Adulting During A Pandemic

I have been having interesting conversations with friends this week around Adulting. (I know some don't like the word Adulting but personally, I like it because it is a bit silly and is one word that covers a wide range of activities and experiences) We have had conversations around to go or not to go to medical appointments, where we see ourselves in 5 or 10 years, and if we would participate in COVID vaccine trials if we had the option. From these conversations, I have been reminded of a few things:

• Adulting during a pandemic is hard because as others have explained the stress of a pandemic effectively shuts down long term thinking and planning in our brains. 

• Adulting during a pandemic is also hard because there is so much uncertainty that there are no right answers or even likely right answers.

• We each are on a different path and we can't compare ourselves to where anyone else is on the path. This includes time frames of when others think things should happen in our lives, as well as where we are expected to want to go on our life journey.

• Everyone is feeling mixed up and uncertain and everyone is responding to these feelings in different ways. Some are doubling down on getting their lives in order financially, healthwise, vocationally, etc, some are really focusing on the present moment and not thinking about tomorrow, and some are turning to self-soothing activities.

• No matter what you are feeling or experiencing you are not alone. If you are finding what you are feeling or experiencing is becoming too much reach out. There is a lot of collective wisdom online, within our friends, and within others that we know. If working through what is happening by yourself, say through journalling or blog posts, works for you go with that, if you need additional support read articles, watch podcasts, think about talking to a therapist, etc. Remember you are not alone. And that Adulting during a Pandemic is Hard