The 5 traits of resilient people, and how we can harness these factors to prevent global, collective trauma in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

Growing up, I wanted to be a good girl. To do so, I knew I would have to follow all the rules--if I did, then no one could punish me, and I would never have to face disappointment. I looked for rules everywhere--in my parent’s verbal and non-verbal cues, in their reactions to my behavior, and in their interactions with eachother. Through careful deciphering and child-like deliberation, I created an imaginary rubric of what I imagined the “rules” to be.

Some people spend their lives focusing on mental wellness. They meditate, journal, go to therapy, read self-help books, practice active listening, understand how to identify and process their emotions, and have a breadth of coping skills. In the face of a crisis, they are as prepared as they can be to handle the toughest mental challenge of their lives.

I have worked from home/worked on the road for the last 5 years, so I am no stranger to what it’s like to wake up in the same place I answer work e-mails. I am also very familiar with the intense boredom and lack of social contact that one suddenly faces when making the transition from office life to work-from-home life.