When the need for social distancing had just been introduced, most of us convinced ourselves that everything will be okay soon. While the world was seething with turmoil, there was a sense of bittersweet relief as we got a break from our hectic lives and study schedules. But with the regulations stretching with a pervading uncertainty, any initial comfort has now moulded into frustration and hopelessness.

We have begun to crave the affectionate moments social isolation is depriving us of: the little assurances when someone squeezed our hands before we went onto the stage to rock our performances, the fist bump with the teammate when we scored that crucial goal and the heart-warming hugs when nothing quite went our way. But irrespective of how bleak the present seems at the moment, we still stand by what many of us believed in the beginning: it will all be okay.

Give yourself the space you need.

While social media might convince you about how perfect everyone’s life but yours is, the paradigm between the virtual world and reality is similar for everyone. Understandably, the fear of missing out might drive you towards exposing yourself to social platforms, more so now because of the lack of alternative options for interaction. However, if such comparisons influence negative connotations for you, it’s okay to distance yourself from the hustle around.

If you think that a social media detox is something that can help but approaching it seems unnerving, check this out for some tips.

Engage with what you want.

The content we consume and the way we are brought up conditions how we think. As we grow up, irrespective of what we choose to do, such conditioning reduces many of our hobbies to certain brackets: “too feminine”, “too childish”, “too this” or “too that.” The surge of cheer that blossoms our hearts when we undertake these hobbies eventually fuses into shame. Thereby, many of us end up marginalizing these aspects, losing a part of ourselves we were not even aware of being present.

Maybe think of that activity you once loved and consider why you stopped. And if you fail to arrive at a reasonable explanation, give it a shot once again. Don’t let someone else’s notions and judgments disallow you from expressing yourself.

And it's fine if you do not have a hobby. It's never too late to develop one. You can find a little guide on how to discover it for yourself here.

Be proud of yourself.

The pandemic is not a competition to measure your productivity. At times, perhaps, seeing others vested in developing their skills, exploring their creativities and investing their time into yielding fruitful results can be a major bummer. While we are so happy for everyone who built up the confidence to do these, we are equally proud of you if all you did was staying in bed and getting through your lowest days. And we hope that you can be proud of yourself too.

There is no one way to deal with isolation. You might choose to make peace with being alone or repeatedly land into virtual meetings for the sense of social contact. You could want to distance yourself from all the work you are occupied with or immerse in it completely to remain in touch. But irrespective of the path you choose, it’s all valid: the key is to be there for yourself. You are doing great!