The Bright Side of Staying Home

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Anyone miss the awkwardness of hearing the boss sing karaoke at the office Christmas party? Or wrangling yet another white elephant gift for a gift exchange you felt obligated to attend? How about navigating the crowded malls and big box retailers only to discover that, no, not a single store has a PS5 in stock?

Welcome to a few of the perks of the 2020 holiday season.

…while the holidays may look very different from the usual flurry of nonstop activity, there are significant benefits to this forced slow-down.

It’s no secret that everyone is feeling various degrees of pandemic fatigue with phrases like “new normal” and “social distancing” seemingly etched into our collective consciousness. But while the holidays may look very different from the usual flurry of nonstop activity, there are significant benefits to this forced slow-down.

As it turns out, there’s a serious upside to the slower pace, something that’s not only worth carrying into the new year but post-pandemic living as well.

Bidding Adieu to Overscheduling

There’s nothing inherently wrong with staying busy. But oftentimes there’s pressure to crowd your life — or your children’s lives — with nonstop activity. While this phenomenon may be well-intentioned, the payoff isn’t always worth the added stress.

If COVID-19’s arrival this year taught us anything, it’s that a lag in commitments isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If anything, it’s underscored how important downtime is, whether it’s extra family bonding, a pause for reflection, or dedicated time for chatting with friends, exercise, reading, or a new hobby.

In a recent report, several people of varying ages noticed a marked shift in their sense of fulfillment while slowing down during the pandemic, according to Vox. Not filling every waking moment with obligations contributed to focusing on what’s most important, something participants noted they intended to prioritize moving forward.

Letting kids be kids has numerous benefits. For starters, it underscores the importance of good old-fashioned “play,” especially for children whose schedules are filled with countless extracurricular activities including sports, music lessons, academic clubs, and more.

In her findings for the Cleveland Clinic, pediatrician Deb Lonzer, MD, noted how kids with overly packed schedules can face future physical, social, and mental health challenges, including trouble with eating or sleeping, struggles in making friends, or depression and anxiety that may hamper problem-solving ability or good decision-making.

By limiting scheduled activities to only the most important — which doesn’t include added screen time — and prioritizing downtime and family time, the balance contributes to a far healthier dynamic.

An Uptick in Physical Health

While slower is definitely not more preferable in terms of, say, Internet speed, food delivery when you’re starving, or waiting for test results of any kind, a distinct shift in the pace of everyday life is actually good for you.

For many, the idea of “slowing down” routinely makes the list of New Year’s resolutions but quickly gets thrown out the window because of, well, life. But as the pandemic brought the frenetic pace of everyday life to a veritable standstill, with many people even shifting to working from home, it didn’t take long for people to begin to embrace the benefits.

A study conducted by Wiley in Great Britain notes that slowing down leads to a stronger connection between mind and body, which allows for reflection rather than reaction, which is what we often resort to when we’re moving so fast from one obligation to the next.

There’s also been a shift in values that have come with quarantine. In addition to using technology for checking in on the people we care about most, rather than just mindless scrolling, a reduction in consumerism has been noted as a positive outcome.

Without the ability to shop for impulse buys in stores (technology, clothes, jewelry), the idea that “stuff” can’t bring lasting happiness played out in real time. Pandemic living also forced everyone have to eat at home more, which allowed for more family time, healthier eating, and togetherness that many say they hope to continue moving forward.

Sam Sifton, a cookbook writer and assistant manager for The New York Times called the shift one of the “precious few good things” that came out of the pandemic because it was nourishing not only from a bodily perspective but psychologically as well.

Giving Back

Perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of life during COVID has been many people’s shift from themselves to the needs and concerns of others.

For some, it was a concerted effort to support small businesses during these financially challenging times. For others, stepping up to volunteer to help those who struggle with food insecurity provided a sense of purpose during a very uncertain time. The smallest acts of kindness have proven time and again to not only help those who need it, but the ones who are helping in the first place.

…slowing down leads to a stronger connection between mind and body, which allows for reflection rather than reaction…

Even just regularly checking in with your core group of friends and family regularly has significant mental health benefits, ones that will be equally beneficial when we’re all out and about once again.

When Slowing Down Turns Negative

Of course, this slower pace can have a negative impact on those already dealing with mental health issues or substance abuse. If you find that you’re avoiding social contact, self-isolating, increasing your drug or alcohol use, or struggling with depression and anxiety that is making it difficult to complete normal daily tasks, it may be time to seek help. Treatment is available — even during a pandemic. We offer both in-person and virtual outpatient programs. Contact us to find out how we can help.

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