I write this amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when many of us in the United States and around the world are weeks into a homebound mandate, where our departures are limited to specific necessities. A stressful situation for all; it may not be obvious that this is also a great opportunity. Certainly, the better option is to be pandemic-free, able to roam as we did before, busily carrying out our daily routines wherever they take us. But for now, we must stay home to save lives. For many of us not on the front lines of saving those lives, staying home is our main contribution to society.
As the Accountability Evangelist, contributing to society is my fundamental mission: I serve others by doing whatever it takes to be the best person I can be. This mission is executed by looking in the Leadership Mirror first (see more about this concept in Kidden Prep’s Accountability Course), then taking personal actions to improve my ability to serve others, by controlling what I can and influencing what I can’t. You may find yourself with a lot of “extra” time during quarantine. What are you doing with this opportunity?
If you regard this quarantine as a burden, you need to change your perspective. It is what it is, so make the most of it. If you aren’t yet familiar with Stephen Covey’s Time Matrix, check out this brief blog post. Now is the time to let your Quadrant II activities reign. No doubt in the past, you’ve struggled to make and keep Quadrant II the largest slice of your 24-hour daily allotment. Do not let the temptation of waste – Quadrant IV – lull you into hours and hours of mindless activity. Relaxation and rejuvenation time is absolutely endorsed and thus lands firmly in Quadrant II…until it becomes excess and has crept into Quadrant IV. I recommend Kidden Prep’s Time Management Course for more exploration on this topic.
My recommendations for this quarantine and any other periods of downtime you may experience:
- Prioritize sleep. Without enough consistent rest, you cannot function optimally, and you jeopardize your ability to fend off illness.
- Exercise more. If you aren’t commuting to work and other usual activities, you have gained minutes that can be added to your daily exercise routine. (If you don’t have a daily exercise routine yet, now is a great time to establish one – do so safely to avoid injury.)
- Watch what you eat. With the refrigerator and pantry at arms length 24/7 now, it may be difficult to maintain healthy eating habits. Set yourself up for success by filling those locations mostly with healthy, tasty options, with a few treats sprinkled in if desired. I know this is not as easy as I’m making it sound; it’s an area of constant struggle for me. But, I know that I cannot be at my best if I am not putting food as medicine in my body.
- Take classes online. When the pandemic subsides, the economy will not rebound immediately. There will be many more people competing for many fewer jobs. If you are lucky enough to remain employed during this time, the following advice applies to you as well. Find and complete online courses – many are free – in an area of interest and demand. For example, at Kidden Prep, I’ve launched some online leadership courses that will be free through the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. Employers want ambitious people who take initiative to improve themselves. If you have a goal to thrive in your career, you cannot afford to neglect this opportunity to increase and broaden your skillset.
- Set goals and execute. If you haven’t written down your personal goals yet, do so now. This is a fundamental Quadrant II activity. If you don’t know what your goals are, then you won’t deliberately choose actions to support them. I recommend Kidden Prep’s Goal-Setting & Execution Course to get you started on this journey.
- Get organized. I would be remiss as co-owner of a professional organizing company if I didn’t mention this. Transforming your Life: From Clutter to Clarity is not just a pithy tag line. Reducing and thoughtfully arranging your possessions brings focus and serenity, enabling you to accomplish so much more. During the COVID-19 crisis, Kidden Prep is offering free virtual organizing consultations. Contact us to schedule your session.
- Read. The newspaper, magazines, fiction and non-fiction books, articles, blogs, anything relevant and interesting you can get your hands on. Keep your brain sharp, practice your critical thinking skills, and add to your knowledge base.
- Pray. Whether your faith is strong or isn’t, prayer is an accountable way to give thanks for your blessings and ask for protection and guidance for all who worry or suffer in some way…which right now is pretty much everyone. Livestreamed religious services and other resources are widely available on the internet, and many people have bibles in their homes.
- Give back. As you are able, make financial contributions to causes that are meaningful to you and/or that require assistance in crisis. There are so many who need help right now; do not let this overwhelm you. Decide to decide, and make a difference. If everyone does their part, the whole will be lifted. Also, use this time to reflect on your pre-pandemic approach to giving your time, talent, and treasure. Many of us typically have more free time than we realize, and have not chosen to spare some of it in service to others. Now is the time to rethink that approach, and give generously.
We all have the same amount of time: 24 hours per day. Make the choice to spend that time intentionally. As always, I implore you to become Accountability Ambassadors by embracing this opportunity to better yourself so you can be of better service to others.
Originally published April 5, 2020 on www.kiddenprep.com
