Actions to take during uncertain times

It’s undeniable that we are going through times of great uncertainty, just a few weeks ago we were joking about Friday the 13^th, we would receive our checks a couple of times a month and perhaps we were making travel plans for Spring Break, Holy Week, Summer, etc. 

And suddenly, only a few days after, we are in complete uncertainty.  We don’t really know what’s happening, many businesses, especially small ones, are closing, cutting staff, and maybe you’re wondering if you’re going to have a job next month and on top of these questions there’s the stress and even fear about what’s going to happen tomorrow.

Like in any unexpected situation, we go through a moment of shock (we don’t understand what’s happening), after a period of denial ("this is not going to happen to me”) or the opposite, many people panicked and that’s the reason for the incredible lack in the supply of toilet paper (I still don’t have a clue what toilet paper has to do with this disease, but that’s what happened).  

After the anger phase (“why do I have to stay at home, why do I have to do what I’m told, where is my freedom”) many people entered, or are still entering, a period of depression, (“I feel trapped, they took away my freedom, this is so unfair, I won’t be able to move forward after this great loss”) and finally we enter the acceptance phase, recognizing that what’s happening is a fact, that things changed overnight, and that it’s within us to make the best of the situation. 

If you haven’t gotten to that stage yet, we invite you to get there.  It doesn’t do us any good to complain, there are things we cannot control, as Zig Ziglar said, “It’s not your aptitude, but your attitude, that determines your altitude”, So I want to ask you “how high do you want to climb despite the circumstances?

It’s been proven that times of crisis are when we show what we’re made of, and for the good of humanity it’s beautiful to watch how much support has been shown among many of us.  Personally, I’ve had to live through some crisis situations, one of them was the tragic earthquake in Mexico City in 1985, when thousands died and many businesses disappeared, at that time I was working in the construction industry and I saw firsthand how the unity among people enabled us to move forward.  After the economic downturn in 2008, I was working in the automotive industry at the time, which was directly affected by it, and again I saw how, when we all united, we were able to overcome that situation, and this one will not be the exception. 

It’s true that the lower we fall, the harder it is to recover, but it’s not impossible, it all depends on our attitude.  Fear is reactive, but your clear thinking and your capacity to adapt is what is going to help you forge ahead.  

So breathe!

Yes, take a breath…in fact, take another one. 

Be assured that everything will be all right.  This too shall pass and some day you will remember this period of your life and you will be proud of how you persevered.  

Making decisions while panicked or impulsive ones don’t lead to success in the long run.  Keep following your routine and stay informed, but responsibly, don’t stay glued to the television or social networks, since that will only generate anxiety and panic, which is more contagious than the current virus. 

The world has beaten viruses and infections in the past, and we will also beat this one!   The elements you should focus on at this time are government regulations, act intelligently, stay in line with social distancing and keep surfaces clean.  During this global quarantine, we want to make sure that you use your time at home as a blessing, to enjoy your family and as an excellent chance to make progress on your projects and sharpen the saw.  

Remember the many times we’ve asked why goals are not met, and they’ve told us “lack of time”, well, now we have time so go for it.  

It’s very important that you concentrate on your mental health.  Being at home for several days alters your normal routine and behaviors.  Consistency is key.  Follow the steps below to help you stay focused! 

1. Keep setting your alarm to wake up at the same time you used to, however, make sure that you have slept 8 hours.
2. Take a shower and get dressed! Wear your normal outfits and start your day as you normally would. Believe it or not, this is crucial, it sounds silly but if you don’t follow your grooming routine you will feel depressed and it will affect your self-esteem. 
3. Exercise. Take advantage of these next few weeks to get in shape, not having enough time is not an excuse anymore. Although it’s true that gyms are closed at the moment, you can perfectly go outside to walk, run, ride a bike, skate, etc., plus the air quality is great right now without pollution, (one of the advantages of people not going out). 
4. Make the most of this time and spend time with the family. How long has it been since you’ve enjoyed time with your family? Taught your children some new skills, helped them with their school work, played with them?  Talk about how to stay healthy and how to wash up and avoid germs.  This helps guarantee that older children have an idea of what’s going on and can do their part. 
5. How about organizing your home? Now is a good time to deep clean your house, choose the things you want to donate and fix what you need to repair, remember that Google and YouTube are your best friends. Yet you don’t want to tackle specialized projects that can be dangerous if you don’t know how to do them. 
6. Very important, don’t use this quarantine time to eat everything that’s within reach! It can be fun at the beginning, to eat the extra things that are in the house and fill up with food, but do it within your nutrition plan. It’s very easy to overeat and binge on the couch, spending a lot of time being inactive. 
7. Be careful with your alcohol consumption as well. It’s not a coincidence that in countries with extreme weather and where people cannot leave their homes much, there are high levels of alcoholism. Increasing alcohol consumption lowers the immune system and makes it more susceptible to contracting the virus. 
8. Spend time outdoors. As Spring approaches, the weather will get warmer, which will allow you to partake in outdoor activities (keeping social distancing in mind). Additionally, more exposure to sunlight increases Vitamin D production, which helps your immunity protection.  A double benefit!   
9. As we mentioned already, stay informed but not glued to the television. The news media is a business. They want you to keep watching. This means that they will headline or emphasize the negative to keep you in panic mode.  Take a break.  Find something fun and pleasant to watch.  There are many channels with great content.  
10. Take advantage of the opportunity that many museums and libraries around the world are letting you download free content, here we leave you with some of the links:  

Virtual tours 

San Diego Zoo  https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/ 

Yellowstone National Park https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm 

The Louvre https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne 

The Great Wall of China https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china 

Boston Children’s Museum https://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/museum-virtual-tour 

Free books on Amazon https://eloutput.com/noticias/ofertas/libros-gratis-amazon-marzo-2020/ 

Art Books on PDF https://www.yaconic.com/descarga-gratis-3000-libros-de-arte-en-pdf/?fbclid=IwAR1do5XATheTnAe8RClf90omWDZAysAu5kIgE_GOfuuAgYsEa6K6La5gWek 

So remember, it’s not the aptitude but the attitude that defines your altitude.

It’s up to you to make the best of this situation and come out of it on top. We are sure that that’s the way it will be

 © 2020, All Rights Reserved, Aldin Consulting Group, LLC.
Alicia Díaz-Blevins
[email protected]
www.aldingroup.com
www.emprendedordeexito.com