020, but hopefully, not a foreshadow of what’s to come. Here we are, now three months away from 2022, and we are still processing 2020.
Pushing through is what it all boils down to. Many of us are probably not experiencing the cognitive strain quite as much as others, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t feeling anything at all.
To say that it’s been frustrating waking up to the same old same every day for the past 21 months would be an understatement. For those who eventually took the more optimistic route, we saw the time under quarantine as an opportunity to do and learn new things. Many people picked up new hobbies, hiked for the first time, and spent more quality time with family.
For a while, we were rolling well with the changes. We found ways to lessen both the stress and boredom. But now it’s like we were just going through the same routine over and over as the brain fog continues to seep in.
We’re all experiencing brain fog these days, having trouble focusing and looking forward to the future. The feeling that we lack full mental clarity is not just about the fact that we feel like we’re living in a time warp. Instead, it’s the massive mental impact of everything concerning COVID combined. It’s that we spend more time on our computers and phones now and less time with friends. We’re experiencing more stress and boredom due to less gym and travel time. Feeling alone, underneath our masks, it’s hard to feel like we’re doing anything but enduring the things we once loved.
There’s been a significant decline in mental health everywhere. More people have picked up poor habits in terms of diet and exercise. And without the people and things that once uplifted us and kept us going, it’s become harder and harder to think positively in the face of all this stress and disheartenment. Every day we’re reminded to wash our hands for at least 20 seconds. Wash, rinse, repeat. The story of our lives.
So how do you push through? And more importantly, how can you stop living in 2020?!
We all need a change of pace, and maybe that change can come from even more new hobbies, family time, or something as simple as more self-care. The possibilities are endless when it comes to finding ways to occupy and take care of your mind. But the essential thing is to remember that we don’t have to wait for time to start working with us again. It is possible to move on from 2020 by making the most of what we have right now.
Instead of viewing life as something you’re merely pushing through daily, think about what you can do to start thriving. Maybe you start an online business or side hustle – something you would have never considered before all this. Whatever you do, go ahead and set goals for the upcoming year, just as you usually do. Know that you can stop living in this warped time of year and start getting excited about living again by focusing on everything within your control. It may not feel like it now, but you will get through this. You’ve come too far to give up now.