Your Pandemic Recovery Plan

It has been well over a year since the pandemic became an unwelcome intruder into our lives. So many things have seemed out of our control. While we are not quite through with it yet, we are seeing the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. With that light comes the realization that we need to complete our own “Pandemic Recovery.”

What do we know about the stresses this pandemic has placed on most of us? Do any of these sound familiar?

• Less human interaction and isolation
• Increased worry and fear
• Increased general anxiety
• Increased depression
• Stress on personal, spousal, and family relationships
• Increased social anxiety
• Financial stress
• Lower self-esteem
• Increased alcohol consumption

The reality is, almost all of us have dealt with at least a couple of these. So, what to do? Let’s move forward with purpose, and implement our Pandemic Recovery Plan.

Pandemic Recovery Plan

We have spent more than enough months secluding, isolating, and fretting. We need human contact, to feel engaged with others, confident, comfortable, loved, and a better sense of calm and relaxation as we look to the remainder of 2021.

This is a lot to ask. Many still worry about themselves, or a family member, as the virus remains in our society. Financial concerns don’t disappear just because we want them to. Stress and worry don’t dissolve just because we don’t want to feel them anymore.

What we are talking about is incremental improvement. Wherever you are on your Pandemic Recovery journey, let’s now focus on getting better.

Some of us were able to deal with the pandemic with only a glancing blow. For others, it hit us head-on, and we may still be reeling from its effects. Yet all of us do need to take this opportunity to recover, whether it be from a mild or severe episode of pandemic-itis.

Things to Do Today to Optimize Your Recovery

Harness Your Thoughts. Most of us spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about things we can’t influence, without taking charge of the things we can. Jack Canfield, a leadership expert and co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul, says, “You only have control over three things in your life: The thoughts you think, the images you visualize, and the actions you take.” Minister Chuck Swindoll notes, “Thoughts, negative or positive, grow stronger with repetition.”

Your thoughts impact your level of distress, how you cope with stress, and even your life expectancy. Healing begins in your head. Your thoughts powerfully, and profoundly, determine every aspect of your life. What you tell yourself radically impacts your happiness, relationships, and physical well-being.

Distilled down, if your thoughts are consistently affirming, optimistic, and constructive, your life will advance in a positive direction. If your thoughts are consistently critical, pessimistic, and destructive, your life will advance in a negative direction. Healthy thoughts equal healthy emotions. Live in a mindset of gratitude and watch how your life transforms.

Woman implementing her pandemic recovery plan

Source: Rido81/Bigstock

Heal Your Emotions. Anger, fear, resentment, and guilt are the culprits of a toxic emotional state. Certainly, we have all experienced these in our lives. But the key is to resolve them, and not let them become who you are. Life is filled with difficult people and challenging circumstances. In extreme situations, they can cripple us emotionally. How can we work through them and not let them impede upon living in a happier, stronger, productive state?

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Be your own person. Don’t let the destructive thoughts or actions of others dictate how you feel.

Don’t intimidate, and don't be intimidated. Listen, be understanding, and request (and require) reasonableness and calm when discussing important matters.

If the shoe fits, wear it! Before you react defensively, have the courage and strength to acknowledge the truth, and accept your own faults, if necessary.

That said, practice intentional kindness — to yourself as well as others. Your tone and words, as well as body language, can diffuse an otherwise volatile situation.

Nurture Your Relationships. Create and build healthy relationships. That is easy to say, sometimes challenging to accomplish. Remember that your thoughts, visualizations, words, actions, and body language all attract or repel people around you. Put out the energy you want to be surrounded by. Surround yourself with “life-giving” people.

Nourish Your Body. Place emphasis on a healthy diet, sensible fitness routine, and quality, uninterrupted sleep. A healthy body is one of the best things we can all strive toward in our quest to support our mental health.

Are any of these areas where you can make improvements? As you look to the remainder of 2021, implement a Pandemic Recovery Plan that focuses on your mind, body, and spirit. Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. There is hope.