what I have gained from quarantine

The current pandemic is something that no one asked for or chose. Naturally, it feels easy to lament about the freedoms that we have lost and the negative impact of isolation on our wellbeing. And that is fair, we have lost a lot, and these frustrations and feelings of grief are valid. But today I am choosing to focus on any positive aspects taken from this challenging experience, be it lessons, insights or gratitudes. 

Here are five things that I have gained from quarantine:

1. A healthier relationship with exercise. I used to only exercise when I had a full hour to go to the gym plus the time needed to get there, change and shower. When I didn’t have that time I would just do no exercise at all. Now I have learned to not think about exercising in such black and white/ all-or-nothing terms. I have developed the mindset of “something is better than nothing”. Now I do a ten or 20 minute workout YouTube video when I don’t have the energy for a full hour. Or some days I will take a walk outside if I don’t feel like an intense video. Although my workouts are not as long in duration or intense as they used to be I am getting more workouts into my week, feeling less dread about starting my workouts and sometimes I even enjoy it.
2. An appreciation of alone time. I now feel comfortable taking more time to myself. I have not lived alone during quarantine, I have not even spent one full day alone. But the limitations of quarantine has given me more opportunity to take walks alone and enjoy spending that time by myself listening to a podcast or simply just enjoying the scenery.
3. An appreciation for social communal events. Birthday celebrations, graduations, staff meetings, pot lucks, family dinners, concerts. The shared energy and comradery that can only be felt in a shared personal space is something that I will never again take for granted.
4. An appreciation for physical touch. Simply being able to give a hug to a close friend when I say hello or goodbye is now something I notice. Before these hugs were just pleasantries but now they mean so much more. 
5. An appreciation for the freedom to be spontaneous. Being able to stroll into a restaurant last minute, decide on a whim to book a vacation, or simply being able to just stop by the mall to check out the stores are all things that now take deep consideration. Now we need to plan our outings and the number of times that we leave the house so that we are prepared with masks, and sanitizer. We now need to be aware of our bodies in relation to others so that we are constantly at a safe distance. I will no longer take the spontaneity of the past for granted. 

What have you gained from quarantine? Are there any lessons that you have learned or gratitudes that you no longer take for granted? Let us know on our Wellness Wednesday Twitter and Instagram platforms or in the comments below.
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