As the year winds down and we find ourselves in a unique holiday season, we know many of you are struggling. When we struggle, it’s hard to remember the good things in life. So we thought we’d take a breather and look at the ways we’ve been finding joy this year.
In fact, this is sort of the unofficial launch of our 12 Days of Care. Officially starting tomorrow, 12 Days of Care is our way of adding a little joy and togetherness to all of our lives this year. For the next 12 days on our social channels, we’ll be sharing some of our holiday favorites: traditions, recipes, assignment locations, and more. We hope those of you following us on social media will chime in with your favorites too! In fact, we’ll be giving away $100 Amazon gift cards to some of our favorite comments over the next 12 days, so be sure to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.
But before we get there, let’s look at some of the things that either brought us joy or helped us stay sane this year.
Finding Joy and Staying Sane:
1. Starting new hobbies.
Whether it was nursing a sourdough starter, taking up knitting, spending time gardening, or becoming a chess master, many of us have found joy in new ways to spend our time. The great thing about new hobbies, besides all the baked goods obviously, is that focusing on learning something new has given our minds something else to spend time on. But sometimes you just don’t want to think that hard, which brings us to our next entry…
2. Enjoying the golden age of television.
Before 2020 it was really hard to keep up with the sheer number of shows to watch. It seems like everyone you meet has a favorite show you’ve never heard of. Whether it was the insanity of Tiger King, the unflagging optimism of Ted Lasso, or the period escape of The Queen’s Gambit – getting caught up on our To-Watch list has proven to be a useful escape from 2020. But television isn’t the only media we’ve been consuming…
3. Finding some quiet time to read.
Whether electronic, audio, or good ol’ fashioned paper – book sales are on the rise this year. And it’s not all just escapism. Sure, there’s been an uptick in sales of novels. But there’s increases in sales of self-help and interest books on a wide range of topics (because of new hobbies, obviously), as well as history, politics, and children’s books – both educational books and fiction. But our minds weren’t the only thing we’ve strengthened this year…
4. Getting healthy with exercise, yoga, and meditation.
Turns out, 2020 has been a good year to work on ourselves in multiple ways. Whether it’s continuing good habits or finally starting new ones, people have been working hard this year. In addition to traditional cardiovascular workouts, more people are trying out yoga and meditation too – because who couldn’t use a little time to center themselves and quiet their lives? But meditation isn’t the only way we’ve been seeking quiet…
5. Seeing the great outdoors.
Sure we can’t go to movie theaters, eat at restaurants, or connect over drinks at a happy hour this year. But we can still go outdoors. Visits to local, state, and national parks have increased dramatically this year. Whether day hikes, car camping, or backpacking, many of us spent some time reconnecting with nature.. And if your nearest parks aren’t quite as fulfilling as you’d like, there’s always next year…
6. Making travel plans.
For those of us with a touch of wanderlust, being told to stay home has been hard. And while many nurses continue to travel for work – visiting a city on lockdown doesn’t really scratch the itch the way it used to. So what’s an avid traveler to do? Dream! Many intrepid souls have been writing bucket lists of places to go and diving in to travel guides and youtube videos, crafting their perfect post-pandemic vacation. Of course, we all know the best plans include our friends and family…
7. Staying connected with friends and family
Between restricted travel and needing to isolate or keep our bubble small, this one’s been tough. But we’ve found ways. No matter which service you use, video chats have helped feel a little more normal from time to time. And when Zoom fatigue sets in, we’ve actually gone back to sending physical mail. Turns out making someone else a homemade card makes both of you feel better. And helping others feel better has been important too…
8. Being vocal and honest about mental health.
Social media has seen an uptick in posts about mental health, depression, and more during the pandemic. People are more open to sharing their own stories and encouraging others to get help. Many of us have been very intentional about checking in with friends and family directly as well, making sure that those closest to us know they have someone to turn to when it’s all just too much. But it’s not just the people we know that we’ve been helping…
9. Helping each other.
Turns out there are whole channels on TikTok and other social media platforms designed solely to help people get through this time. People like Nick Cho have started up channels to stand in as surrogate parents to those who need the support. And as crazy as this year has been, we could all use that from time to time…
10. Learning to stay flexible.
Sure, some of us love constant change… but really, for most of us, change is hard. Even veteran nurses, who are used to the chaos of their shifts, like a little consistency at home. One of the biggest things we’ve learned this year is that staying open to change and being ready to adapt keeps us from losing it as information and restrictions change around us. All of this change has also helped us recognize some important truths…
11. Being thankful.
All this time to think and reflect has helped many of us realize what’s really important in life. From the people we love to the new skills we’ve learned to the material possessions we do have, we’ve realized that life can be beautiful and full, even in such a weird year. One of the things we’re most thankful for here at Medely is…
12. Helping those who need it most.
Nurses and allied health professionals, who already spend their days providing care, have proven to be some of the strongest and most selfless people in our society. Whether you jumped at the chance to help NYC when it was hit hard early on or flexed into telephone triage to help people feel more comfortable getting care, when the call went out, you responded. Our Medely pros spent 2020 staring down COVID and shouldering an unimaginable burden so someone else wouldn’t have to. And when others have faced furloughs, layoffs, evictions, and empty pantries, we’ve seen people across the world step in and help. From something as simple as making a grocery run for someone who can’t risk being out, to helping someone find housing or a new job – people have stepped up to help. And while it takes hard work and sacrifice to help others, we’ve also discovered how much joy it can bring them, and us, along the way.
Finding Joy and Giving Joy
We’re not out of the woods yet, but knowing where we can find joy, or more importantly give joy, has been crucial to getting through this pandemic. Thank you to all the frontline healthcare workers and other healthcare professionals for everything you’ve done to help others. Make sure to find the rest and joy you need this holiday season as well.