Oh to be relaxing on a white-sand beach, watching the blue waves crash the shore, with the world pandemic free. I can hardly wait for this pandemic to cease. Painting has always been a hobby of mine that I thoroughly enjoy. I decided to take the opportunity while in quarantine to create this tranquil scene that was to be hung in my new home. It is appalling to me that I just typed the word, “quarantine.” To think that our current reality is to stay inside and refrain from all human contact is mind-boggling. I know that much will change after this pandemic in that humans will take more precautions when in a public environment. I think that a key takeaway from all of this should be to spend time with yourself and learn what you like to do. By doing what you most enjoy, whether that be painting, cooking, or cleaning, it can greatly reduce stress and anxiety.

So how will we change the way we live going forward from the COVID-19 pandemic? I asked this question to my mother and she replied: “People are going to be more conscious by washing their hands and keeping a safe distance. They will learn to kick it down a notch instead of rushing around all the time.” I agree with her statement that people will properly wash their hands and there will most likely be less hustle and bustle. People will learn to communicate without personal interaction, “The comfort of being in the presence of others might be replaced by a greater comfort with absence, especially with those we don’t know intimately”(“Coronavirus Will Change…”). Forbes Magazine emphasizes that even after the pandemic passes, many will continue using technological services as they provide convenience(Glazer). Our reality after this pandemic will show a great change in society, but we must take care of our well-being amid this change.

“Most Americans are suffering from moderate to high stress, with 44 percent reporting that their stress levels have increased over the past five years”(“Stressed in America”). It is likely that the COVID-19 pandemic has recently increased stress and anxiety levels. I asked my father his opinion of doing hobbies during this time and he replied: “They are a huge stress reliever and it can be therapeutic to do your own hobby.” Hobbies and self-care are vital to pursue during the Coronavirus pandemic: “In this time of uncertainty and instability, and a world and existence we no longer recognize, people need an anchor to familiarity and what once brought them comfort, stability, safety, and happiness”(Alfonso). I know that I was able to temporarily forget our current reality by painting and it provided me with a sense of comfort. The reality after this pandemic is that people will be more conscious in a public environment. By incorporating enjoyable activities, it can greatly reduce stress and is just as important for our upcoming reality.

Sources:

Alfonso, Fernando III. “The Long Lost Hobbies People around the World Are Revisiting during the Coronavirus Pandemic.” CNN, Cable News Network, 5 Apr. 2020, http://www.cnn.com

“Coronavirus Will Change the World Permanently. Here’s How.” POLITICO, http://www.politico.com

Glazer, Robert. “COVID-19 Will Permanently Change The Way Every Generation Lives-Here’s How.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 3 Apr. 2020, http://www.forbes.com

“Stressed in America.” Monitor on Psychology, American Psychological Association, http://www.apa.org