Over the last few months, there’s been a lot of extra moments to really sit and think. With all of that time, I’m leaving quarantine having new practices in place and a different view on life. Below, I’m sharing the biggest life lessons that I’m taking away from this time at home. 

Cut Toxicity Out… Quickly 

This might seem a little strange to some, but when I was laid off of my job in April, I found myself feeling a sense of relief. Of course, I was devastated and concerned about where I would go next (still up in the air) and I wouldn’t wish being laid off on anyone. However, while this was a job that I initially loved, it had become an environment that wasn’t healthy for me. The feeling of relief really showed me how toxic my relationship with work had become. 

People don’t often think of work when speaking of toxic relationships – it’s more romantic, familial, or friendships. But, trust me when I say that if you’re in a bad situation at work, the rest of your life will really suffer. If anything, this lay-off taught me that I should pay more attention to my mental health and check in with myself frequently. I’m promising myself not to linger in toxic situations any longer. Get out ASAP. I hope you’ll do the same. 

Never Take the Little Things for Granted 

Being unable to get out of the house except for walks and urgent situations, I realized how many little parts of my day-to-day I loved and missed. After this experience, I’m vowing to enjoy all of the little moments and freedoms. Nature, fresh air, restaurants, the physical presence of loved ones; they all deserve to be recognized for the beauty that they bring to our lives. Never again will I allow myself to think that these moments aren’t important. 

On that same note, I intend to be more present in moments with friends and family. These relationships are what bring joy to my life. I’ll never take the bonds I have with others for granted and I intend to hold them more near to my heart. 

Ironically, some of the friends that I’ve spoken with the most during this time are friends that live far away. We don’t often get to talk because we aren’t physically there for dinners, movies, and parties. But, this new approach to socializing has shown me that I can really easily maintain those long-distance friendships and I should pay more attention to the people I love who are far away. 

Give Dogs All the Adventures 

At this point, I think we can all agree that being stuck inside for days upon days is NOT ideal. While I definitely take Trixie (my dog) on walks and give her all the love I possibly can, I want to make sure that I get her out of the house more often. 

Now that I know more of what her every day is like from being stuck in the house, I’ve realized that her world is so small. I know how much she loves going for rides, visiting the park, and taking walks. I’m going to make every effort to ensure that she gets more of that time outside of the house. She deserves it. 

Move Every Single Day 

Movement is so good for the soul. I knew this before, but I never had as much proof as I’ve seen during my time stuck inside. My mood is instantly improved with a bit of movement and some fresh air. 

I’m promising myself to get exercise daily – even something as simple as a quick workout video or a long walk outside. 

Embrace Time Alone 

One thing I learned when I moved to a new city where I didn’t know a single soul was how to enjoy my own company. Over the past few years, I’ve forgotten that time alone can be so refreshing.

I never want to have this much time alone again, but I do think it’s important to be able to enjoy your own company. I intend to be more comfortable with being alone in public again as well. You’ll never spend more time with any other human in the world than yourself, so why not learn to have a great time with that person, ya know? 

Moving Forward

My friends and I really began following the #stayhome recommendations before there were any official decisions or announcements made in our area. That being said, I spent more than a month in complete solitude. Honestly, I lost track of the days so don’t know the full number. During that time, the only physical touch I had was cuddles with Trixie. Of course I had phone calls, texts, and video calls, but it just isn’t quite the same. 

I think in times of crisis, it’s important to take a step back and put things into perspective. I’m amazed by all of the people across the globe who have gone through trying times during this period and especially the health professionals who have truly shown their heroism. 

While I lost my job and missed out on the plans I had during this time, I kept my health and can count my blessings. I hope that these lessons that I’m leaving with can help you find more positivity and embrace the joys of every day as well. 

I would love to hear what others are taking away from their time staying home. Share in the comments! x