The Gift of Less
In just a few unprecedented weeks, we have seen entire industries and supply chains shut down leaving millions of individuals unemployed. Businesses that are positioned to remain operational are now rethinking their entire strategy from top to bottom and just like us at home, many are looking to offload unnecessary expenses. It’s purely a “need vs want” circumstance. Everyone, across the board is asking, how do we exist with less?
For most, the thought of operating with less, is a scary sentiment. Less income leading to less freedom, less live entertainment, less fancy things, less dining out. Adding in less socializing and less overall certainty. Concurrently however, we have less distractions, traffic, reduced smog, office politics, wasted time, less money spent on gas, parking tickets and non-essentials.
By forcing the nation to operate with less, we have actually gained more. More time.
More time with family - I’ve seen neighbors playing with their kids in the yard that I haven’t seen outside in years.
More time to work - cutting out traffic can add about two hours a day to many working citizens. This extra time can be used to strategize and act upon new ideas, strengthen relationships, learn new skills (webinars anyone?), etc.
More time to be creative - from fixing the house to picking up a musical instrument, cultivating a new art and/or brushing up on old ones.
More time to read, learn, explore, self-improve.
Of course, there will always be individuals who will manage to miss the “gift of less” message by spending the majority of this gift of time on netflix, more time spent worrying and more time unaccounted for and wasted.
We should all know for certain that the Corona Virus will have an end date. And although things will never be quite the same as they once were, you can rest assured that soon enough the 405 in Los Angeles will go right back to being one of the most congested freeways in the world and we humans will be a part of the matrix once again. Hopefully, with a new lease on the life and time we’re given.
Take advantage of this time. Build, grow, learn, explore and become better. Who knows, maybe this will be a trend that you'll continue for the rest of your life.