Self
Heres what to do with all those feels.
March 2020 was one long scramble to buy toilet paper while you worried about family and friends.
We woresweatpants,cheered for nurses, and waved toloved ones via Zoom.
Now that its three whole years later, all those memories fromMarch 2020 quarantinehit different.
March 2020 almost felt like a cozy bubble.
We really didnt know what we had.
If that isnt a recipe for nostalgia, what is?
What Is Quarantine Nostalgia?
Life before March 2020 was all about the daily grind.
Then everything ground to a halt.
It was the first time in our lives that it was acceptable to do nothing.
Quarantining even made you part of the hero story that was everywhere that spring.
With nothing to do and nowhere to go, life slowed way down.
Its also when so many of us got sucked into TikTok for the very first time.
Carla Marie Manly, a clinical psychologist and author ofJoy from Fear.
For many, this meant finally getting to say no to party invites without an ounce of FOMO.
As you blink in the bright light of day, its only natural to struggle to adjust.
This can give rise to feelings of depression, she says.
It was a time when people felt connected, scared, and also hopeful, Maalouf says.
It was a time where we were still unsure and also more hopeful.
If that means lying in bed for a few hours while you scroll TikTok, so be it.
It might also help to revisit some aspects of March 2020s quarantine days.
This can be taking time off work, restarting hobbies, and doing at-home workouts.
Maalouf says it can also help to connect with others who feel this way.
Connecting, talking about it, or creating videos for it is a healthy way to process it.
If you feel quarantine nostalgia or are struggling with the anniversary of March 2020, take it in stride.
Healing is relative and we will all need different periods of time to heal from this, Maalouf says.
There is no set time of when you should be over it.
If you’re still struggling, you’re not alone.
