When the COVID-19 pandemic first began, there was an influx of fear and anxiety. We had little information about the virus, and as time went on, it became clear that getting through the pandemic would be a long process.

Now, a year later, things haven’t improved much—and it’s wearing down on people’s morale. If you’ve been struggling through the pandemic, you aren’t alone. It isn’t easy to be resilient in times of unprecedented worry, fear, and panic, but with the right mindset, you can build your resilience and come out of the pandemic stronger than before.

What Is Resilience?

When times get tough, we learn how to adapt, overcome, and get through the hardships — and this is what it means to be resilient. It’s normal to struggle during tough times. You may experience stress and anxiety during these times, but humans are skilled at adapting.

While resilience is a great skill to build, it takes time and effort. When you experience hardship, it’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits to cope. These habits may help you cope in the short-term, but they won’t help you build resiliency. To further your resiliency during the pandemic, you’ll have to find methods that will help you in both the short- and long-term.

Adjust Your Outlook of the Pandemic

Now that we’re a year into the pandemic, many people are losing hope that COVID-19 will ever be under control. While it’s natural to fall into anxious thoughts about the pandemic, it’s important to readjust your outlook on it.

Remind yourself daily that things will get better. The more you find the positives in day-to-day life, the easier it will be to get through the rest of the pandemic. You may not know exactly when or how COVID-19 will get under control, but it will happen eventually. By readjusting to a more optimistic mindset, you’re helping build and maintain a strong sense of resiliency.

Build and Maintain Connections

When the pandemic began, many of our social lives came to a halt. Instead of seeing our friends, family, and even coworkers regularly, many of us shifted to a life of staying home. Though alone time can be enjoyable sometimes, humans need connection. Without human connection, you may feel lonely, stressed, and anxious—all things that don’t help with building resiliency.

Though it may not be safe to see people in-person right now, there are other ways to connect. Start by reaching out to friends and family to set up phone calls or video chats. Over time, you will find comfort in knowing that, even amid a pandemic, there are opportunities to connect with other people.

Focus On Your Physical Health

When you feel stressed or anxious because of the pandemic, you may struggle to calm your thoughts. While you can’t combat every negative thought, you can find healthy ways to cope with them. Exercise is a great way to release natural endorphins, help with mental illness, and feel better in your day-to-day life.

By focusing on your physical health, you are taking control of something and making a positive change. Because of the pandemic, many people have lost control over aspects of their lives. By establishing an exercise routine, you’re taking a small but powerful step towards building resiliency.

Even by simply going for a daily walk, you are helping improve your physical and mental health. Over time, you will feel stronger, and this newfound strength will carry through even when the pandemic is over.

It’s difficult to cope during hardships, especially one as widespread as the pandemic. Nonetheless, by taking small steps towards building your resiliency, you’re setting yourself up for success now and in the future. Years from now, when new hardships crop up, you’ll have the resiliency skills to handle them with less stress and more ease!

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