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Finding Joy in a Pandemic WRITTEN BY MELISSA WELLS // PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHEYENNE TANG
Fear. Panic. Anxiety. Hopelessness. Stress. Denial. Is this really happening? Can it happen to me? brave enough to be vulnerable and genuine about their feelings, whether surrounding the polarized political climate or fears concerning the pandemic. For those feeling the impact on their mental health, it may be helpful to schedule more frequent checkups with medical professionals. Another anxiety-relieving method is simply creating mantras that you can repeat or write down to build you up throughout the day. For example: “You are alive. You are surviving. You are breathing.” Mantra meditation is used as a medium to override and redirect negative or intrusive thoughts that perpetuate psychological distress by continually repeating a specific word or phrase (silently or aloud). Even if you take five minutes to move your body through meditation, practicing yoga, or engaging in exercises that activate your lymphatic system and promote drainage —— this will encourage more effective flow and bolsters your immune system against potential infections.
By early 2020, the novel coronavirus was not of concern in America, despite the waves of outbreaks originating from China and sweeping through Europe. Then it hit a Washington state nursing home on January 20. By April, there was not one state in the U.S. that hadn’t reported at least one case. As the pandemic continues to ebb and flow unpredictably, many find themselves feeling “end of the world” blues. In some ways, we are grieving a way of life. Mourning and healing from so much tragedy is a day-by-day process with no expiration date. This season of life, like any other, is transient.
A Cornell University study from earlier this year shone light on the subject of how nature impacts
With the restless energy and worry this free time has given us, there are many outlets that can bring you happiness during the pandemic. This article aims to provide suggestions to help you continue soldiering through this difficult period. It can be something as simple as unscheduled, quiet time. It can also just mean more serious check-ins between friends where someone is
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