So here we are. A COVID-19 national state of emergency where stress levels are at an all-time high and the rules are changing by the minute. Never mind the wild stock market swings, cancelled flights, social distancing, business closures and positive tests. Now we have to suffer through this period of high anxiety with no sports. No NBA. No college basketball championships. No baseball! This must be what they really mean by March madness.
As the Zen masters say, when one door closes another door opens. So let’s think of this a vacation from the constant need to stick to our daily routines. Instead of spending half our waking hours watching sports, reading about sports, or complaining about how bad our home teams are, maybe now we can do something a bit more productive.
We could read a book. Remember when we used to have time for that? Or listen to music, remember how nice that used to be? Or if you are musically inclined you could actually pick up your instrument and play it again, maybe even learn some new songs. We could go for a walk, spend some time at home just hanging out with our spouse or partner, make a few meals at home for a change, or catch up on those movies we never had time to see because we were so busy watching sports.
The point is that our lives will be seriously disrupted for the foreseeable future. Every job, every routine, every day will be different. Our travel plans are shot. Vacations, meetings, conferences, concerts, ball games, plays, art exhibits… they are all on hold. Should you go to the office? Should you take the train or drive? When can your kids go back to school? Can you go to the gym? Can you visit your ailing parents? How in the world can you stop touching your face?
When everything is up in the air, how can we possibly keep our feet on the ground?
Roll with the punches.
Remember that this is temporary. Prepare, don’t panic. Put one foot in front of the other. Focus on what we need to do to get through today and what we will need ready to help us get through tomorrow.
Smile on your brother.
We are all in this together and we need to respond together as a community. What can you do to help your employees, neighbors, friends, family members, clients, and customers get through this crisis? What are they struggling with and how can you make their lives easier? Do you have relevant expertise or wisdom that you can contribute and how can you use that to make a difference?
Keep on singing.
The world may be upside down but it’s not ending. Be resilient. If you get knocked down, bounce back up. Take an old song and make it better. Howl at the moon. We don’t know where we are going but we are going nowhere in a hurry. The choice is clear. We can either spin our wheels or buckle up and enjoy the ride.
If your business or organization finds it daunting to choose the right path in this coronavirus crisis, let us know. As a Denver PR firm that specializes in crisis communication and healthcare, we have years of experience helping clients respond quickly and communicate responsibly to their team and their stakeholders. In the meantime, stay safe and keep others healthy by following basic prevention guidelines.