The 2020 pandemic took the country by surprise. Many people lost their small businesses, income, and quality of life. However, there’s always a silver lining. Some positive things happened and many people will be much happier moving forward.
New Beginnings
Many people put off pursuing their dreams of self-employment prior to the pandemic. They regarded the move as too risky. They may have had a pretty good job that provides a steady paycheck and healthcare benefits. Then the virus came along, and many of these same people found themselves with an uncertain future.
Thoughts of becoming unemployed caused enormous amounts of stress. Some of these same people decided to pursue other careers. For instance, if their interest was becoming a self-employed interior decorator, they signed up for classes at an interior decorator school. Others looked for freelancing jobs online. Some started making plans but didn’t take the leap yet. Whatever their circumstances, the pandemic provided them with the push they needed to pursue their dreams.
Quality Family Time
Working parents can sometimes fall short when it comes to family bonding, especially when their careers are demanding. Their days are hectic from the time they wake up until they turn in for the evening. When the pandemic created the initial two-week lockdown in many places and caused everyone to shelter in place, parents had more time to spend with their loved ones.
Initially, the home environment was anything but ideal. Children who were normally attending school were at home and parents who worked at the office were trying to juggle their family while working from home. The two-weeks turned into many months and relationships began to take a positive development. Parents with nowhere to be now had time to cook family meals and return to the simple enjoyments of life. As each day passed, family bonds grew stronger. Lost time is no longer something families will do without. Backyard campouts, movie and game nights and long bike rides are now a part of their lives. It was an incredible time for many people.
Finances Matter
Unfortunately, too many people live paycheck to paycheck. The pandemic took a toll on a large percentage of the working class that had little or no savings. The takeaway is to have money in reserves for unexpected events. Life happens and in order to maintain a good quality of life, they realize they need to be prepared. Creating a household budget lets them track spending and establish savings. Reducing debt and living within or below their means became a priority.
Time is Precious
There are no do-overs in life. The pandemic taught everyone that living each day to its fullest is non-negotiable. Many people have a renewed interest in remaining in contact with distant relatives and close friends. They vowed to no longer put off family gatherings when the pandemic is over and will take the opportunity to play catch with their kids.
Health
There are two things money can’t buy: health and happiness. Fortunately, early detection of most serious illnesses or diseases increases the odds of a full recovery. The virus caused the early demise of many loved ones. Anyone with a compromised system was at a greater risk for death. It made millions of people realize they needed to start taking better care of themselves if they were going to have a long life ahead of them. Even a lot of younger people are more acutely aware of how short life is and are scheduling appointments to see doctors and get an annual checkup.
People have also taken the time to get into shape. Inactivity can cause people to put on a few extra pounds. That’s awful because only 10 pounds over their recommended weight can cause stress on their bodies and put them at an increased risk for future health problems. They began eating healthy diets and exercising at least three to four times weekly to help to shed the extra weight and keep them healthy.
You may never experience a pandemic again in your lifetime. As businesses begin to open and life starts to return to normal, it’s important to remember what happened and implement the positive lessons learned.
