Because of the corona crisis, life can seem a bit hopeless nowadays. You may find it difficult to stay positive. Or you are concerned about what is happening. Other people notice that they feel more sad than usual. Staying at home and closing public places and social gatherings doesn�t help either. How do you stay positive in times of uncertainty?
Connection through music
Although there is currently a lot of trouble in the world, there is also beautiful things. Togetherness and militancy give people hope and courage. You may have seen images of the singers on the balconies in Italy. Making music and singing is not only an emotional outlet, but it has a direct effect on your mood. It may also give you strength.
Together we are facing the same crisis
Commitment doesn’t just come from making music. A disaster or threat can also connect people by suffering together and to fight back. Together we are facing the same crisis. Prime Minister Rutte also called stated; “Only with all Dutch people together can we fight this crisis.” And that is true; we have a “common enemy” that connects us.
You don’t immediately have to start singing the Wilhelmus in the garden with your neighbor. There are also other ways to distract yourself from the suffering of quarantine.
Tips
What to do to stay positive and avoid boredom?
- Restricts the reading of push messages from the NOS and (social) media. Especially if the misery in the world makes you sad. It may give a sense of control to stay aware of the news about corona, but it can backfire. It feels good at the time. In the long run it gives stress and fatigue.
- Start a new hobby you’ve always wanted to do. Now you have the time! Read that book, tidy up your wardrobe, practice meditation, take a language course or follow an online tutorial. Do you miss the challenge or are you struggling with discipline? Then set goals for yourself. This way you keep it interesting and you can follow your own progress.
- If sadness persists, discuss this with a practitioner.�
- Make a daily schedule. Keep a balance between challenging yourself and relaxation. This way you keep yourself active but you avoid a feeling of listlessness. Maybe you recognize this feeling if you watched Netflix all day. Netflix seems like a relaxing activity, but it isn’t. This type of passive activity can also be bad for your sleep rhythm, which can then lead to more worrying.
- Try to focus on what’s going well. Sadness often leads to selective attention and you overlook the positive messages. A way to focus on what’s good is to write three positive points each day. I can help already by giving you one positive point: today you have taken time for yourself to read this blog. And whether you found it interesting or not, you have done something for yourself. That counts!
