How to Respond to Sudden Changes in Your Routine

Right when life was humming along… just when you spotted a hint of normal on the horizon… then, the universe delivers a sudden change. Yet again!

It can sure feel that way sometimes, can’t it?

There is an upside that goes with the downside of all the craziness going on out there—but we have to be willing to look for it. We need to have ways to respond to sudden changes in life.

That’s what I’m hoping we can do here… let’s consider the upside and set some bearings for the next few days or so. Then, we’ll check-in again and see where things are. Sound good?

Between a campaign that’s shaping up to be like no other and a virus that may be throwing the world economy into a tailspin, we’ve got some real live drama unfolding.

Since I don’t do politics, we’ll stick to COVID-19 for this post.

I’ve thought about it, scratched my head and wondered… what should we be doing today? Right now?

Let’s remember this first. In some ways, the world is always in a state of change. If it wasn’t, just imagine an UN-changed world for a moment.

Think of your favorite modern convenience whether it’s your smartphone, fresh fruit year-round, or a seat on a jet to anywhere on the planet. All of it—GONE.

A changing world creates all of those ‘just can’t live without’ pleasures.

I once read something by an enlightened, higher-thinking person that we should respond to most sudden changes with no greater reaction than we would to a ‘gust of wind.’

While a nice thought and a thoughtful strategy for most day-to-day disruptions… the COVID-19 coronavirus is clearly becoming more than a gust of wind.

How will you respond to the disruption to your routines?

To the sudden changes? What might help you cope? Here are a few adjustments that may help…

• Remind yourself it’s temporary. And the more we heed good and reasonable advice, the more temporary it will become.
• If you’re not buying it, think for a moment about the cost of being wrong v. the inconvenience of being right.
• Accept that debating won’t likely change the reality of the situation.
• Count on yourself to be able to navigate through both the facts and the craziness. Ask some tough questions.
• Consider the circumstances as an opportunity to do that something you’ve never made time for.

Many of you know that I grew up in Kansas. And what does Kansas have? Toto, Dorothy, wheat, and tornadoes. So, I’m going to share some outright stupidity with you…

As a curious young buck, during a “tornado warning” I was one of the countless many standing on our front porch. You’d find me right next to my dad looking to the west to see if we could see it coming.

Yes, this is a thing people have always done in Tornado Alley.

“But Mom… we’ll see it in time to run to the basement!” It never occurred to either my dad or me that one might spawn out of those churning clouds just overhead. We’d be snatched up in a heartbeat and taken on the flying rollercoaster ride of our lives.

What do not-so-carefully-calculated chances with twisters have to do with a pandemic? Let’s just say there’s a reasonable point at intersection of the vectors of the incessant media hype, a slightly less than warm-fuzzy-feeling-inducing government response, prudent care, and outright disbelief and denial.

Each of us will find our own point of intersection of those competing facts, feelings, and assertions.

I’ve been asking myself a lot of ‘What if?’ questions.

Have you decided on your own countermeasures? Again, think about how you will respond to sudden changes in your world.

Within the coming days and weeks, we’ll all find out how much of a deal COVID-19 really is. We’ll come to know the full impact regardless of what we’re absolutely sure of today.

Yesterday my plan was to continue attending a series of meetings that I found to be very promising for my business. This morning, armed with a bit more reasonable information…

I’ve decided to hit the pause button.

To slow down and make my decisions based on new information and not just emotion driven frustration with the inconvenience of it all.

As simple and elementary as they may sound, the current recommendations for thorough handwashing and social distancing seem to be quite effective in reducing infection rates.

In a few days, more information will come to light and will help us decide how long to pause.

Until then, maybe it’s a good idea to err on the side of caution?

Be safe… Be well… Be untucked.

Thanks for dropping by LifeUntucked. If you enjoyed this post be sure to share it with a friend. 

A couple of more posts about change… 

Has Your World Become Too Ordinary? A Little ‘Mayhem’ Could Help…

Everything Changes—Are You Brave Enough to Let It?

Copyright © 2020 Jeff Meister – All Rights Reserved