Why it's okay to slow down during the Pandemic.
Photo: Nik Shuliahin / unsplash.com

Why it's okay to slow down during the Pandemic.

Should be obvious, shouldn’t it? However, lately I've been reading more and more posts on social media like: 

"If you don't learn anything new during curfew, it's not that you don't have the time, you're just undisciplined.“

Personally, I find such statements just plain rude. In truth, it is exactly the opposite: 

We spend a lot of time with our families. We need each other - and not only need each other's presence but also our attention. Many are not only concerned about their own health, but above all about that of their families. I haven't seen my parents for months. 

And instead of being able to exchange information at work, people now have to rely on social media. Let's be honest here: It's not as if social media in the past were particularly good at transparent news coverage. Fear sells well. 

Therefore, if you…

  • have family or friends who are at risk 
  • kids to take care of 
  • worried about your job
  • you are alone
  • constantly checking to see that everything's okay
  • can't take your eyes off the numbers 

...or you're just worried because you just don't know what to do next. 

It's okay if things aren't normal for you right now. It's okay if you don't have as much power as usual.

In his books, Yuval Noah Harari describes that everyone has a certain level of happiness. At some point, conditions of intense happiness or unhappiness, such as wealth or even chronic illness, become more or less “normal”. 

The only real exceptions to this are social contacts and interactions. But all the closeness and affection that we currently share are extremely stressed by the situation. 

It's okay if things aren't normal for you right now. It's okay if you don't have as much power as usual. 

I wish you all the best and hope you stay healthy.

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