Human beings are amazingly adaptable creatures, and the pandemic has certainly brought that out in all of us. As our workplaces, schools, restaurants and stores closed, we altered our daily lives accordingly. And through the cloud of these pandemic-inspired lifestyle shifts, a number of silver linings are coming to light. Let’s look at some of the more interesting changes that have come about, and the perks those changes bring.
Working From Home
The work-from-home transition was a serious challenge for many people. Change always involves stress, and the many changes thrust upon society at once in the midst of a health crisis left many overwhelmed. This oftentimes meant swapping their workplace, work stations and coworkers for home, the kitchen table, and a house full of children. What’s more, many people simply lost their positions and income, adding to their stress that much more.
As businesses reopened, many people remained at home as companies shifted to a remote workstyle. Although it can prove to be a significant adjustment, working from home is loaded with benefits. Employees nix the commute, have a comfortable environment, can reduce their clothing and transportation costs, and can connect more with their family members.
Those who lost their positions aren’t fully out of luck either, thanks to the booming freelance economy. Through online job boards, you can explore career opportunities in a wide variety of industries, connect with clients, and even receive payment for services. Accounting, writing, website design and customer service are just a few of the roles you can pursue. A powerful job platform can help workers to get back on track with minimal effort.
Home-Cooked Meals
With everything shut down, people began doing everything from their homebase that they used to do elsewhere—including eating and making all their meals. In fact, The Independent notes that not only are people cooking at home, they are doing so from scratch, and many are exploring new recipes to vary their repertoire.
This diet change is loaded with benefits. Those home-cooked meals contribute to a healthier diet, reduced calorie consumption, and better ingredient control. It’s easier on the wallet as well, since restaurant meals tend to be more costly. We also note that people can even prepare foods that boost their mental health—a big bonus during these uncertain times. On top of all that, it’s simply a pleasure to join your loved ones in the kitchen and partake in culinary adventures together.
Victory Gardens
More time at home, more home-cooked meals, and various retail shortages have inspired many people to pick up a hoe and start growing their own food. Homegrown fruits and vegetables are loaded with advantages for savvy gardeners, as they can not only avoid trips to the store and reduce their grocery budget, the produce is generally more flavorful and nutritious.
Additionally, Psychology Today points out that gardening promotes mental health. It teaches you to be patient and accept your results, it connects you with the natural world, and all that time in the sunshine, fresh air, and green space can boost your mood and resilience. It’s also good exercise, and the process of planting, nurturing and harvesting tends to keep you in the present. All good things, and another big benefit from COVID-19.
DIY Hairstyling
When stay-at-home orders ensued, among the many casualties were our hair salons. Stylists around the world closed up shop, leaving us all to fend for ourselves. If ever our ingenuity and adaptability had a chance to shine, this was it! DIY videos and articles surfaced, as we learned to cut, dye, and style our hair to look more presentable for our grocery runs and online meetings. And when all else failed, hats, caps, buns and ponytails covered up the errors of our ways. If nothing else, it saved money until the salon reopened, and taught us there are some services we still prefer paying for.
If we have learned anything from COVID-19, it’s that we as humans have not lost the ability to adapt. We’re working from home, cooking for ourselves, growing our own food, and even cutting our own hair. One way or another, we’re working it all out to our benefit, too.