6 Lessons Learned During the COVID 19 Pandemic

Like many of you, there is a lot I’ve learned over the last 2.5 months hunkered down with my wife, our dog Bella, and our little guy Evan in a 1,000 sq ft apartment. Certainly I’ve learned a lot about myself, and my family, but I’ve also learned from you. All of us have gone through unique experiences during this time of quarantine - and many of us have gone through very similar ones. Hopefully we can come out on the other side of this with some lessons learned that will serve us in times of peace as well as times of crisis. While the pandemic casts a dark cloud over our lives currently, hopefully we see the silver lining of perspective - of lessons learned from this pandemic and lockdown. Here are 6: 

• You don’t need lots of space or equipment to exercise. By now, all of us have learned to improvise and adapt to the limitations of the COVID 19 lockdown. With work, school, and even church taking place via Zoom around kitchen tables and in makeshift ‘offices’ at home, exercise has also been confined to living rooms, patios, and garages. And we are all getting strong and fitter! With some creativity and a few minor pieces of equipment, we can experience some exceptional workouts and continue to keep our fitness up.
  

• Our physical health has a direct correlation to our mental health. Study after study confirms what many of us already know- that practicing good nutrition, positive sleep habits, and sustainable exercise contributes overwhelmingly to better mental health. With the lockdown, incidents of depression, anxiety, and even suicide have risen exponenitally, with therapists struggling to help people cope. Keeping up with our physical health goes a long way to combating these and other mental health challenges. One Harvard study showed that those who ran 15 min per day, or walked 60 min per day had a 26% decline in depression. 
  

• Having routines is important. In speaking with many of my clients, one of the biggest challenges faced while being ‘locked down’ is the lack of routine. With work space/time bleeding over into family space/time bleeding into school space /time, it's been tough to find a rhythm to this new way of life. However, those who have been able to find a routine tend to feel more productive and happy. Personally, I’ve found it easier to get up early and get in my workouts before family time begins as my wife and little one get up. Then I start my workday.
  

• Embrace your new normal. I remember getting some great advice as a young missionary living in Central America 20+ years ago. I was experiencing some homesickness, and struggling with some aspects of living in the 3rd world. I had constantly been comparing things to my life back in the US, and as a result I had a bad attitude about life in Honduras. However, a wise friend living there gave me some advice that stuck with me and is applicable in our current situation. He said, “Change your attitude! You are Honduran now! This is your home.” It seems simple and trite, but it was extremely impactful to me- his counsel to forget the ‘old way’ and embrace my new environment. When I did that, I instantly began to see things a bit differently and my attitude completely changed for the better. My time spent there is still one of the most impactful and life-changes experiences of my life. As we pivot and face a ‘new normal’, we can also adjust our attitudes and truly thrive in this new environment. 
  

• Everything takes a backseat to your health. Now more than ever, we see how important physical health is. The data is clear- the COVID-19 virus overwhelmingly affects people with preexisting conditions at a much greater rate than healthy individuals. I know too many people that wait too long until they get serious about their health. And when physical health fails, no amount of money, power, or time banked at the office is going to help. Taking the time now to really get serious about a healthy lifestyle is time well spent. 
  

• Take time to be grateful. As the headlines announce the latest COVID-19 death tolls, infection rates, or lockdown policies, our family has certainly gained some perspective. While we have certainly been inconvenienced due to restrictions and diminished income, overall we are extremely blessed. We are all healthy, have adequate food, financial stability, and a roof overhead. This has been a powerful lesson in gratitude and clarity. Take the time to step back and appreciate the gifts that we all have- life, health, family/friends, faith...the list goes on! Enjoy that time together and appreciate the small things that bring us joy. 
  

I’m grateful for these and other lessons I’ve learned during the Pandemic and subsequent lockdown. These 6 and many others can help give us perspective as we move forward. As life slowly begins to return to ‘normal’, hopefully we remember what we’ve learned and apply it in daily life.