Confronting Common COVID-19 Challenges

Submitted by guest blogger Annabelle Harris

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge for us all, in more ways than one. Both short- and long-term challenges have come to the fore as issues we need to surmount, each with its own kinds of opportunities and, yes, benefits. We all need a little help sometimes — and this experience has offered plenty of chances to prove the truth of that statement.

Ruth for the Broken presents several things you can focus on as we begin to come out of the pandemic.

Shore up your relationships

The pandemic put a strain on many relationships, whether it was between friends, between partners, or between strangers. We weren’t seeing our families as much as we wanted, or we were seeing too much of them.

Now is a great time to deepen your understanding of the people around you. Acknowledge that the situation is not normal, and it is certainly difficult. Give your family, friends, and neighbors the space to air any grievances they have. Communicate your own feelings, and create space for yourself, too. Really listen to the people around you and take the time to internalize what they’re saying. Also, add positive activities to your schedule, especially with a romantic partner.

Pay attention to your body

Especially during times of great stress, it’s important to incorporate physical activity. Now is the time to make a renewed focus on your health. Getting your body moving, as well as feeding it adequate nutrients, is a key to stress relief. Exercise improves your mood, leads to better sleep, and can even improve memory. During the pandemic, most of us have changed how we shop for groceries, altered or eliminated our workout routines, and experienced more strain associated with these activities. However, by continuing to be intentional about your exercise routine and food shopping habits (even if you do have to have them delivered to your home), you can demonstrate that your health is important.

Start your own business

As things begin to re-open, now is a great time to focus on your own personal success. Burn out from the pandemic may have you wanting to make a big change. So ask yourself: What are your skills? Is there a market for them? And what do you enjoy doing? Hopefully, somewhere in the confluence of those three questions is a commonality — and therein lies your new business idea!

But first, consider rounding out your education with an online degree. Earning an MBA, for example, will set you apart from the competition, whether you’ll work for someone else or run your own business. An online program has many benefits, including the fact that there’s no need to attend in-person classes, freeing you up to continue working your job and earn while you learn, studying, and taking courses whenever and wherever you choose. Some programs even allow you to fast-track your coursework -- 60 percent of graduates finish within 18 months. Just remember that it pays to research the programs that interest you, so make sure the one you pick is fully accredited.

If you decide that becoming an entrepreneur feels like the right direction for you, think about forming an LLC for your small business. An LLC (or a limited liability company) offers smaller operations tax advantages, flexibility, and protection for personal assets (in other words, you as a private citizen wouldn’t be held accountable if the business were to be sued or go under). You can even save money and avoid hefty lawyer fees by filing yourself using an online service.

Get the Right Support

The prospect of returning to a more normal way of life may make you feel overwhelmed. If that’s the case, ask for help. If you’re considering starting your own business or could use some guidance in terms of what you want to do with your life, working with a life coach could be the perfect solution. Studies have shown that these kinds of interactions can improve self-esteem and boost motivation.

Alternatively, it may be more beneficial to work with a therapist, especially if you have feelings of depression and anxiety that you can’t seem to shake. A counselor can help you unpack your emotions and help you find the tools you need to come out on the other side whole.

While the pandemic continues to upend our lives, it’s important to find ways to enhance your relationships near and far, give your body the space it needs to move, and consider whether it’s time to take your career in a more you-centered direction. You may just find that you feel like a brand new you!