It’s safe to mention that about 70% of the people you may know can say that their life has taken a 180-degree turn ever since the pandemic started. As a result, a lot of us can also testify to the fact that our personalities have changed quite a bit, mostly due to the fact that we have had less social interactions and more time to ourselves.
By spending more time by myself, I learned so much about who I am as a person, to the point where I now project a more confident image to the world. At first, I must admit that it wasn’t easy. My daily life suffered a sudden change and that left me with a feeling of nostalgia. The fact that I couldn’t see my friends everyday like I used to, left me feeling lonely.
By implementing a few things into my daily routine, I slowly but surely got to a point where I was so comfortable with myself and felt okay with the time I had alone. I turned loneliness into a time for peace and self care. This article is about coming to terms with the fact that we won’t always be surrounded by people, and learning to use that time for ourselves. Here are some tips that helped me.
Take this opportunity to get to know yourself better
First thing I did was get into the habit of journaling. Surprisingly, by doing so, I realized that I had been so distracted with the daily hustle of pre-pandemic life, that I had put a lot of my emotions aside. I gave myself the opportunity to address these emotions and understand why I was feeling that way by using prompts that allowed me to write freely about different subjects related to my life.
Aside from journaling, I also took a personality test. I completed it out of curiosity and boredom more than anything, but it helped me understand the way that I am and why I act the way that I do. The one that I took is the Myers Briggs personality test, which is totally free!
Know that this feeling won’t last forever
Know that soon enough, you’ll reunite with people. This will occur by returning to in-person classes, or being able to see your friends more often.
Being alone, and then finding ourselves surrounded by people is a cycle, so don’t get too caught up with the feelings of loneliness that may come with not having people around. They won’t last forever.
Also, this is a reminder to enjoy this time you have for yourself, given that it may or may not be very limited.
Take care of yourself and your energy
By getting to know myself better, I learned to identify the things and people that brought good energy to my life and the things and people that didn’t. I’m not saying you should cut ties with everyone you know, but as you learn to value your own company more, make sure that the people you spend time with, match that vibe.
Also, implement some self care into your daily life. For example, take a day in which you would’ve gone out with your friends during pre-pandemic times, for yourself. Paint your nails, make yourself a delicious meal, and watch your favorite show. In other words, have a date with yourself!
Find joy in a new hobby
Take this time to acquire more knowledge and have new experiences. If you want to learn how to bake, look up some cool recipes. If you want to learn a new language, look up some free resources on how you can do that. I personally started to learn Italian through Duolingo. You don’t necessarily have to practice this hobby everyday. Do it when you feel like it and remember that it shouldn’t feel like a chore, but rather like an activity you can enjoy.
Make sure to have a few people you can always talk to
Last tip is to stay in contact with a group of people. This is honestly the most important tip out of all the ones I’ve mentioned. Being alone does not have to be equivalent to feeling lonely if we still have people that we can reach out to. These people surely won’t be available 24/7, but make sure to schedule in some activities with them. Plan a movie night, a game night, or just talk to them via a simple phone call. The important thing is to communicate with other people.
Human interaction is a vital part of life, but most of us won’t be surrounded by people all the time. It is important to find comfort in our own company. Going forward, we must make sure to implement some time for ourselves in our daily routines. It’s good to reconnect with ourselves and check up on how we’re really doing, with no distractions, every once in a while.