How Social Distancing Has Helped Me Gain Perspective On My Life
If you're an extrovert reading this, beware, you're going to dislike me.
In a world of lockdowns and human distancing, it's shined a light on my life.
I, of course, am an introvert.
I could spend weeks away from people. After hours of socializing with others, I need time to disconnect, or I get edgy.
I don't miss going out to restaurants, commuting to work, running errands, or the social aspect of how others live.
Regardless of my introversion, this time has allowed me to gain a new perspective on my life, and maybe they ring true for you.
I've cut wasteful time and replaced it with high-quality activities.
Commuting to the office is the bane of my existence. I hate it.
When I commute, I listen to podcasts and audiobooks, so I call it my rolling university, but I still hate it.
It's a giant waste of time.
I'm likely not the only one who feels this way, so I've been on a mission to create a mobile team where 95% of my companies team members can work from anywhere in the world.
We're close to achieving that.
Once I cut out the wasteful commuting and the unnecessary conversations, I've regained two to three hours of my day.
This is time I'm reinvesting into strategic thinking, writing, and executing on my most important priorities.
These are high-leverage activities for me.
How are you reinvesting your time?
It's allowed me to focus on my unique strengths.
We all have unique strengths.
One of my biggest strengths is being an innovative problem-solver.
During these difficult times, I've been in problem-solving mode, revising strategies, coordinating cash reserves, orchestrating teams, and preparing for a possible tough twelve-month ride.
I get it, that's not your unique strength.
That's why you're unique.
What unique strength are you harnessing?
Time with my family is SO important.
My family is the second most important thing in my life.
What's my number one?
My health, because without me, I'm nothing, and I can't be who I need to be.
During this time, I have activities with my family, all day long:
They yell for me when they wake up, I run to the room and jump on the bed as they hide under the covers.
We play Nerf guns all day, and Nico is always the bad guy.
I watch my oldest son learn virtually through educational apps and videos.
We eat lunch together at 12:30 pm, outside.
We go for nightly hikes in the local trails.
There's nothing in my family's life that I'm missing, and I love every second of it.
What's most important in your life, and how are you focusing on it?
Being outside is therapy.
It's incredible to see how nature is thriving when humans aren't pissing all over it.
I'm nervous once this pandemic is over, we'll all get complacent once again. We should take time to do our part to help nature thrive.
What I've learned is that I need outdoors. I need to run and play in the forest. Being outside is my therapy.
The fresh air, the green trees, the beautiful sky, this is missing in most of our lives.
Every day, my family and I hike on local trails, play in parks, and experience what nature has in store for us.
A 2020 goal of mine was to take my family camping. This time has made my goal even more clear.
What are you doing to harness a vital area of your life?
These are the perspectives I've gained over the last few weeks, but they'll be perspectives that I carry forever.
How about you?
