An expert reveals how to reclaim your sense of joy during the coronavirus crisis
During trying times it can be difficult to find joy in the things we once loved, but Yahoo Life Mental Health Contributor Jen Hartstein says it’s not impossible. “‘Joy’ can mean so many different things to many people. For me, at its core, it means being fulfilled, finding engagement, allowing it to help you with connection,” says Hartstein. “Those are the things that give back to us. Anything that kind of fits that category might be something that’s ‘joyous’ for you,” she adds. Although feeling “down” during a crisis is to be expected, there are signs you can look out for in yourself or those around you that may indicate a more serious situation. “If we’re not doing basic self-care, if we’re not eating right, if we’re not sleeping well, if we’re not engaging with others even when we have plans to—virtually, obviously—those are all some red flags we want to start to think about, and if you have concern for someone else because of that you want to make sure that you talk to them about it as well,” says Hartstein. If the idea of “reclaiming joy” seems overwhelming at this time, Hartstein recommends easing into it. “Start small. Look at the things that you do like. Look at the things that you do enjoy and build upon them,” she says. “Start with the small things and then little by little those things will build to something bigger.”
Video Transcript
JEN HARTSTEIN: During this crisis, many of us have lost interest and joy in the things we might have liked to do before everything went this way. So today we're going to talk a little bit about how to rekindle that.
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Joy can mean so many different things to many people. For me at its core it means being fulfilled, finding engagement, allowing it to help you with connection. The thing that brings me joy is something that just kind of opens me up to a place of happiness and excitement. And just a real kind of internal sense of contentment. And I think those are the things that give back to us. So anything that kind of fits that category might be something that's joyous for you.
If we notice that we're really not engaging in anything other than what we absolutely have to, which might be the basics of, you know, getting up, brushing our teeth, and just that kind of stuff, that's one thing. If we can't get past that, we have to pay attention. If we're not doing basic self-care, if we're not eating right, if we're not sleeping well, if we're not engaging with others even when we might have plans to, virtually, obviously. Those are all some red flags we want to start to think about. And if you have concern for someone else because of that, you want to make sure that you talk to them about it as well.
Joy you might take a different version for us as we are in this crisis and as we come out of this crisis. So start small. Look at the things that you do like. Look at the things that you do enjoy, and build upon them. So if we go to the gym, we have to do it online, and that's something we kind of like, find a class. Do some exploration. Engage with other people. Start with those small things. And then little by little those things will build to something bigger.
If the things you used to do aren't working, take the opportunity, as we're slowing down as a society to try something new. So maybe in the back of your mind, you've always wanted to try to cook. Well, here's an opportunity to find a cooking class online or try a new recipe. Or you wanted to read that book, and maybe now's the time to pick it up. So finding something outside your normal might actually give you some joy or bring you some excitement. And it's worth giving it a shot.
Although right now it may feel hopeless, there is a great likelihood that you will find your joy again. It may take some time. It may require some patience. But with both of those things, it'll come back. And you will feel it. And you will be energized. And you will be in it. And you will find enjoyment in the things you once loved.
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