Pandemic changes everything. That’s actually not a bad thing
Just like that, COVID-19 changed our lives as billions of people in the world have been ordered to self-isolate and over one billion children are being home schooled. As governments, businesses, schools and other organizations invoke emergency plans, parents have to respond accordingly. It is business unusual. The pandemic had laid bare all our well laid plans. But within crisis are the seeds of opportunity. So, let’s take a chapter out of the operating manuals of highly effective organizations that talk about the seven most important things and how we can learn to survive and thrive when everything changes.
People. First and foremost is the safety of your family. Adhere to public health policies. Even if the jurisdiction in which you live has loosened social distancing guidelines, make your own decisions especially if your group spans three generations or more. This pandemic has honestly shown us how ill-prepared we are to disruption in our lives. As many elderly grandparents live separately from us, and some may require home care in one form or another, we may need to step in with grocery, medicine and supply runs including non-emergency care. We cannot assume this disruption to be temporary and short termed, so whatever interim actions we take must be sustainable. Now is also a good time to teach the elders the language of technology to ensure virtual contact.
Finances. On top of everyone’s mind is money. Whether you continue to work fully or not; whether you are able to access government assistance or not, living expenses will continue to pile up. I’m lucky in that I have the ability to work from home and able to collect my full income twice a month, but I’d learned some very tough lessons when I had personal interviews with each of the Four Horsemen to job loss. The best time to build a rainy day fund was yesterday. The second best time is now. Without the expenses related to commuting, coffee runs, lunch on the go and children’s extracurricular activities, redirect money as reserve and start there.
We cannot assume this disruption to be temporary and short termed, so whatever interim actions we take must be sustainable. Make it a routine and eventually rote chores will become minimally time consuming but maximally valuable. Business unusual will be the new normal. Keep being resourceful and keep iterating. Rethinking the ways we do things in more structured and thoughtful ways isn’t a bad thing.
Supplies & equipment. In a household context, supplies usually refer to groceries. Ensure you have 2 weeks’ worth. Ensure also you understand that securing those supplies will require more time and potentially from multiple suppliers as some may run out. Everyone’s making the same demand, so simple economics tells us that supply will be scarce. Think 3 to 4 weeks ahead but don’t horde. This will create a tragedy of the commons. Make it a routine and eventually rote chores will become minimally time consuming but maximally valuable.
Infrastructure. Ensure you have adequate broadband to support the increased online operating model. Carve out a room or a corner that’s uncluttered so you can actually work-at-home. You’re going to need to do this because your child will also need to school-at-home as well. The future will be reliant upon higher broadband–even for social connectivity. My daughter had her first Zoom sleepover. With video conferencing and a shared movie in a window, each child was on her own couch with her own bowl of popcorn watching the same movie—apart. This will catch on!
Information. Make sure you access proper news and reports. There is much half-truth, disinformation, fake news and detractors out there. Your survival decisions are based on the information you have, so ensure you have the best intelligence that can be corroborated. There are a lot of scammers offering quick loans, solicitation, utilities threatening disconnection and even lists of infected people in your neighborhood are sold. Heating/cooling companies offering cleaning service for COVID-filters will only be cleaning out your bank account.
Records & culture. With everything being shutdown, home isolation really tests our ability to fill our days meaningfully. You have nothing but time and opportunity so now is the moment to introduce or refine new content, new routines and create new family traditions. My daughter and I used to experiment with home cooking whenever we had time. Now we aim for one or two new recipes per week and even made donuts in a deep fryer, last week! Instead of watching movies; play charades of movie titles you’ve seen. I used to workout during the weeks my daughter is not with me. But since the pause on her swimming, she’s itching to be active and we now exercise at the same time. I’m on the treadmill; she’s doing yoga/stretches with her swim club via video conference. We switch and she gets on the treadmill and I hit my weights. Homebound doesn’t mean housebound. New routines borne out of necessity can become more efficient.
Operational efficiency. The pandemic has caused us to rethink the ways we do things in more structured and thoughtful ways. Your home is now your lifeboat. Your family is now your crew. Even though you have close quarter functions constraining you to do things together, it is essential that everyone knows their role and is given their space. Ironic as it sounds, it is possible to be together when you are apart when there is family in different places. You’ll find inventive ways to celebrate separateness together. It makes every engagement more meaningful. Traditional family holidays will change, but they will also endure. Keep being resourceful and keep iterating. And for goodness sake, keep the peace. Your child is already stressed with this disruption and limited socialization; don’t isolate them even further with fights with her mom. Pandemic can’t change everything!