A Guide to Dealing with 3 Significant Life Changes During COVID-19

For most of us, the COVID-19 outbreak has impacted our everyday lives and routines in one way or another. From learning how to groom our own hair and nails at home to working out in our living rooms instead of the gym, the pandemic has forced us out of our everyday routines and changed the ways we live and interact with others. Even as coronavirus restrictions lift throughout the world, however, many of us will continue to distance ourselves from others and postpone major events when possible. For some tips on dealing with three significant life changes as we adjust to the next new normal, check out the tips below!

Cutting Hair at Home

While many hair salons are officially reopening to the public, that doesn’t mean you’re going to feel comfortable enough to visit your favorite barbershop or hair salon anytime soon. If you’re in dire need of a trim, however, it may be time to learn how to cut your own hair at home or enlist the help of a spouse, roommate, friend, or parent. Whichever option you choose, here are some tips to make your at-home grooming session a whole lot easier:

Invest in the right tools. Before cutting your own hair at home, you’ll need to invest in a good haircutting mirror, shears, and cape. For short hairstyles, however, it’s better to use clippers instead of shears.
Watch online tutorials. Whether you’re trimming your bangs, maintaining a pixie cut, or cutting split ends, you’ll want to watch a few online tutorials before picking up your haircutting shears or clippers. Whichever style you’re going for, Good Housekeeping has some great haircutting tutorials on its website.
Blend in mistakes. If your haircut doesn’t turn out how you’d hoped, use hair products and accessories to blend in any mistakes. If you have a favorite stylist, you could also try reaching out to him or her for some over-the-phone advice.

Exercising Outside of a Gym

In addition to cutting your own hair at home, you may have had to turn your living room into a makeshift gym or yoga studio in the wake of COVID-19. However, even as fitness centers get ready to reopen to the public, it may be better to build a home gym or yoga studio that can be used permanently as you adapt to the next new normal. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are some things you can do to protect yourself from the virus if you do return to the gym — but working out at home is going to be a whole lot safer. Plus, hundreds of free online workouts are available to stream from the comfort and safety of your home.

Moving Into a New Home

If your lease is about to expire, you’re relocating after a coronavirus-related job loss, or you’re facing eviction or foreclosure, you may have no other choice but to move despite COVID-19 safety concerns. However, these tips will help to keep you safe and healthy if you must move during the coronavirus outbreak:

If you’re purchasing a house during the pandemic, be sure to hire a tech-savvy real estate agent who can help you to view homes virtually. Amid COVID-19, several possible alternatives to in-person showings include 3D walkthroughs, video-chat tours, and virtual open houses. Depending on where you live, virtual closings may be an option.
If you need to tour apartments during the pandemic, contact the apartment manager to request a live video-chat tour of each property. If you do need to tour an apartment in-person, be sure to wear a protective mask and gloves.
Take precautions on moving day to protect yourself and other individuals from the coronavirus. If possible, it’s best to avoid hiring professional movers during this time.

Any major trauma or adjustment in life can be a real struggle at first, but with change comes personal growth and transformation. While things like cutting our own hair, exercising at home, and planning a big move can seem daunting, these significant life changes will only help us to emerge stronger after COVID-19 ends.

Jennifer Scott is a lifelong sufferer of anxiety and depression. A single mom, she writes about the ups and downs of her mental illness on SpiritFinder.org. The blog serves as both a source of information for people with mental illness and a forum where those living with anxiety and depression can come together to discuss their experiences.