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How has the pandemic changed you?
? I found myself quiet yesterday ?
We had a small gathering of friends with their children for a backyard swim and some pizza.
My usual outgoing, loud, robust self was quietly observing and taking in everything.
I even felt like I wanted to retreat at some point.
? My question: Have you noticed isolation changed you at all? What is it like for YOU as you head back into civilization?
Brii ColemanAdministrative & Communications professional.
33
06/29/20 at 10:15PM UTC
This is an interesting observation. I was working from home and then got laid off because my employer ran into financial difficulties. So I have been pretty isolated and not in a good mood while searching for work. As a result, I notice I'm more reluctant to hang with people. I have always been kinda quiet and prefer chill indoor activities so I don't have to talk non-stop or active/game activities that force me to relax so it is easier to talk.
But now any activity in or out, I am like "ugh" I don't have anything interesting to say because there's nothing new happening, I don't want to fake be cheerful, and the stress also makes me super sleepy.
But I know the cause and I don't want to feel more down by shutting people out of my life so I force myself to hang with people at-least once or twice every two weeks. Once I am out I do not feel as lack luster anyway.
Jackie GhedineCoach for Gen X Women | Jack Russell of Humans
5.76k
06/30/20 at 10:03AM UTC
It is quite interesting when we reflect what we feel and how quickly we adapt to a new environment and a new way of viewing the world.
And you're right, you don't want to isolate yourself so much that you become a loner or lonely, it's like taking baby steps back into the world.
Krista CouttsMarketing Professional, Cross-Functional Leader
336
06/29/20 at 9:24PM UTC
The pandemic has changed me in that I'm really looking at what I value most. Doing a little exercise to see what is more important...and balance always is at the top of this list now!
Jackie GhedineCoach for Gen X Women | Jack Russell of Humans
5.76k
06/30/20 at 10AM UTC
Once we recognize what we've been missing, it's really hard to go back to our old, workaholic, over-programmed ways.
Susan GrayeGlobal Talent Attraction & Acquisition Leader
153
06/29/20 at 8:22PM UTC
I'm thankful for the little things - and have noticed amazing nature trails minutes from my house - I was too busy to notice running from the office to the health club to the grocery store to the kitchen to the laundry room.
Jackie GhedineCoach for Gen X Women | Jack Russell of Humans
5.76k
06/30/20 at 9:59AM UTC
The slow down has definitely been a gift of time, awareness and self-reflection.
Chloe Nguyen
96
06/27/20 at 3:47PM UTC
I am totally fine staying home! You don't need to tell me twice not to go outside. I am happy not waking up early to battle with traffic for 45 minutes. My skin has cleared up too, from not wearing makeup probably? I also love being able to prepare lunch and snacks from my own kitchen rather than rushing and buying salty, overpriced lunch food. While I am anxious for a vaccine so people can stop getting sick and dying, I am also anxious to return to the real world.
Ladyboss417082
20
06/27/20 at 12:43PM UTC
I have found as I get older the more I like to be alone. But the pandemic has helped me appreciate the quiet that much more.
Chianté RegailFreelance writer, scholar, historian
176
06/27/20 at 5:43AM UTC
I consider myself an introvert, however with friends I'm bubbly and energetic. Since the pandemic, I'm inside the same however my living situation has changed DRASTICALLY. I went from living alone (in another state) for most my life to quarantine with family. The different personalities are overwhelming.
I find myself quiet most of the time, having frequent mood changes, and often melancholy. My personal space is very important to me as well as my daily interactions. I think that being forced into conversations and tasks have made me retreat more inside my head and grow even more silent.
Jackie GhedineCoach for Gen X Women | Jack Russell of Humans
5.76k
06/27/20 at 12:49PM UTC
I understand 100%. I always recharged by myself (only child here) but I find that my energy drains quicker with people now too. I'm an empath and I think I've forgotten how to put up the force field.
Anonymous
06/26/20 at 1:32AM UTC
First— thanks for introducing me to the term ambivert. Useful, and I’d say that I am one.
My pandemic reactions mirror those of Yvette (above): I feel more centered in my home, more grateful for it, and even more thankful for my husband and pets.
I’m also happier because I’ve stepped back from job hunting and have begun to reflect on what I really want in the area of work. I am fortunate that this is do-able for us.
On venturing out: very skeptical until there is a vaccine. My first foray will be for a haircut and possibly hair color, followed by a dental cleaning. At the moment, I’m still satisfied with eating at home, and using curb pickup and contactless delivery for what we need at home.
ElizaPassionate communicator & connector
50
06/25/20 at 9:45PM UTC
Yes! For some reason I feel like my mood swings are more frequent...I think this has to do with the lack of change-of-pace. I'm a big traveler and I really miss that!
The other aspect I've been missing is human interaction. Zoom and other technologies are a terrific aid but, there is nothing like being side-by-side with another person. I didn't realize initially what an impact it would have on me.
Jackie GhedineCoach for Gen X Women | Jack Russell of Humans
5.76k
06/27/20 at 12:47PM UTC
I agree, it's really difficult to replace human interaction with video interaction and think it's the same. I'm Italian and a hugger, I even miss physical touch.
