Making the Best of Quarantining during COVID-19

In the midst of a global pandemic, it is now the perfect time to reflect on your life while being quarantined. Many of us have unfortunately been laid off, furloughed, or are worried about the security of our jobs or businesses. In some cases, we are working-from-home if our employer allows for this opportunity. Most of us, who aren’t essential workers, are getting more time back in our day to focus on ourselves and our families for the first time in a long time. Many thanks to all of the essential workers, healthcare professional and first responders out there in our world, who are working tirelessly to save lives and putting themselves and their families in danger to fight this pandemic. We are so grateful for your compassion and sacrifices.

Prior to COVID-19 taking over our lives, our culture has always thrived on being busy and on-the-go. We've hardly had the time to stop and think about whether we are happy with where we are at in life. I, myself, have had plenty of time to mull over my thoughts and feelings. During this quarantine, I have found a sense of satisfaction by staying productive to accomplish the smallest of tasks. It is not in my nature to be stagnant a.k.a. a couch potato, although that does sound quite lovely. I typically feel a deep sense of guilt if I am not doing something that is adding value to my life or those around me. I am the true definition of a busybody and have been told too many times to truly embrace this time for fun and relaxation, but I am constantly wanting to better myself and build a better future. With this in mind, it is tough to not sit still.

Since March, I’ve worked on various hobbies and projects like learning to play the guitar, cooking new ethnic dishes, working on my vegetable garden, painting kindness rocks, completing new workouts, and even starting this new passion project with my youngest sister in an effort to give back to our Khmer community. I have also de-cluttered and re-organized my entire home for the first time in 5 years and completed some home projects that have always been on the back burner. I've also spent some time to really think about where I want to take the next phase of my life, personally and professionally. I am a planner, so envisioning where I want to take my life within the next 3-5 years, excites me. I like starting a new chapter of my life with a blank slate and coming up with new ideas and possibilities of what I could tackle and achieve.

During this pandemic, I have had some life altering experiences, like managing a virtual team without ever having met them in-person and relying on making connections through phone calls since we weren’t able to use our webcams to discovering the truest colors of some of my closest friends when it came down to sharing our stances on human rights. Through these experiences, I have learned so much more about myself. I have learned that I am capable of being a great leader despite not being physically present. I have learned the importance of educating myself about topics I’m not familiar on before passing judgment or choosing a side. I have learned that difficult and unexpected circumstances happen for a reason. Challenging times teaches us lessons. It either brings out the best or worst in us. Failures sometimes cause us to pivot to purposely make room for bigger, greater things in life.

To kick off this first blog post, I want to remind you that if you are not happy with your life, think about some changes you are able to implement in your life immediately. Some quick wins you are able to achieve within the next few weeks. Then, take action. Enroll in a course or program if you want to learn a new skill or advance in your education. Research positions or industries that you think is better suited for you. Remove any toxic people in your life who are doing more harm to you than good. By making small incremental, positive steps that are achievable, you will get closer to your end goals. I know it's easier said than done. But, trust me, as a Project Manager, everything is achievable if you break them down into small, bite-sized tasks to make them more manageable. I’ve always believed that anything is possible if we are consistent and put work into what we want to accomplish. You will always get somewhere by being proactive and taking charge of your life. Let’s use this time to improve on ourselves to come out of this quarantine stronger than we were from the start. 

Best of luck & stay safe,
Mellissa

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