During this pandemic, not only are we literally experiencing a space between us in the physical world but also with the “idea” of who we thought we were. Think about this for a minute. Who are you really without the things you do daily? Without the clothes you wear? Without the things you buy? The people whom you choose to spend your time with? Who are you without your overloaded schedule? Your appointments? Your responsibilities to be “successful” in this world we live in that we have come to call life?
Well if you ask me, I think the “space between us” is exactly the thing we all needed in order to disassociate ourselves from our “ladder climbing” narcissistic ideals of having to achieve something at all times and take a step back and recognize our humanity. Perhaps this enforced isolation is exactly what we needed to bring our divided society back together. Perhaps it is what we need to bring us all back to who we really are and want to be.
They say times of crisis bring out the best and worst in humanity. Well in my opinion, I believe it brings out more of the best than it does of the worst. Lately, a term that has been coined by Forbes Magazine, as the “pop-up generosity” relates to how individuals/companies from all parts of the world have come “together” to create, contribute and share freely there services to the greater good. Online you can find a multitude of people using creative ways to share their services and help ease the isolation of others through free classes, seminars, coaching and even live entertainment.
If you come to think about it, on the other side of this global pandemic which has literally shut down the world and forced us into isolation, there is what you can say, some kind of collateral beauty coming out of it. Beauty in the sense of altruism, within this new “solidarity” we have diminished the space between us. People have “pulled together” metaphorically to do good all around. Teens are teaching older generations the “ins and outs” of our tech world, restaurants and other businesses are sending those helping at the front lines food and different forms of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and even within this physically social distancing moment we are actually spending more time with our loved ones than ever before. Whether it is in isolation at home or in a virtual sense.
We are spending time now that perhaps we would have never had before. Because you see as the world has come to a halt so has our concept of time. And now the time we spend doing the things we do is not calculatedly cramped in between other things. I, for example, although not quarantined with my family (except for my husband) can say that for the first time in 30 years have never spoken so much to my parents on a daily basis as I am right now. From the exchange of news clippings to memes and facetime— it is the closest I have ever been to them!
Now imagine those of you who get to actually wake up to your kids or your parents each day for hours on end, day in and day out. I’m sure by now you have moments where it gets a little tedious, but think about it-- when if not now would you have had the time to do something like this? To sit around all day and truly get to know your loved ones beyond just the superficial “hey, how was your day” conversation.
This imposed isolation is a blessing in disguise. I hate to break it to you but life is very short. And, before you know it— it is gone. Kids grow up, you get old, grandparents die and who knows what else. That is why even though this period of isolation exists now, whether we like it or not, all we can do is learn to appreciate it. Because at the end of the day what it has actually given us is more Time. More time to figure out who we are and want to be. More time to spend with the ones we love (virtually or in insolation). More time to contemplate life and our ideals. More time for us to explore new interests, read, write, listen to music. Time, my friends, is a limited commodity and we may never again be able to have the free time to spend countless hours like this ever again.
That is why you should try to see this quarantine as a potential period of growth, as a time to reconsider some things that you had been putting off. I started this post by asking you “Who are you really without the things you do daily? Without the clothes you wear? Without the things you buy? The people whom you choose to spend your time with? Who are you without your overloaded schedule? Your appointments? Your responsibilities to be “successful” in this world we live in that we have come to call life? Well now is the perfect time to figure those things out. Believe it or not this imposed solitude can actually be quite healthy.
In fact, there are many physical and psychological benefits of spending time alone. Here are just a few science-backed benefits you can gain from this quarantine:
Self-knowledge and Insight.
Spending time alone helps you become more comfortable in your own skin. It offers you the mental space to make choices without outside influences, which aid you in developing more insight into who you are as a person.
Reboot your brain and unwind.
In the normal world we are constantly on the go, always needing to get something done or worried about time, work and other things. Now by being forced to be at home, our brain gets a chance to rest and replenish itself. A chance to clear your mind, focus, and think more clearly.
Increases empathy.
When you spend time with certain inner circles whether it be at work or with friends, you develop a “we vs. them” mentality or an “I don't have time for this” type of thinking. By spending time alone or at home, you start to develop more compassion for people and things which otherwise you would not have had.
Increases productivity.
With less distractions and interruptions you are better able to concentrate and focus on the things that need to get done— therefore you get more of the things you need to do in a shorter amount of time.
Spark creativity.
Ever wonder why so many of the worlds greatest authors or artists retreat to private studios or isolated places. It is because being alone with your thoughts gives your brain a chance to wander, which can help you become more creative. Being alone gives you an opportunity to discover yourself and find your own voice.
Provides time for you to think deeply and plan your life.
Spending time alone or at home opens up space for you to think about your goals, your progress, your ideals and deep desires-- it gives you a chance to ensure there’s a purpose to all of your hustle and bustle.
Build mental strength.
By nature humans tend to be social creatures— we thrive on it. But, solitude may be just as important. Some studies show that the ability to tolerate alone time has been linked to increased happiness, higher life satisfaction, and improved stress management. People who can endure alone time tend to be less depressed overall.
Retrospectively speaking all of these benefits could just be a convenient side effect of actually just having the time to be able to figure out WHO you really are and WHAT that actually means to you. Without the imposing pressures of a world that never stopped to let you BE.