5 ways to Cope with the Coronavirus Quarantine

As we enter into the second full week of remote work, I’d like to provide some encouragement as well as a few helpful resources (from my company page) as you get adjusted to a “new normal” for at least the short-term future.  While we are all going through this pandemic crisis together and responding as best we can to the onslaught of constant information, I believe it’s helpful to revisit some guiding principles with respect to both investments and life.

Stay Level Headed

First and foremost, don’t panic.  We are all going through this together and just like a healthy body, history shows that healthy economies return.  Proper investing means always taking a view to the long term and that’s sage advice for our personal lives as well.  Avoid the temptation to fixate on today’s market fluctuations and news cycle.  They are just one scene in a long story.

Focus on Things Above

Our minds are our most powerful resource for dealing with these trying times.  What we focus on and feed it with will directly affect our ability to cope with the onslaught of negative news.  Take time to consider all of the things that you have to be thankful for.  Make a list and count your blessings.  Use gratitude as a means to fight negativity.

Do Not Forsake Your Own Assembling Together

As we adjust to a new work environment, meaning home of many of us, it’s important to stay connected to avoid feelings of isolation and to prioritize relationships.  We consider it a blessing to live in a time where technology provides us the ability to easily communicate with friends and loved ones.  Take this time to reach out to others, particularly those you know of who may be particularly isolated.   If you’re not familiar with some of the tools that make this possible, like Zoom, we’d be glad to discuss some options with you.

A God Provided Reallocation of Your Life

One of the most cited cultural complaints today is how busy we all are.  Consider it a gift to be forced to slow down and use our time to think about what your priorities are.  Remember those resolutions you may have made at the first of the year?  Perhaps this is a “do-over” including extra time to turn those resolutions into habits.

They Will Know You Are My disciples By The Love You Have For One Another

Take the opportunity to focus on healthy relationships within your own family.  Many of us suddenly have our entire family together under one roof.  What a great opportunity to take advantage of, but also a time to practice patience and grace towards one another.   There are many resources being shared for families to take advantage of them and we will be continuing to add them to our own resources page.

I’ll close with this quote from an essay by C.S. Lewis’ called, On Living in the Atomic Age, with some obvious similarities to a pandemic and wise advice:

“The first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb, when it comes, find us doing sensible and human things — praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts — not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs.”