The corona virus has brought too many negative circumstances including lost jobs, school disruptions, extreme isolation, closed businesses, unnecessary deaths and social inequality, to name a few. But, for everything that’s been taken, there’s still hope. In fact, Talkspace points out that some people see a bright side to COVID-19. Here are three important benefits people have been lucky enough to realize.
Strengthened Relationship with Spouse
Although it can be difficult to be isolated with a spouse, especially during a pandemic, some people report the positive impact it had on their relationships. For instance, one woman says that she and her husband had never spent much time together before COVID-19. They had a long distance relationship for the first four years where she would travel on a near weekly basis, and he commuted to the office daily. They’d only date the first Saturday of each month in an effort to spend time together. Now, they have date night every night. They also do everything together such as work, running, playing Bananagrams, brewing kombucha, listening to podcasts, cooking and eating meals. They’re just grateful to be able to spend plenty of quality time together.
Being Grateful for Time Spent with Kids
While most parents seem to want to escape being stuck with their kids when they get older, a few moms and dads feel closer than ever to them. Despite the difficulties of the lockdown, empty-nesters appreciate being able to spend valuable time with their adult children. Founder and CEO of Acceleration Partners, Robert Glazer, says he enjoys spending time with his kids who recently moved back in. He defines this as the 19th summer in his newsletter “Friday Forward”. This bonus summer happens when kids come back home after being away at college, in internships, spending time with friends or busy with jobs. If you need someone to talk to about any mental health issues you may have, consider speaking to a Talkspace therapist.
More Compassion for Loved Ones
It’s a lot easier to have compassion for the misfortunes of others when a person has time to think. This can be especially true in these times where people are forced to self-isolate. Being understanding of other’s feelings is the key to enduring the pandemic with grace and patience. The truth is everyone’s stressed and struggling which means everyone’s in it together. Rather than dwell on what’s not going right in life, it’s better to have a positive mindset, and appreciate family and friends. Caring about others is important, but so is loving yourself. If you have mental health issues or just need to talk, consider getting online help from Talkspace therapists.
No matter how horrible a person’s circumstances may be, strive to stay positive through it all. After all, sometimes the biggest benefits come from facing the worst problems. One of the main benefits is learning to be more grateful for what truly matters. Always remember the benefits of spending quality time with family and friends.