With summer well underway, and the events of 2020 behind us, now’s a great time to take a breath and do a little bit of reflection. There has been plenty said about the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. But challenging times are never without their positives – and if we look hard enough, we’ll be sure to find some here.
A Growth in Mental Health Awareness
We’re all familiar with the physical health problems that accompany the COVID-19 virus, but a far more widespread problem has been the mental stress and anguish that the pandemic has caused. From the lingering sense of the unknown, to the need for social distancing, on to the economic issues that have come out of this period – virtually every aspect of this last year has been mentally and emotionally challenging.
If there is a positive to draw out of this, it’s that the conversation surrounding mental health has taken some significant leaps forward. With so many people struggling, the question of empathy and understanding has been all but dealt with for now. More Australians have been reaching out, and it’s our hope that this a trend that persists into this new year and beyond – that more Australians feel comfortable asking for help when they’re struggling.
We’ve Had a Chance to Rediscover ‘Taking Time for Ourselves’
Melbourne’s two lockdowns extended over the majority of the year. For many it felt like a novel and weirdly exciting thing at first. But of course, that novelty wore off – and we were stuck with ourselves and whatever we could find to entertain ourselves.
This period, with all the ups and downs, has given us all a taste of what it feels like to take a break from things – but also that we need to be proactive about how we spend our time alone. This unique pause has been a push that so many of us needed to see what it means to make the most of the time we have between everything else.
Environmental Positives
Lockdowns and reduced movement around the world have been tough economically, but it has been great for the environment! All across the world, carbon emissions dropped, air quality improved, and a whole range of polluting habits we’ve always thought of as unavoidable were halted – even if just for a while. As we all come back out of lock-down, plan trips, and maybe even get out into the great outdoors ourselves to enjoy what nature has to offer – we hope you think about what this period has done to help the environment.
Discover life at Burnside Village
At its heart, each of these positives really track back to how we operate as a community. From a growth in empathy and understanding, all the way through to how we see and understand the challenges that face us as a global community – 2020 has shown us that challenging times have a way of bringing us together. Even when at times it was important that we stay physically apart.
To find out more about what that means to us at Burnside Village – don’t hesitate to get in touch and book a tour! Here, and on through our sister communities in Keilor Village and Taylors Hill Village, a strong sense of community is what brings us all together, and gives us each the support we need coming out of a difficult year. You can reach out to us today by calling 1300 098 000 or leaving an enquiry via our contact form.
