Americans Reveal How They’re Staying Positive in 2020 With 66% Agreeing Their Communities Are Closer Than Ever

Eight out of 10 Americans in a new survey said they were desperate for positive news in the rest of 2020, and believed that the constant stream of bad news had taken a toll on them.

The survey asked 2,000 Americans across the country about how they have coped with this year’s stress.

The ‘good news’ is that 7 out of 10 respondents have made it a priority to do something positive every day while the quarantine continues.

The main goal, shared by 43% of those surveyed, is to simply make at least one person smile every day. 34% try to make someone laugh every day and make it a priority to share positive news with their loved ones.

And when respondents need to cheer up, their recipe is to turn on their favorite movie (46%) and eat their favorite snack (43%).

Forty-three percent of respondents also go for a walk, four in 10 respondents call a friend, and 38% snuggle with their pet.

A quarter of those surveyed also shared that they sing in the shower to cheer themselves up and 19% even have a solo dance party to get in a better mood.

Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed mentioned that they are donating to local charities to encourage positivity and 28% are finding a safe way to volunteer.

Carried out by OnePoll on behalf of Vitamin angels For Giving Tuesday, the survey included six out of 10 respondents who said the hardships of 2020 and COVID-19 have led them to give back to their community even more, with 66% agreeing that their communities are closer than never.

Despite the stress of COVID-19, 78% of those surveyed also said that the pandemic has made it more important than ever to give back to their local communities.

In fact, 42% of respondents have increased their donations to charities during COVID-19, saying they have donated to an average of four charities throughout the year, averaging $ 36.47 per month.

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Half of those surveyed are also donating to charities currently addressing COVID-19, with 87% of whom say they are more likely to support causes that specifically help women and children affected by the pandemic.

More than half of those surveyed (57%) also plan to increase their planned Christmas donations due to the impact of COVID-19.

“Communities in the United States and around the world were vulnerable before COVID-19 and now is the time they need us most,” said Howard Schiffer, founder and president of Vitamin Angels.

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“Right now, we have the opportunity to come together and take what has been one of the most difficult years of our lives, and turn it into one of our best positive actions; to help the most vulnerable in our communities ”.

And as respondents look to the new year, three-quarters hope to start over and share positivity as much as they can, and another eight in 10 hope others will do the same.

Top goals for sharing positivity in 2021 included having a more positive outlook on life (52%) and trying not to focus so much on negative things (50%).

Forty-eight percent of those surveyed also aim to take better care of their mental health, and a third of those surveyed want to donate more to charities and expand their volunteer commitments.

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“This holiday season is a great opportunity to connect with your loved ones and share much-needed positivity,” said Schiffer. “Another way to share positivity is to give back to members of our communities at risk.”

THE BEST THINGS AMERICANS DO TO CHEER UP IN 2020
Watching their favorite movie – 46%
Eating their favorite snack – 43%
Going for a walk – 43%
Call a friend – 40%
Hug your pet – 38%
Taking a nap – 37%
Hugging a loved one – 37%
Baking cookies – 31%
Sing in the shower – 25%
Have a solo dance party – 19%

BETTER POSITIVITY TARGETS DURING COVID-19
Try to make someone smile once a day – 43%
Donate money to local charities: 38%
Share positive news with your loved ones: 34%
Try to make someone laugh once a day – 34%
Volunteer in a safe and social distancing manner – 28%

GOALS FOR 2021
Have a more positive outlook on life: 52%
Try not to focus so much on the negative things in life: 50%
Take better care of your mental health – 48%
Donate more money to charities: 34%
More volunteer in your community – 32%

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