The Flip Side

So many things during this pandemic have been scary and negative: the overwhelming sense of something big and bad coming, the all present not-knowing of a new virus run amuck in the modern world, the fear for loved ones’ near and far, the anxiety of wondering if each decision made was the right one. It’s easy to get sucked into the down side of life and just stay there, wallowing in the worry.

I’ve tried a number of things during the last six months to flip the coin over and see the positive side. I’ve learned to meditate (+), stuffed it down (-), exercised (+), drank alcohol more frequently (-), and talked to others (+). Some tactics were successful at short term control over my (negative) reactions to the current situation, some clearly better in the long term, all helped me get through.

Pandemic chefs at work…mom and dad did the dishes!

Along the way, I have appreciated those good things that would not have existed sans COVID-19. Without a pandemic, there would not have been so much time at home with my family, including my college-age son who returned to live with us (and cook for us!) for an unexpected and delightful five months. My practice wouldn’t have established (and polished!) telehealth workflows. I would not have had time to contribute to a network of community partners in my county. If society was not forced to limit the size of our gatherings, my teams would never have been motivated to sort out remote all-staff solutions or productive web-based meetings. In the absence of #StayHomeStaySafe, I would have missed the opportunity to optimize my work from home skills.

What I wish for most is that we all take the learnings from this pandemic and put them to good use once it is over. Personally, I’ve started a list of things to carry forward: I will make thoughtful decisions about which meetings require travel and which could be just as effective and more efficient if I attended remotely with the aid of technology. I will use telehealth in my practice to increase access and decrease inconvenience for my patients. I will work from home more frequently, as I have learned I am less distracted and achieve more during a day spent in solitude. I will budget time for exercise every day, which gives me a sense of accomplishment and relieves my stress. As chaotic and crazy as this life has been in 2020, if all people and organizations make similar plans for post-pandemic times, it is possible to see the flip side.