The “New Normal” coined by tech investor Roger McNamee in 2003, later used for the financial crisis of 2007-2008 and now today with the COVID-19 pandemic. But in this new normal, not just the stock market is affected. Every human being on the planet earth has to live a different lifestyle. This virus is forcing us to adapt our lifestyles around it. How selfish?!
At the end of the day, the only thing we can do is focus on ourselves and adapt. Darwin himself once said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” With Darwin’s advice in mind, I’ve put together tips to assist you in you’re evolution process.
1
Re-Evaluate Your Life
At the beginning of the year, my goals were to buy a new house and get a higher paying job. And after the pandemic, these two main goals went out the window. I’m now unemployed and working hard to kickstart my freelance writing career. When our company switched to working remotely, the time I spent made me realize that I thrived in that environment and enjoyed the freedoms that came with it. So I quit my job and started re-evaluating my goals for my new business endeavor. It doesn’t matter that I won’t buy that house because my focus has shifted to what’s important to me.
How has the pandemic affected you personally and what goals can you set to align with this new lifestyle? Here are more questions you can ask to re-evaluate yourself.
2
Go outside and stay active
Research has shown that going outside reduces depressive symptoms. I’m not saying we’re all depressed now, but I was feeling down when professional sports got postponed. If you’re worried about exposing yourself, then wear a mask and take a walk in your neighborhood or a nearby park. By wearing a mask and trying your best to social distance from others, you’re safe to see green trees and blue skies. For the adventurous types, take a vacation! Just be safe and make sure you check with your hotel or Airbnbs to see if they are following the COVID-19 guidelines.
3
Save and Invest
Do you see more money in your account because of canceled plans and stimulus money? If you are in the same boat as me, then this is a great time to start thinking about long-term investments.
There are many free stock trading platforms such as Robinhood and TD Ameritrade. This opportunity doesn’t mean you should become a day trader, which is incredibly risky for new investors. Keep in mind the long-term capital gains tax—a lower tax on profits from the sale of an asset held for more than a year. If you were to sell an investment held less than a year, your earnings would be taxed based on your state income tax.
Here are general investment tips and try to diversify your portfolio to minimize risk. Please don’t make the same mistake as me and put all your money into the stock market. Hard metals such as gold, ETFs, and even cryptocurrency are all viable options.
4
Meditate
“We’re not ignoring, chasing, or rejecting thoughts. We’re seeing them clearly, acknowledging them, and letting go.” – Andy Puddicombe, Headspace Co-Founder
I like this quote because someone new to meditation might think, “I MUST STOP ALL THOUGHTS!” No, silly, that’s impossible because our brain is always thinking. It’s about letting that thought or any negative emotion fly in one ear and out the other and being attentive to your breathing.
Meditation has proven to increase life satisfaction and reduce anxiety. My driving rage is almost at zero. I used to curse and honk at bad drivers excessively, but through meditation, I’ve started to notice when anger or other negative emotions arise and not react outwardly. Give it a shot! There’s nothing to lose here.
I’m a yearly Headspace subscriber myself because any meditation app is great for learning different meditation techniques such as visualization and the body scan. Or take the free route and learn from YouTube University.
My Guided Meditation YouTube Playlist
5
Learn something new
Do you find yourself scrolling Netflix for 30 minutes, and there’s STILL nothing to watch? I’ve been using my extra free time learning how to play the piano! Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn an instrument, a second language, or sew. The list is endless!
6
Socialize
ESPECIALLY you extroverts! Humans are a communicative species, and in isolation, we go stir-crazy. I’d recommend interacting with friends or family at least once a week. Please be wary of who your friends and family have been in contact with within the last 14 days. Are they symptomatic? Most of my friends and family work from home, don’t go out to bars and have been wear masks regularly.
7
Watch Sports or a Reality Show
Once you can get past the empty seats, having sports back normalizes things. So crack a beer, sit back and act like none of this ever happened. If you’re not into sports, Big Brother Season 22 started recently. No masks, no social distancing, and of course, the juicy drama that comes with any reality show.
8
Read
Warren Buffet, one of the greatest investors of our time, reads about 500 pages a day. “I read and think,” Buffett once said. “So I do more reading and thinking and make less impulse decisions than most people in business. I do it because I like this kind of life.”
I find finishing a book to be a lot more satisfying than binge-watching a show in a day (felt disgusted with myself for about a week). Right now, my goal is about 10 pages a day, so be realistic to not set yourself up for failure if you’re a fairly new reader like me.
9
Rescue a Pet
If you’re living by yourself, then a lovable pet can cure your loneliness. Of course this might mean more responsibility, but humans long for companionship. And if you get a dog, that’s a new best friend!
10
Yoga
Research has shown that yoga helps you cope with anxiety and is an overall mood enhancer. At the same time, you can get a good sweat in with Vinyasa Yoga or Yin Yoga for deeper stretches to improve flexibility and reduce body pain.
Let me know if these tips helped you or if you have any tips to add, please comment below!
Leave a Reply