Coronavirus Tales: Uh-Oh, There’s Finally Time for That
And just like that our back burner issues have suddenly scooted up to the front burner demanding our attention — a precarious state to be in. Like never before have we all been forced to live in the “got around” of the “get around to it” zone.
Let’s admit it. We may have pushed some stuff into that abyss hoping it would be forgotten. Perhaps aspirations of a better self, job and life teetered on the edge and the cat pawed it off just to see it fall. If you haven’t realized it by now, we are living a reality where we now have time on our hands…and what a gift this can be.
When I became a work-at-homer years ago, I relished each and every awakening to the time-savers afforded to me. None went unnoticed and each was celebrated. When you’re self-employed you’re the boss, the cheerleader, and at times, the one on an action plan due to productivity issues. The gamification of time management has always kept me on track and has become a sport that counts towards my daily exercise requirements, sort of.
Those new to the game of work-at-home may be realizing that it is possible to make time for things or find time where you doubted it existed. Allow me to also point out that more time equals more freedom. Now that’s a new math we can all get behind.
For those half-filled glass folks viewing this recent confinement as torture, let’s identify the gifts of time and freedom that currently fill and overflow your glass. After all, you’ve got to use those hoarded paper towels for something.
So, you wake up, go to the bathroom, contemplate if pajamas are business casual, brush your teeth and, tah-dah! You are magically gifted close to an hour and a half of extra time. There’s no more prepping your outfit to face free-floating workplace scrutiny, and no dreaded commute that’s killing your soul micro-chunks at a time.
Breaks are way more productive. Instead of commiserating about lunch locations with friends you can swap your laundry from the washer to the dryer earning time saving points with each load. In these transactions alone you save time, lunch money, and you’re laundry gets done. When I worked in a cubical city I spent a lot of time chatting about life-changing events (aka nonsense) with my co-workers. I now use that time to wash my car, fix toilets, spray paint door knobs, and complete legitimate photo shoots with my dog. I could go on, but that wouldn’t be productive.
Your lunches somehow stick closer to the standard 30–45 minutes or less. It pays to mention the freedom you now have to eat what you want? If you haven’t discovered it already salad dressing can be considered a beverage. Launching a smelly cloud of microwaved fish is totally acceptable. And licking the drip of mustard off your shirt carries absolutely no shame. Your house. Your rules. Freedom!
Afternoon grazing for communal food discards from someone’s weekend party are no longer on the agenda. That hunting process will always be a time waster even if you really needed to eat your feelings subsequent to a run-in with a customer. Yes, you may still participate in food therapy, but now the distance between you and a snack ranges from a few steps to as little as the length of your arm.
The above is just a snapshot of possibilities. By the end of each day you could feasibly generate anywhere from two to four hours, by the end of the week 10 to 20, by the end of the month 20 to 40. Who could have guessed that a deadly pandemic would be the factor that gave us the time we’ve been seeking. We have the privilege to decide how it will be parceled and utilized for maximum impact.
Twinges of guilt aside, we may discover that many things in our life have been waiting in the wings starving for attention. This could be your kids, self-care, the dusty guitar in the corner, or fill in the blank. As we take a good long look we may notice those things have almost become one dimensional, like a lifeless cardboard cut-out needing some sort of resuscitation. But see, that’s okay. You’ve got time.
The sound of opportunity knocking has always been music to my ears. I hope you can hear it too. Once we individually and as a nation reach our point of maximum medical improvement we get to make the next decision: will we seize the opportunity to address the things that matter, pull and keep them on the front burner and feed our life with meaning?
Don’t let the gift of time during this temporary pause pass you by. The “If I just had more time” excuse is officially off the table. Time is, and always will be a currency that not all of us are afforded. When we have it in front of us beckoning the best parts of ourselves to come into the light, we must realize this is our time to shine. The lights are on and we are definitely home.
A NOTE FROM ANNE: Look forward to more Coronavirus Tales during these unpredictable times. My goal is to throw thought biscuits out to readers to relate to, and provide insights, humor, compassion, kindness, life tips for the newly work-at-homes, snark, and opportunities to examine our values, thoughts and behaviors. Our full spectrum of thoughts, feelings and emos are what help us gain perspective during difficult times. I shall do my best to help.
