THE SILENT PANDEMIC

Loneliness – The Silent Pandemic  

At this point, we have all been living in varying stages of lockdown for nearly a year. What once seemed like an extreme change has, for many, began to feel normal. Normalcy is not necessarily positive in that being alone for many is now the standard. The lines have become increasingly blurred between work and home – many of us have turned our living rooms and spare bedrooms into offices, answering emails and working on projects late into the evening hours when we would have usually gone out for a drink or dinner with friends. At the same time, we no longer get the much-needed break that work provided us from our home life, parenting, our partners, parents, and for some solitude. With bars, restaurants closed, events postponed and then ultimately canceled – we find ourselves fixated on our missing social contacts – How? When? And with whom can we meet… and most importantly is it safe? Is the much needed social contact worth the risk of infection?

Some have had some success in making this pandemic more bearable by focusing on self-exploration: developing new hobbies, planning for their futures, journaling, being creative, acquiring new skills, launching a new business, or just taking a much-needed break. At the same time, it is important to recognize the significance of human connection and foster community wherever we can during these trying times. For some, that means waving to people in the neighbourhood, chatting with the cashiers at their local grocery store, and for some, technology has been the key and has allowed them to stay in touch with family and friends on a global scale. 

Loneliness is, unfortunately, a common human experience, affecting virtually everyone at some stage of life. While isolation may be government-mandated at the moment, loneliness is not. If you are struggling, try to get in touch with your loved ones, make connections where possible, and reach out to mental health professionals when needed. You are not alone – support will always be available; all you have to do is ask. 

| This article was inspired by Beata Prygiel |

STARTING SOMETHING NEW

Newness –  Some fear it, Some crave it. What newness means depends entirely on the person experiencing it; it can range from joining a book club to starting over in a new country.   Many people experience this as an exciting proposition to grow, and for the rest of us, it feels scary, unknown, and downright daunting. We fear an unknown outcome more than we fear a known negative one, often opting to remain in situations that are not well suited to us rather than deal with the inevitable uncertainty.

So why bother?

Trying new things opens up the possibility for us to get to know ourselves that much better. Whether the outcome is good, bad, or meh, you will leave with more information about yourself and hopefully new skills. Challenging ourselves is, in most cases, essential for growth. Growth = good. 

Humans crave novelty. Even those of us who are very happy to hang around in our very "normal" everyday routines need to mix it up every now and again. Novelty is to boredom as challenge is to stagnation. Research backs this up; we know that dopamine often accompanies a novel experience, this gives a boost of happiness but also motivation to continue to grow.

So how can we engage with new things even when it can be so uncomfortable?

I’ll be honest it does require some work… Suppose we find ourselves assuming the worst-case scenario. To balance this out, we must also do the work of assuming the best case scenario while remaining fully aware that neither of these is particularly likely – more often than not life exists in the grey…  so I encourage you to try an alternative… try to free yourself from the act of assumption. Stop yourself when you find yourself barreling towards the possible outcomes and futures in your mind and instead allow yourself the space to shrug your shoulder and say I'll have to wait and see. In most cases, no matter the outcome, you will be more than likely to be capable of managing it.