But things are going to get worse, maybe a lot worse, before they get better. I know that is not a great sentiment. I know people are looking for a ray of sunshine or hope, but I want people to use this opportunity to reflect on some things. And yes, this is an opportunity. Like it or not, most of us are stuck at home with a lot of extra time on our hands. Even those who are working from home don’t have to commute or spend time in traffic. The folks who have lost their jobs have more time on their hands than they want, most likely. But again, this can be an opportunity if people are willing to think through some things.
First, this relief money coming from the federal government will not change anyone’s life. For most people in a normal situation, $1, 200 is a drop in the bucket when it comes to feeding the family, making the car payment, and keeping the lights on. So that’s the first area to really think about deeply: The government is not going to save you. You have to have a financial plan that protects you and your family when it rains. Right now, we are living through a monsoon. I truly hope this is once in a lifetime, but there will come times when it rains again. Having your financial house in order takes time, but it is better to do the work and NOT rely on the government.
This is an excellent opportunity to think about career choices. If you are someone who has been forced out of a job, my heart goes out to you, but maybe it is a chance to reflect and think about what you want to do with life going forward. Do you want to go back to the job you had? Many people stay in jobs they hate because it is what they can get, or what they are used to, or think it is what they deserve. None of those things have to be the case. If you have been forced out of a job, ask yourself if there might be something better out there. Then go get it.
And hopefully this enforced home time will help people see what they really need to be happy. Some people like to turn to retail therapy to feel better about whatever situation they are trying to avoid dealing with. Now is a great time to actually deal with those things. Money is tight, and retail therapy isn’t a viable option for most people right now. If you can go months without something you thought was absolutely necessary before lock down, then you can probably just do without it.
Stress will mount over the coming weeks and months. The stress will come in many ways. There are avenues to explore if the stress gets to be too much. We are probably going to see massive burnout on the healthcare workers’ front. There will be businesses that don’t re-open, regardless of what “assistance” comes from the fed. The look and feel of the country will change in subtle and substantial ways. I have no way to know what those changes will look like, but something like this can’t help but change us (think Pearl Harbor, 9/11). This is a seismic shift in our lives, and the only thing that we can each control is how we react. Doing nothing and hoping that someone else will fix everything will only compound the problems. Taking stock right now, while things are bleak, can set each of us up for a much brighter future once this pandemic is at an end.