As more people are receiving their vaccines and Covid restrictions are being lifted, people begin to reflect on and process their time spent in quarantine.  Amidst the pandemic, many people picked up a new hobby, binged shows, or read more in order to escape the stress and uncertainty of the real world. Due to the burden of the reality of the situation, people had to retreat to the security of fantasy worlds within shows, books, games, etc. What many people may not know, however, is that this escapism is a real coping mechanism typically used when the mental strain of normal life is too much to handle, which was often the case for many people amidst the pandemic. 

It is important for people to understand that these feelings and escapes are normal living in such an uncertain world. Still, it is equally as important to identify harmful escapes such as overeating and addiction. Now that people are generally returning to regular routines, with some alterations, of course, escapism could potentially have adverse effects on a person’s professional and social life. High school senior Alyssa Anderson spoke to this, adding, “when you neglect the real world, it’s one thing when it was your only choice, but as things are opening up, it is dangerous to keep doing the escapism route.”

However, in the midst of the pandemic, escapism was extremely helpful to many people, seeking comfort from stressors, focusing on self-care, and learning more about themselves. Not only that, but people also finally had the time to dive into hobbies that they had always wanted to try but never did because of time constraints. Self-care was especially important for many people, being able to take care of themselves and control at least one part of their lives throughout such an uncontrollable time. Other activities like binging shows, reading books, and playing video games were also very prominent because they allowed people to detach from the reality of the pandemic. One of the most popular games played during the pandemic was Animal Crossing: New Horizons, a life simulation game that allows the player to move to a deserted island and cultivate a community with villagers with whom you can interact. Obviously, this was so popular during the pandemic since people couldn’t go out and see their real-life neighbors.

Despite some of the criticism that escapism gets, during the pandemic, it has been a healthy, successful coping mechanism for many dealing with pandemic-induced stress. “When you’re in the middle of it seems better to do whatever gets you through it,” stated Highschool senior Thomas Reid. Overall, escapism was the most widely used method to seek comfort and detachment from the harsh reality of the Covid-19 pandemic.