How are you planning for the Coronavirus or COVID-19’s long-term impacts?
Reading that question, some hope it will all be over by May, at worst the end of Summer. Others of you are planning and preparing for the long-term. One example I can give of a longer-term approach is the Army is pitching its Soldiers to commit to another contract because the economy is terrible now and expected to be terrible for a while. With military service being a good thing, this approach is both practical and wise. Therefore, how are you planning the Coronavirus or COVID-19’s long-term impacts?
Asking this question is necessary. Two historic illnesses in comparison are the Spanish Flu of 1918 and the Great Bubonic Plague that hurt Europe from 1347 to 1351. The former lasted about a year, which is longer than most are planning now. The latter lasted nearly four years. Hear that, where’s your attention now?
Sure, one could argue that our modern medicine and communication is better than either of the above periods. While true, we should remember that the Coronavirus or COVID-19 is beyond our total control at this point. Again, how are you planning the Coronavirus or COVID-19’s long-term impacts?
Even still, others argue that social distancing is unnecessary, that it hurts the economy more than it kills the virus, or want their freedom. Without getting into the rights and wrongs of the concept of “flattening the curve,” depending on where you live, you will socially distance if you want to or not. Therefore, how are you planning the Coronavirus or COVID-19’s long-term impacts?
Enough with asking the last question rhetorically. In contrast, here are some ways you can cope with the Coronavirus/COVID-19 impacts no matter your opinion, outcome, or time:
- Read Books – During this period, you might not have much else to do. If so, learn the discipline of reading. Not being able to leave the house allows us to be patient in ways we could never imagine. Embrace it and read things you are interested in or those books you’ve been putting off. Make it a game to see how many you can complete.
- Learn a New Hobby – Often, adults complain they don’t have time to learn the hobbies they wish they had time to develop as a kid. Guess what, we currently might have more time than we know. Be it an instrument, learning sleight of hand magic, gardening, or whatever else your imagination love seek it out because you may not have any better time in your life than now.
- Listen to Podcasts – Not everyone is a reader and thats fine. Be informed by listening to quality podcasts.
- Research Careers – Eventually, the coronavirus will be under control; we don’t know when. Until then, you might be one who has unfortunately lost their job. If so, prayers go out to you, in the meantime, consider the possibilities. Without trying to sound harsh, you might be bankrupt professionally at this point. If so, then it might be time to switch to a career where you have passion. After all, your job might be gone never to return. If, though, you are one who’s position is retained, then research ways you can grow. Similar to the Army’s current advice, staying put could be best both short term and longterm.
- Talk with Your Family – Many family issues stem from the fact that they each lead separate lives and don’t have time to talk like they should. Sometimes some problems need discussion when time and energy do not exist. Again, you have the time now. Rather than letting the person in your house get on your nerves because you’re trying to avoid them, engage them and give your relational intimacy a return and develop into new depths that you’ll maintain when this time is over.
Lists like this one could go on forever. The point of the above list is not to be definitive, but to give examples of what you could do. Perhaps something on this list is what you could benefit from right now? If not, then the goal of this list is to spark your creativity towards something you now have the time to do that you usually do not. In other words, whatever your imagination keeps drifting towards, pursue it the best you can while stuck at home.
Sure, we need to be ready. However, there is only so much canned goods, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper to go around. Even less than we are trying to hoard. No, the real issue we all need to face is how are we using the most of this time? Answering that question will allow you to see this Coronavirus/COVID-19 time as a blessing than a curse. Embrace it now and see what the Lord will do with it in the years to come.
How then are you planning the coronavirus or COVID-19’s long-term impacts? The possibilities are endless; just embrace the direction that you’re passionate about and go!
