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As social distancing and stay at home orders are extended and the coronavirus pandemic rages on, it can feel hard to remember what we have to be thankful for. But with life as we know it changed completely and some of the things that once brought us joy inaccessible, holding onto the things we are grateful for becomes even more important. One teen in a hard-hit county in Maine has created a list to remind her about the good things in life—it's a guide to not giving up during the coronavirus crisis.
The Portland Press Herald reports that Sophie Robinson, 16, and some of her classmates at Gray-New Gloucester High School have been keeping pandemic journals, chronicling what it's like to live through a global disaster. Facing an unknown time in social isolation, Sophie wrote about how hard it is to cope with the idea that life will be different for the foreseeable future.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m trapped in my own world, that it’s only my community and country struggling, but I know that it’s so much more than that," she wrote, according to the Press Herald. "This virus can make you feel so alone, unmotivated, run down, but there’s still so much that we have. We need to show strength and unity. For us to succeed, we can’t be tearing each other down, we need to come together."
Rather than give into that loneliness caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Sophie compiled a “list of instructions for not giving up.” Her list includes spending time with your family by doing puzzles, watching new shows, or other group activities you might not have committed to pre-isolation; taking time for self-care like a bath or face mask; and embracing change, like repainting your room or coloring your hair. To see Sophie's full list, head over to the Portland Press Herald.
Not only is Sophie's list a great reminder of ways to keep yourself positive during social isolation, it's also a testament to how powerful journaling can be. Research has shown that keeping a journal can reduce intrusive and avoidant thoughts, and could increase our ability to cope with stress. You can journal about anything you want, and research suggests that writing about your emotions or trauma can help you improve your health and grow. But since we're surrounded by a lot of sadness right now, it's understandable if you want to focus on the good in your journal.
That's what works for Teen Vogue Editor in Chief Lindsay Peoples Wagner. Lindsay keeps a gratitude journal, jotting down something she's grateful for each day via an app in her phone. Rachel O’Neill, Ph.D., LPCC-S, therapist and director of clinical effectiveness at Talkspace, previously told Teen Vogue that gratitude journaling can be a very effective tool in managing your mental health.
"During this time when many people are socially isolating, it can be easy to focus on the negative aspects of our day," she said. "Instead, being intentional about focusing on gratitude can be an incredible way to shift your attention to the areas in your life that bring you joy and happiness."
Now is a great time to put pen to paper to help you cope with your mental health. Journaling is also a great tool because you can do it at your own pace—there's no pressure to write every day if you don't want to, and there are no rules to what you do or don't write. But tracking your feelings right now is helpful because, if nothing else, you'll someday look back at what you wrote and remember what you were doing as this all went down.
Related: How a Gratitude Journal Can Help Improve Your Mental Health
