Many of us are struggling with the pandemic, but it’s best to try and stay as hopeful as you can. Bad times always pass and this is no different. To boost your optimism and give you a sense of hope, here are a few things that you can look forward to once this is all over.
- Taking yourself out for coffee There’s something so comforting about spending time in a coffee shop, alone, sipping on a hot cup of coffee as you watch people around you. You don’t need to make conversation with the person sitting in front of you, either. You can just sit and observe what’s happening around you and enjoy the different smells and sounds. And who doesn’t love solo dates?
- Going for daily walks Depending on where you live, going for a walk every day might not even be an option. Or perhaps you are still allowed to go out for your daily exercise and now it’s made you realize just how important it is to get outside. Either way, you probably won’t take it for granted ever again. It’s the little things like waving at a neighbor or smelling the flowers that make it all feel worth it. If you are able to go outside, then take advantage of it. It has a lot of health benefits.
- Days out at the beach There aren’t many things that can compare to a day at the beach. The smell of the sea, the feeling of the sand, the sounds of strangers laughing and playing. For many of us, the beach is our happy place, and from now on we’ll treasure every moment we get to spend there.
- Meeting up with friends How many times have you turned down invitations to go out with your friends because you thought there was always some other time? You’ve probably turned down quite a few invitations. We all do it. Work and busy schedules can often get in the way and sometimes we just don’t feel like socializing so we choose to decline. But if there’s one thing that we should take from this awful crisis, it’s this: we should be making more time for those who matter. After this is over, we should start saying yes to more invitations, because why wouldn’t we want to make the most of it?
- Conversations with strangers You might not have noticed, but talking to a stranger on the bus or during a trip to the grocery store can make a lot of difference to your day. It’s these little conversations that can improve our mood and make us feel more connected to others. Try to make the most of these moments!
- Going on dates Whether it’s first dates, dates with your partner or taking yourself out for a night on the town, you’ll appreciate them in ways that you probably didn’t before. You’ll feel a whole new kind of happiness and satisfaction when eating popcorn at the movies and drinking wine in your favorite restaurant. It will feel even better than it did before and you’ll never take it for granted. Ever.
- Your daily commute If you travel to work, your daily commute will either be the thing that you love the most or hate the most. It can be tiring, especially if you travel a long way. But some of us are starting to realize that the little things that we usually take for granted like people watching and napping on the train were some of our daily highlights. The daily commute might be a pain at times, but it gives us a sense of routine and structure, which is something that a lot of us have lost sight of recently.
- Exploring the world Travelling is one of the main things that keeps us motivated and excited about life. There are still so many places that you really want to explore and you’ll get the chance to explore them with even more gratitude once this is all over. Just imagine how good it will feel when you get to step off the plane.
- The freedom to do whatever you want You might not realize it right now, but you’re actually really lucky. The whole world is in your hands and once this pandemic is over, you get to decide whatever you want to do. You can explore a different career, join a weekly yoga class, or go out for a meal every week. There’s so much out there for you to explore and it’s not going anywhere. It will still be there waiting for you.
- The kindness of others When there’s chaos, it always brings out the good as well as the bad. It’s easy to only see the bad in a situation like this but there are many good things to come out of this. Throughout this pandemic, there’s been so much kindness from strangers and encouraging messages sent to those who are struggling more than ever. We’ve all been there for each other because we recognize that we’re all in the same boat and we all need support. Hopefully, this is something that continues long after this is over.
