Coming Together While Being Apart: What We Can Learn From COVID-19 + How We Can Support Each Other
I’ve never been to a supermarket to find empty shelves before. Fear and uncertainty all over the news, the streets —and in the big lines at Costco. Anxiety taking over… If you ask me if I’m afraid of getting sick, I’ll tell you not at all. But I am worried about the financial situation, as well as our mental health after all this social isolation. So in the middle of this crisis that might get worse before it gets better, how can we come together while being apart? How can we support each other as human beings, and as business owners? And what can we all learn from this?
First of all, I’m one more person to tell you: stay home. Wash your hands. And check in on your friends and family. This is a test we’re taking with no grades to be earned at the end. Instead, we need to find the good out of the situation (if you can), and learn as much as we can— about ourselves, and about others. We must stick together. Take care of each other, and have empathy for those who are experiencing a financial emergency or loss in the family.
To those who are experiencing working from home for the first time, you might find out that it isn’t as fun and easy as you thought, and you must have a lot more discipline (especially now with the news trying to get us out of focus, while we still need to be informed). So set up a time, put your phone away if you can, and try the Pomodoro Technique— it might help!
If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t take breaks, this is the perfect time to learn how to do it. Because as much as time is passing the same, it all seems to be going slower as we lock ourselves down in a self-quarantine. Self-care comes in different ways, sometimes watching a show or cooking for yourself can be it.
If you’re experiencing financial loss, try to stay calm and think of options to recover: promotions, sales, etc. Also try to negotiate the bills that are coming up, if you need. Remember that we’re all in this together, myself included, and most of us are losing money— some more than others. It’s important to remember that we’ll be back on our feet. Concentrate on a plan.
It’s incredible how things can change overnight. We only believe it once we experience it. In times like these we understand how important it is to have a back up plan, to have an emergency fund, and to take care of our mental health on a regular basis, so we don’t lose it when s* hits the fan.
As far as supporting each other, this is the time to come together.
A lot of people are using social media to deliver free workshops, uplifting conversations, bring hope to others. But they’re also offering discounts and free online courses (I even got a few here with code SELFCARE) to keep folks sane and entertained. What we can do to support other businesses is share their offers, talk about your favorite products, give a shoutout to the small business owners and local businesses you like and know. And offer something yourself, too.
I’m offering free creative consulting calls (usually $87/h) to help female founders brainstorm ways to get back on their feet, and even to hear them vent. We all need to vent right now, we all need to share our fears as well as get an injection of hope. AND we must ask for help when we need it (which is most of us right now).
