During this Pandemic, You Need to Be Flexible
It’s an understatement to say that 2020 has been a crazy year. Even prior to this year, the COVID-19 pandemic was brewing disaster. You most likely have heard this time that we’re in called an “unprecedented time.” It definitely is. Within the span of a few months, the pandemic has upended our daily lives and still continues to do so.
As resilient human beings, we have to be flexible. We have to be flexible at everything that life throws at us, especially right now. Arguably, now is when we have to be more flexible than we have ever had to before.
At the beginning of the pandemic, we had to learn to physical/social distance. We all had to adjust to that. Being at least 6 feet away from people who aren ’t in our immediate household was an adjustment. I’m used to handshakes, high fives, hugs, and talking in close proximity with others. It was a challenge, but something that I eventually had to adjust to for the sake of their safety and my own. Like I usually say, until we are able to know who is currently infected, we have to be precautious and act like everyone is.
Learning to from home was another adjustment I had to make. I’m used to talking to people face to face. Even though I’m pretty tech savvy compared to most people, I still had to get used to using technology tools to video conference and use internet tools to do tasks that I normally wouldn’t do online. I also have to work with people who aren’t used to working online, which is another adjustment. I understand everyone is at a different proficiency level when it comes to computer/internet/technology literacy, and this sudden shift to working from home has forced people to learn quickly.
I am very thankful that I am able to work from home. I know that a lot of people don’t have that luxury or are currently without a job, so I sympathize with you. I’ve been there before. It’s a scary adjustment that I had to endure. During that time, I had to adjust to life without employment, but also to work towards having an income. Life has consistently made me adjust. In every stage of my life, I’ve had to adjust to drastic change.
When the pandemic started, my kids had to adjust to distance learning. It was tough for them to have to learn online through video conferences and digital platforms. It was an adjustment for them, their teachers, and for my spouse and me. Learning online is slower, and students miss out on developing social and emotional skills that they build from proper social interactions. I know it’s not the most ideal way for students to learn (trust me, I’m a teacher too), but it’s better to be safe than dead.
Being physically Isolated that many of us really struggle with adjusting to, and for me, it’s something I’m still adjusting to. I know that I’m pretty introverted, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy the company of my family and friends. Social media and video hangouts have helped, even if it’s not the same as pre-pandemic interacting. We have had to learn to be used to online or physically distant interactions. People have found creative ways to adjust. We have had drive thru birthday parties and graduations. No doubt, we will be having more creative ways of celebrating that are COVID-19 safe.
Right now, since the pandemic doesn’t look like it’s going to be ending anytime soon, we are forced to learn new norms. We are building a new definition of normal in the time of COVID-19. We have had to be flexible to changing times our whole lives, but with this past year being so drastic, we have to be flexible because that is what is needed of us.
Roderick Conwi is the Executive Editor at Nourishment Notes. He is also the author of The Procrastinator's Quick Guide To Getting It Done. To get powerful insights that enhance your day, join his free newsletter.
