The world seems to be freaking out about COVID-19. People are stockpiling toilet paper and meat. The kids are home from school. If you can work from home, you’re working from home. Literally everything that once filled our lives has been shut down. Every day we’re reminded that we’re living in a real-life game of Pandemic (this gis map is fascinating, btw), and I find that game to be very hard to win.
But I’ve already noticed that there are some things that are distinctly better because of this outbreak. So, let’s all take a moment to focus on the upside of COVID-19, shall we?
1. Companies are learning how to do remote work
Even today, with the world of technology at our fingertips, culture, industry, reliance on hardware, teaming norms, services and other obligations have made it impossible or discouraged to work from home at many companies. I currently work at the only place in my entire 15-year tech career where most of the team works on-site in Madison, WI. Everywhere else has been distributed country or world-wide. COVID-19 has forced us to take a hard look at what we need to actually be a distributed team. Some people need hardware. Some need ergonomic equipment or another monitor. Our contractors need special VPN access. You name a problem and we’re working through it. This doesn’t just apply to us or the tech industry in general. Everyone is coming up with creative solutions so they can work from home. Do you think you need to go see a doctor? First, try the virtual option.
Once we’ve worked out the kinks across the board, we’ll be better able to continue business as usual from home when we need to. No matter whether the reason is a public health crisis or just that we need to run an errand and it’s closer to home. The world of work is getting more flexible and many organizations are being forced to be better places to work because of COVID-19.
2. Our hygiene habits are WAY better
Were you as shocked as I was by how long 20 seconds of hand-washing really is? I now count to “20-one-thousand” every time I wash my hands and by the time this crisis is over, that’s going to be ingrained as a habit. Most people I know have commented on how hard it is to not touch our faces, but we’re trying. One of my kids is making a real effort to stop picking her nose. Let’s face it (pun unintended), we’re much more aware of the types of actions that are going to keep us healthy these days. Helpful suggestions are splashed everywhere in the news and we see people changing what they do. These new habits will keep us healthier for years to come.
3. You’ve been relieved of all of your obligations
As a parent, I often find myself overwhelmed with the things I’ve packed into my family’s lives. But now, literally every obligation I had has been cancelled. From swimming lessons to school to going to the gym. I can’t do a single one of these things. And you know what? It’s extremely freeing. Our morning routine this morning was over before we knew it. We don’t have to drive anywhere or pack lunches. There’s a lot of stress associated with our daily routines and a short break is very welcome.
This is actually one of the tricks I use when coaching people on how to simplify their lives. Start by getting rid of all of your obligations and then only add in the ones that are truly meaningful to you. This concept of picking a small number of truly important things to do, called essentialism, is described in depth in Greg McKeown’s book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. We have an interesting chance here to rearchitect our lives when this is over. What will you choose to add back?
4. We’re (probably) going to save some money
If you are a parent that can work from home and your work is flexible enough to allow you to balance everything (because we have no choice), you’re probably going to save some money. Swimming lessons get canceled? Next month is prorated. Child care is obliterated? There goes my most expensive monthly child-related expense. Want to go out to eat? You can’t. Sure, we spent a bunch of money up-front at Costco, but we’ll eventually eat all of those granola bars anyway.
5. Everywhere you go is less crowded
OK, at this point you probably shouldn’t be going anywhere, but a couple days ago before the guidance to stay home got incredibly strong, doing normal things like going to the gym became downright blissful. In a couple of weeks, when we do need to emerge again to grab a few groceries, the risk of contracting COVID-19 will be lower because almost everyone will still be in their houses.
6. As a country, we’re being humbled by Coronavirus and we’re learning
Our response in the United States to Coronavirus wasn’t just bad, it was maybe the worst response of any country worldwide. Why are we so cocky as to assume that bad things only happen to the rest of the world? Thank goodness the death rate for COVID-19 is only 3-4%. It could have been much worse. We’re learning. We’re adjusting. We’re putting processes in place that we can repeat if necessary. So that the next time something like this happens, we will remember what worked and what didn’t. We’ve got a long ways to go, but we’ll get there.