Balancing Act

Managing Covid-19 and the economy is going to be a balancing act. Once we have reached and passed the peak of this first wave of infections, it is likely that we will experience a rise and fall of cases in a rollercoaster pattern for the next year (potentially longer, if we see a return every winter season like other contagious viral infections). 

What I, personally, expect to see is that restrictions are lightened when cases are consistently trending downwards. The most vulnerable will have to be cautious long-term, but social distancing requirements will likely lessen to a certain extent. Then, there will likely be another surge of cases (ideally fewer than this first wave), where distancing requirements will become more strict again to ensure the capability of our health system to handle the increase. 

Many will have a plan in place to be able to work from home if this happens. More pressure will be put on companies and employees to have a 'pandemic-backup-plan' in place so that people can continue working and making money even while isolating, or even to have staggering shifts so that fewer people are working within an office setting at a time. 

Life may not return back to the 'normal' we had become so accustomed to. It may resemble it, but with key changes and adjustments for the next year or two. 

What it gives us is an opportunity to adjust our thinking - what, in our lives, in our companies, in our homes are actually essential? How can we ease stress and prepare for such situations before they happen so that it does not become such a blow? How can we protect our employees, our businesses, and our most vulnerable? 

There are many changes that will be positive - for the environment, for variability, for stress levels, and for expectations. Other changes will be horribly difficult. We are still smack-dab in the thick of it, so we will not know the full extent of the impact on our world until the bulk of the crisis has passed. 

Things are hard. 

They are hard for nearly everyone. 

As an alternative to the constant sense of stress and worry, what changes are you actually looking forward to? What policies and adjustments to our daily living do you think will eventually have a positive impact?