From canceled weddings to wearing masks to losing income, the COVID-19 pandemic has undeniably affected all of our lives in some way. If you have struggled to cope with these unprecedented changes, you’re in good company. Accepting long-term change is always a challenge, and this is especially true when you wouldn’t have necessarily chosen to make those changes on your own, given the option. However, if you aim to make the most of these circumstances, you’ll feel happier, despite this trying situation. Here’s how to keep making progress on your plans, despite the setbacks.

Tackling Essential Tasks

Although you’ve probably postponed most of your plans for the past few months, some tasks can’t be delayed. Whether you had to fly to visit family for an important occasion or show up for a scheduled doctor’s appointment, sometimes essential business can’t wait.

Many home buyers have also chosen to move forward with house hunting rather than give up on their relocation plans. If you’re executing a big move, you can still search for the right property. By working with an experienced real estate agent, you’ll be able to virtually apply for a mortgage and meet with home sellers by video conferencing. You can even safely “tour” homes with immersive 3D walkthroughs, convenient virtual open houses, and video chat tours hosted by sellers. It may be difficult to judge homes that you haven’t seen in person, but safely searching for the right property from your own house is much less stressful than looking in person!

Honing Your DIY Skills

During this pandemic, you may have spent your free time working on DIY projects. From growing your first garden to taking on home renovation projects, you’ve had to tackle these efforts without assistance. Yes, you may wish you could still hire a professional to handle these tasks, but becoming more independent is always a plus!

Perhaps you’ve also experimented with DIY beauty treatments. Even if salons and barbershops have reopened in your area, you may want to exercise caution by cutting your own hair — just avoid using typical kitchen or crafting scissors! Instead, choose useful gadgets like hair clippers and a hair-cutting mirror for attractive results.

Rescuing a New Pet

While you were unable to socialize, you might have been craving companionship — and adopting a pet may have been the cure for your feelings of loneliness. Helping your new pet adjust to life in your home can be exhausting, but their unconditional love makes all of the effort worth it. Wags and Walks recommends establishing certain household rules early on so that your dog immediately begins learning what you will and won’t allow.

Contemplating a Career Change

If you are one of the many workers who has been laid-off or furloughed from your job, you might be questioning whether you want to continue working in the same industry. Making the initial decision to change careers can be nerve-wracking, but if you know that your passion lies elsewhere, you do not want to spend your life regretting that you never made the leap to something new when you had the chance.

Once you’ve worked up the confidence to begin your job search, you’ll need to prepare for video interviews (Wamala Wellness has an excellent article that can help you boost your confidence). The Undercover Recruiter recommends choosing a professional outfit and testing your technology beforehand! With the right attitude, you’ll be able to land an engaging new role.

During this pandemic, people have had to face many unexpected hardships. Sometimes, it can feel impossible to keep your chin up and stay motivated. However, with the right mindset, you’ll be able to see how these changes can actually serve you well in the long run. One day, you may even feel grateful that you were able to have these experiences.

Photo via Unsplash

Author Jennifer Scott