How COVID-19 Is Teaching Us Self-Reliance
…And How We Can Keep it Up After the Pandemic
Photo by Retha Ferguson
The pandemic has given each one of us more challenges than we knew what to do with — in various aspects of life, at that. With these challenges, however, came golden opportunities to learn more about ourselves and our capabilities, too. At the start of lockdown, many cried foul as services and resources were reduced or, in some cases, taken away. However, fast-forward to just a few months later, and people have learned to adapt and pick up invaluable skills along the way — in turn, becoming more self-sufficient and resourceful.
There’s no question that COVID-19, despite its difficulties, has helped many in becoming better versions of themselves. So, whether you’re already in the process of making major life changes because of it, or even just getting started, let’s explore how you can continue on this path of self-reliance, even long after the pandemic.
Take advantage of online resources
If there’s one thing that we can be thankful for in this pandemic, it’s the fact that it happened when modern technology is at its zenith. Because of this, coping with the pandemic has been considerably easier. Thanks to the internet and its many websites and apps, we have been sufficiently entertained and constantly informed while on lockdown. Many have also been able to continue working or studying.
No doubt, among the things that made technology a godsend in this pandemic is the seemingly endless fount of resources that people have been able to access. Because of these, the isolated have been able to learn how to cook and stay healthy in lockdown, and even work out regularly with the help of online classes. Millions of people became familiar with talking to their doctor or their therapist through online appointments. Businesses scrambled to set up employees for remote work, and those employees learned how to harness the internet and stay productive.
Many people even took advantage of the countless tutorials on things such as cutting your own hair, DIY home improvement projects, learning a language — the list could go on and on and on.
Make your online shopping count
Of course, opportunities to do practically all of our shopping online is another thing we were able to appreciate during the lockdown. In fact, online shopping all but guaranteed that people were able to get everything that they needed to eat well, complete projects, continue working, and so much more.
And while it was a rocky start for some, most businesses were able to step so they could provide us with anything we could possibly need. To stay safe and limit contact, we can easily turn to grocery delivery, meal service delivery, curbside pickup, prescription delivery. It’s a new landscape that benefits both businesses and consumers, and one that’s likely to continue.
Choose to do things online as much as you can
Of course, life still does go on, even as the threat of a virus remains. What really drives home this point are certain things that wait for no one or nothing, even COVID-19, such as making a living or an impending move, etc. Thankfully, for the truly resourceful, there are also ways to employ technology to get these all-important things done.
Case in point, if you need to move and can’t put off buying a home any longer, know that buying a home online has become the new normal. Real estate agents have turned to 3D-walkthroughs, virtual open houses, and video-chat tours for both buyers and sellers. There are also plenty of tech tools to apply for mortgages, sign contracts, and the like — essentially, going through the entire house-buying process without the chance of exposure.
Suffice it to say, it is truly survival of the fittest in this pandemic, and not just against the virus. It’s also surviving through inherent human resilience and ingenuity and making use of tools and resources we can access that allows us to continue living our way of life. As a bonus, the skills and knowledge you pick up at this time will serve you long after COVID-19 is gone, too. That, in itself, is incentive enough to embrace the changes.
Guest Blog Post: by Jennifer Scott of spiritfinder.org