We were supposed to be back to normal by now. The summer of 2021 was to mark a return to pre-pandemic ways. And, for a while, it looked like it was going to happen. Everything started to open up again. Mask requirements started to disappear. Group activities came back. We were joyful for a short time. Then came Delta.

The Delta variant has crushed the return to normal. As of yesterday, 2,000 people per day in the U.S. were dying from the coronavirus, a number not seen since March. This particular coronavirus strain is both more infectious and more severe than previous incarnations of the virus. It is more dangerous to the youth of America, including those that are not yet allowed to be vaccinated. Mask mandates are back in many areas and vaccination mandates are growing. All in all, we would be wise to take it seriously.

A renewed attention to the coronavirus has brought about a predictable response of frustration, fear, and disappointment. There is rarely a worse feeling than when you think you have got rid of something unpleasant, only to see it reappear. It makes you want to pull your hair out. Or Cry. Or laugh uncontrollably. Maybe punch a wall. Or all of the above. Considering that you may want to keep your hair or don’t want to pay a hospital bill for a broken hand, it would be helpful to have some more appropriate and safer alternatives for dealing with the return of the coronavirus. Here are some healthier options:

Reevaluate Expectations of Normal

We might have been a bit hasty to declare the coronavirus dead. Like many viruses, such as the flu, we may never be totally rid of it. It is probably better to say that we will better be able to manage the virus rather than say it will be eradicated. As a result, we need to accept the possibility that we will never return to the “normal” lives we had before. Certain aspects of our lifestyle that we have adopted since the pandemic began will likely never go away. Having the proper expectations can be the difference between happiness and total frustration and despair. It is time we accept that the coronavirus is not going anywhere and certain limitations are here to stay.

Focus on The Positive

Human beings have a great capacity to adapt to new situations. We have all had to adjust to the limitations and restrictions brought about by the coronavirus. And some of the things we have done have been very beneficial. Whether it is spending more time with our families, getting more sleep, or finding a new hobby, we have learned to make the best of it. I dare say that some of us are even better off due to the changes we implemented in the past year and a half. So, why not look for other actions we can undertake to improve our lives while we have the chance. When life gives you lemons…

Don’t Go It Alone

It is important to look to others when you are going through tough times. Trying to handle a difficult situation alone is almost never as successful as when you seek support from others. Humans beings are built to be social and share their emotions. We like to spend time together, even if it is on Zoom. And if you don’t feel like you have friends or family that will lend you an ear you can always seek professional help. Even if you don’t always have someone to talk to, you can express your feelings in other ways. For example, write them down or use a creative medium, such as drawing. The point is, don’t always curl up in the corner of a dark room. That isn’t going to help.

Stay Outside

One of the positive developments of COVID-19 is the amount of time we are spending outdoors. We embraced nature walks and eating outdoors because it was the only thing we could do. When it seemed like the coronavirus was ending, people were looking forward to getting back inside because it seemed like the normal thing to do. But why are we so wedded to being indoors? I understand that some people are living in areas that are uncomfortably cold or hot, but what about everyone else? What is the rush to get back indoors? The outdoors is beautiful and much healthier than spending all our times inside. One day the major threat of the coronavirus will end. And I hope we are all still spending time outdoors. If we make it a permanent lifestyle choice then we won’t be as disappointed by the length of the pandemic.

Do Something Different

We have been at this coronavirus thing for a year and a half. It is getting old. Real old. And now that we thought it was over, it is even worse. We need to get out of our funk. One answer is to try something new. Change it up. Maybe shift your schedule around or try another hobby. New activities can lead to novel interests and relationships. Besides, everything new is more exciting simply because it is different than the same old same old. The excitement may not last forever, but new ventures, at the very least, are a great temporary distraction.

Look Toward the the “New Normal”, Realistically

We were premature in thinking the end of the coronavirus was around the corner. But, the major consequences of COVID-19 will end, probably within the next year. There is nothing wrong with hoping for the end of the pandemic. It is natural to look forward to good news. And being normal again is good news. We all want to eat indoors without worrying that we are going to die. And who wants masks to become a permanent part of our fashion? We just need to be realistic as to when the pandemic will end and what it will look like. If we can do that, we can look forward to better times without dashing our hopes and dreams.