ElizaPassionate communicator & connector
50
06/29/20 at 2:21PM UTC
I'm also Italian and can completely relate with not hugging people. It's killing me!
Crystal Rhinebergerprofessional rofl nevermind lets just wing it
2.29k
06/25/20 at 9:43PM UTC
I will not be willing going back into civilization. Personally I am very much a self entertainer and am fine with being alone and quiet. A product of being an only child.
I am oddly enough a very outgoing person
But need my quiet down time. Now that I have had it I screaming its not enough quiet time i need more
Jackie GhedineCoach for Gen X Women | Jack Russell of Humans
5.76k
06/26/20 at 10:57AM UTC
Only child here too but I like to entertain and see friends but need to retreat to reenergize!
Lauren RiosOnline Higher Education | Education Management
478
06/25/20 at 8:53PM UTC
I consider myself to an ambivert, but with being fully isolated this has changed my thought process on so many things. I realized how much screen time I have been doing, mostly dedicated to job searching, but have removed myself from the IG world. I found that social media has/can be more negative, even with IG! I use IG for photography and sharing my adventures before this became our reality, but even IG has shifted into a new direction; i.e. quarantine life, sharing various freedoms, on the verge of nearly bragging, which I feel is a slap in the face of so many struggling, the frontline workers who risk their lives everyday, and so many others who do not have this freedom. While I am grateful for my situation, it is no place to hashtag quarantine life.
I noticed how I have been more depressed and anxious than usual, which is not typical of me. I realized how much I have taken human interaction for granted. If anything, it has changed myself in how I see the world.
On a positive note, isolation has made me to reflect with my job searching. I noticed that I am strong as hell as I battle with stress, immediate change, and reinforcing my resiliency. All strengths that have been more apparent during this precarious time. If anything, it has shifted in how I see this new life challenge as I look for a job as it has brought out different elements/reinforcing things in me as I manage through this surreal moment.
However, I have also had COVID testing, this has made me rethink integrating back into the real world. The times that I have been out shocked me. So many people not wearing masks, hanging out in large groups, and not following the strict guidelines that do give us a little more freedom to move about without infecting yourself and/or others.
As for fully heading back into civilization I am still very skeptical. I have decided to get my hair done which is a massive step toward entering civilization, but we will see how that goes.
I think this has changed all of us in some capacity, especially in how we will venture back into the world outside our homes.
Stephanie NelsonIf you don't go in, you won't find out.
46
06/25/20 at 10:19PM UTC
Fellow ambivert here! And your comment speaks to me on so many levels. I too have really started to distance myself from social media - IG most recently. I used to love IG from a brand storytelling perspectve but even IG has become somewhat polarizing lately especially if you are a bit of a research nerd/comment reader like I am. And while I think some people are attempting to stay positive by using the (horrible) quarantine life hashtag it is absolutely tone deaf. If anything this is the time for people to be real and use their platform to support, balance, empathize, and be vulnerable and human.
I also agree about going back out into the world. I make short runs to buy groceries, etc. I have a friend with a huge yard and I go over there to spend time with her dog. But actually going to a public place with a lot of people...I just don't see that being a comfortable thing for me personally for quite some time. And yes, it has been shocking to see just how many people are out and about, no masks, as if nothing ever changed. I am definitely not an alarmist or an anxious personality by nature but this has definitely added some layers of questioning, hesitancy, perhaps tightening our circles even further. I love alone time but this has been an exercise even for me. I think we all have those moments. I cannot imagine what it has been like for the true extroverts out there.
I love your perspectve on your job search and how you have become that much more aware of your resiliency and strength. I was just having this conversation with some people via Zoom. This is an unprecendented time. Everyone is in varying degrees of flux and pivoting and reinventing. As someone steeped in job search phase it has been important for me personally to view this as an opportunity to really determine what I am passionate about, what type of company I want to be part of, (and if I even want to venture back to a company FT or if contract work, freelance work or even starting my own business is the way to go ), how I would like to contribute to the greater good. As scary as it is, it also feels empowering in some ways.
Jackie GhedineCoach for Gen X Women | Jack Russell of Humans
5.76k
06/26/20 at 10:56AM UTC
So many of my clients (and myself included) have found the extra quiet time a perfect place to be self-reflective and the discovery process is so beautiful. We all spend so much time running from task to task, place to place in the 'real world' that we don't have time to stop and think. I too am grateful for that.
I've struggled a lot with watching people not social distance. I'm in NY where it was so severe at one point that my friends who are in the medical field weren't going home to their families and yet, people in our community were letting their kids stay together in large groups.
As we take small steps back into the world, I hope we all hold onto the lessons and insights that have come out of isolation.
Susan GrayeGlobal Talent Attraction & Acquisition Leader
153
06/30/20 at 1:09PM UTC
Agree. The rates of infection are going up in Texas yet on my evening run was surprised to see the tennis court full of kids and adults with no sense of reality that things are not yet normal. Just a couple months ago the tennis courts were closed. Praying that a vaccine is soon made available.
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