Last spring, I made a choice: Don’t simply survive the pandemic; empower yourself to thrive.

It wasn’t easy. Prone to worry, I watched in horror (not an overstatement) as COVID descended. Groceries and other necessities became increasingly elusive. People fought (literally) over toilet paper. They barked at store employees.

Isolated with my daughters during quarantine, it hit me: The only way to emerge from COVID stronger was to take control. Lead by example for my girls. But how? One day, I found inspiration in an unlikely place: my living room. Looking around, I scrutinized everything. The shade of paint on the walls. Furniture. Décor. Books. Soon, I was reinventing that living space – gaining control by painting, rearranging furniture (I won’t divulge how often) and rediscovering literature.

And I didn’t stop there.

I splashed fresh colors and creativity into the kitchen, a bathroom and my daughters’ rooms. They jokingly threatened to hide the paint brushes since I’d become a self-proclaimed painting machine. I felt a sense of pride because I knew when the pandemic was over, I would have accomplished projects I’d long wanted to tackle and empowered myself to feel in control of something.

Additional outlets:

  • Embracing music: Reliving my youth with 1980s songs, transporting myself to the past with 1960s compositions and exploring new artists was rejuvenating. Side note: Dancing while cleaning is surprisingly enjoyable.
  • Watching historical and true crime documentaries: Briefly “escaping” and taking a deeper look into human nature.
  • Laughing: One sound I never heard in the office but am treated to daily at home is my shih tzu snoring. Boy, is it loud … and hilarious. He’s entertained co-workers on Zoom meetings. I’m quick to assure everyone that the snorer is not me.

When it comes to the pandemic, there are no easy answers or sure-fire strategies for success. But there are options. Among them are the various resources offered by the Wellness Council of Indiana.

The past 10 months have left us forever changed. Making changes on your own – those under your control – will help determine if you just survive or thrive.

Symone Skrzycki is the senior communications manager for the Indiana Chamber. She is also a senior writer for the Chamber’s award-winning BizVoice magazine and has been with the organization for 21 years.