Lessons from COVID…looking back as we press on into the new normal…

A year or so has passed since COVID became a household name, and as we approach each new day, we are faced with reminders everywhere that the world of one year ago has drastically changed. The WORLD changed…not just our world, but the whole world. The tremendous impact that this invisible virus has left on us cannot be overstated. It’s left daily, painful reminders of its devastation in its wake.

Despite the tragedy of COVID, there are some “silver linings” that have emerged as the world found ways to reconnect in a time of disconnect. People who would otherwise never find a shared purpose, a common goal, or mutual pain and loss, found ways to unite in a time of great unrest and division. How?

People are resilient! It is worth recognizing that the world found a way to go on through the shut downs and the social barriers. While most of the things we loved and shared came to a screeching halt, we found a way to be productive. Somehow, when everything stopped, we found a way to keep moving. We found a way to work. We found a way to celebrate. We found a way to connect.

Family matters! As families woke up and found themselves confined to their homes, they were reminded that life is often richest when shared with those we love most—especially under the most difficult circumstances. So many of us played board games, colored pictures, and took long walks. We had conversations. We shared meals. We learned a new skill from an older generation. We laughed, we cried, and we continued to live our daily life…thankful to have our family with us. 

Determination cannot be cancelled. It looked different, but we kept working. Hard. The concept of distance and remote learning, working, socializing, and meeting—from corporate dealings to family dinners—found a way through the cyberworld and we continued with life. Ways and methods of treating the sick, joining in marriage, counseling the hurting, and solving complex corporate problems, evolved beyond the brick and mortar constructs and gave birth to productivity and creativity at a time when it seemed most unlikely but most necessary. We WORKED anyway.

Love Wins! Now, as we launch ourselves into the new normal, what will be our takeaways? How can we continue to foster resilience, cooperation, and the human compassion that found a way to connect us as we once again find ourselves with less time for family, more convenience, and the temptation to lean back into the familiar? 

Moving forward, we would do well to remember that we CAN continue to thrive, even under the worst of circumstances. We WILL find ways to connect. And while it took a pandemic to slow us down long enough to notice all the things we have in common, we can choose to pause here and there long enough to remember that.

As we navigate entry back into the “new normal” there will be  hiccups along the way. As we grapple with finding our new path back to the routines of daily life, remember it is in balance that the tension of living is well-managed. Stepping back into life as it was once may seem like a dream that we can only see in small frames. I have found that easing into routine, and taking a softer path into the hustle and bustle, is often a more manageable goal after a traumatic event. 

Start with what is most familiar and brings the most comfort: a simple gathering in someone’s yard, or a picnic at a park. These small, controlled social events might ease us into a more comfortable transition ahead, as we prepare to launch ourselves into a full day in the office, a crowded elevator, or a busy restaurant. Some simple guidelines to follow during this time of transition are outlined below.

Prioritize your time. Make time for what is most important—let the rest go. Set specific work hours and make checklists to help you stay on task. Schedule high-priority tasks during your peak performance time of the day.

Don’t try to please everyone else around you. Everyone will ease back into their post-pandemic routine in a different way. Putting pressure on yourself to do it in ways that are not comfortable or not a priority to you, will only make the transition more difficult.

Steal some personal time! As your calendar starts to fill up again, be sure to include time for relaxation, self-care, and just plain old down time. Most of us have been significantly more sedentary over the past 18 months, so if we don’t carve out personal time, we will become overwhelmed and easily exhausted, which can definitely play into our emotional state. 

Make time for exercise. While many of us cancelled our gym memberships during the pandemic, that does not mean our bodies do not need regular exercise. A healthy body helps create a healthy mind. Without physical exercise we simply do not function at our best and we are not as productive.

Finally, as we “baby step” our way back into our routines it is important to be patient with ourselves and those around us. It is through consistency and our daily routine that peace will find its way to us once again as a new season and new chapter begins.