How to use Covid-19 as an opportunity to create meaning in your life

Therefore, it’s time to access our explorative and playful selves; to join in the dance and really use this time to our advantage.

Here are some great ways you can use this time to learn more about yourself and look to create purpose:

Do what you enjoy – in the moment and without abandon

With all these extra hours indoors, it’s time to be the master of your own joy.

To get started, ask yourself: what’s something that, when immersed in it, I lose track of time? What do I enjoy doing for pleasure’s sake? What subject do I spend hours reading about?

Get creative and brainstorm all the things you enjoy doing in the moment, and remember – you don’t have to be the best at it; you don’t even have to be any good at it. Let your imagination run wild – and include everything big and small, without ever censoring yourself.

Then, get inquisitive about the sort of things that you like doing – and enjoy doing them in the moment.

Share the fun with your family

Studies show that having fun with other people increases our happiness.

As humans, we are naturally social beings – so why not get the most out of your activities by indulging in them together with your friends and family? Incorporate your reading into a weekly #BookClub over video chat – or call your best friend and watch the latest season of New Girl together.

Sharing the fun is a great way to feel even more bonded with your inner circle. During this tricky period, you have the power to create meaning in your life through being part of a community. So turn to your tribe and bask in shared experiences - it’s the perfect way to feel connected and have something to look forward to regularly.

Take the opportunity to upskill

With all this extra time at home, there’s never been a better opportunity to upskill. This can be in something personal you’ve always wanted to do, or an area you want to drive your career.

For example, do you run your own small business and would love to learn more about digital marketing, so you can get your products in front of more people? Or are you deeply interested in psychology and want to learn how to use NLP to feel more confident in your daily life? There are millions of options out there!

Not sure what you want to upskill in – or need more help working out where your strengths and values lie? Discover more about your temperament and natural aptitudes through personality and career tests online, like the Myers Briggs, Big Five, or DISC.

Find your voice: share your story with authenticity

‘The willingness to show up changes us, it makes us a little braver each time.’ – Brené Brown

Creating meaning in your life is also about being who you truly are - unapologetically.

You are an incredibly valuable person with something important to say. So don’t be scared to reach out to the wider community and share your experiences – you never know who you can truly inspire.

Perhaps you’re struggling with anxiety, feeling trapped at home or have even managed to find a self-care routine for yourself that works.

The world can really benefit from hearing your story – and in turn, you’ll feel even more confident and braver within yourself by telling it.

Flex your writing skills and start a blog, or share your story on Reddit and connect with others in a similar situation, or who could really do with some help.

Because authenticity is truly the gateway to a meaningful life.

Visualise your Best. Possible. Self

One day when this crisis ends, responsibilities will kick in and life will inevitably get in the way again. So choose to invest this time wisely and really consider who you want to be in the future, when this all ends. You have the power to totally shape this.

Spend 15 minutes a day journaling about who you want to show up as, being your Best. Possible. Self. Who and what would be important to you? What would you dedicate most of your time to? What would you want to stand for?

Then, work backwards. Brainstorm about what you can do now, to become the person you want to be in the future. How can you break this down into activities that you can do now, in order to achieve your bigger vision of yourself?

Being very deliberate and strategic about this will help stay on track to getting what you really want to get out of life.

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