WHAT IS ON YOUR PACKING LIST FOR LIFE AFTER QUARANTINE?
The past eight weeks have forced many of us to stand still. We have likely spent more time staying in one place than at any other point in our lives. For many, before COVID-19, the hours logged in planes, trains, cars, office buildings or airport lounges exceeded that spent in our own living rooms. The initial disruption that forced new ways of living and working gave way to adopted routines that offered a relative sense of comfort, despite a great deal of uncertainty.
But alas, the winds of change are blowing and it appears a move is on its way. Whether you are in a place that has opened, will open shortly or has suggested a forthcoming plan, there is a shared sense that the reality we have known for the past eight weeks is morphing into new ways of operating. Be it face masks, a staggered workforce or staying in place a bit longer, we are transitioning toward the next phase of living with this pandemic.
As we prepare for this move, we will once again be challenged to adapt. Unlike in March when we packed our bags with what we would need “for the foreseeable future,” based on the standards of the lives we had before, this move offers us the luxury of time and perspective to prepare. It is an opportunity to think about what we need and what we want, as we navigate this next phase and beyond.
Personally and culturally, what will stay the same and what will change? Some articles have suggested women will abandon makeup and just be who they are. Having spent way too many hours looking at myself on Zoom calls, I frankly cannot imagine this being a significant long-term trend! What is clear is that many of us are considering things we may have overlooked in our lives before quarantine. Be it realigning priorities, centering on our values or just being more thoughtful about the ways we go about our everyday lives, it is impossible to emerge from this exactly the same.
I love this this quote from C.S. Lewis: “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind." Take some time to consider what that might mean for you. As you pack your bags to move into this next phase of life after quarantine, what will you bring with you and what will you leave behind? I would love to hear from you.
Happy Friday Everyone!
