<script data-ad-client="ca-pub-9577634592886924" async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>Reach deep into your pockets and search for something behind the material blocking your ability to touch the inner seam of your denim jeans. Did you find loose change? Maybe a stick of gum and an ink pen? Or did you dig so deep that you still found nothing? All of these are valid possibilities when you pull out those favorite jeans you have worn you were 14 years old and despite all the torn holes and rustic-looking age, they are still your go-to wear. If I dug deep into my closet, I’m sure I may find a pair or two that need to be thrown out but, for some reason, we find ourselves holding onto them.
Moving ahead, something that mirrors irony to not wanting to rid of our favorite 90’s jeans is the topic of change and adaptation. By the look of one hand and five fingers, I don’t think I would bet that anyone I know around me fancies change. Change brings upon fear of the unknown — a place that is so unpredictable — we much rather maintain the same lane even if that means complacency finds habitat forever. With change comes the need for survival. Do you plug forward and adapt in disgust or do you stay stagnant and plateau in failure because of the fear associated with change.
During these trying times of state executive orders mandating stay-at-home and quarantining from work, school or life, we all must face the reality that change has already occurred. Whether we want to accept this, is up to each and every one of us and whether we see it or not, fear is leading to a hidden epidemic within this pandemic; which is an exponential increase in mental health issues. According to an article on MDlinx.com by Liz Meszaros (2020), suicide is ranked #10 among the top 10 causes of death among Americans and accounts for 1.7% of the 2.8 registered deaths.
Our emergency rooms are being flooded with individuals coming in with COVID-19 and children are now linked to an organ-depleting virus that is mimicking Kawasaki’s Disease. Some hospitals have even elected to go on divert status; which means they are full to capacity and unable to accept new patients into their facilities for care. Picture yourself walking into an emergency room with nurses donning Ghostbuster-like hazmat suits and astronaut head gear as if we were on an Apollo mission to space. You know what that causes? Pure panic and fear.
During this pandemic, it is vital to take care of our mental health and physical well-being. I have written few articles addressing how to cope effectively during this crisis and ways to fit an exercise regime into your new lifestyle. Going hand-in-hand with the aforementioned topics is the importance of maximizing your potential and not wasting your time away in the flood of negativity garnished from news and media outlets, phone alerts and the people around us. Here are some ways you can gain an edge and still yield a purposeful outcome:
- Learn a new skill: Easy right? I mean how hard is it to learn a new skill or is it just the perception that there is difficulty in achieving this? All of that may be true; but if you have not found a new hobby or dug deep into your closet to pull out your Monopoly board game — you have not lived my friend! Whether you wanted to learn to draw, sew/crochet, play a new instrument or create your own music, all the above are great ideas for development. Remember that when you achieve success in learning this new skill, you reward yourself with a small token of gratitude.
- Sign up for Zoom and join an event or facilitate your own meeting: Zoom is an app that can be downloaded to either your mobile phone, tablet or desk/laptop. The app is free to download and allows for up to 40 minutes of free time; which is plenty to run a group meeting with family and friends. If you don’t wish to use this for communication purposes, there are tons of free events (i.e., conference, workshops, yoga/zumba, etc.) you can sign up for on the internet. Perform a Google search for “free Zoom events” and this will yield multiple web pages for you to access and register for an event.
- Attend a virtual job fair: With the current times and over 6 million people here in NJ unemployed, the economy will take several months to years to even consider the thought of stabilization. Local small businesses and major corporations have been forced to lay off staff (no matter what their tenure) and in some cases, file for bankruptcy. This is the reality we are in and there are still opportunities online to partake in job fairs. I present to you the new world of virtual job fairs. Take a chance and sign up for a virtual job fair in your city or nearest metropolitan area and get your game face on! **NOTE: Please be aware of scams occurring on the internet that offer unrealistic salaries and hourly rates for remote and work-from-home careers. Sadly, consumers must be on high alert for scammers to make your life more of a living nightmare than the virus itself.
I hope that you and your families are safe, supporting and maintaining communication with one another, wearing masks, practicing healthy hygiene and finding peace in this chaos. I wish you well and can only pray for your continued success during this difficult time. Stay well…
References:
Meszaros, L. (2020), Top 10 Causes of Death In The US In 2020. Retrieved from:
https://www.mdlinx.com/article/top-10-causes-of-death-in-the-us-in-
N10Fit's Fitness & Food Blog 