“Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.”
William Arthur Ward
I, like almost everyone else, was caught up in fear when the COVID-19 pandemic really took hold of the world. There were too many unknowns… What is happening? How bad is it? Will my family and friends be safe? Will there be a vaccine? What doest it mean for work and society?
A new hope
I remember the exact moment I started to move beyond the confusion and frustration, to a state of acceptance, and then optimism about the future. It was was listening to a podcast with Tim Ferriss and he floated the idea that the pandemic doesn’t necessarily have to be the worst thing in the world. Could it be reframed into a massive opportunity?
In normal times, we are always complaining that we don’t have enough time. Especially to pursue those things which would bring us joy and fulfilment. Often these are creative or physical pursuits which usually get sacrificed in the name of work or family commitments . That could be anything from writing a book, recording a podcast, playing the guitar, working out for an hour every morning, or designing a new backyard garden.
The pandemic struck and we were told to stay at home except for “essential” activities. This meant that most of us suddenly had a lot more time on our hands. No commuting to work, no sports training, and no dinners, just to name a few.
Fork in the road
What to do with all this extra time? This is where many reach the fork in the road which could go one of two ways.
- I could watch Netflix for 8 hours a day
or - I could invest in my health and personal development
Substitute for any unproductive vs productive activity.
Down the road
We are now five months down the road from when Tim Ferriss sparked the idea on my mind. How could I reframe this situation into positive opportunity?
Consider the two response options above. Imagine the different outcomes after months of consistent daily action. I would be two totally different people after five months of binge watching Netflix vs five months of personal development.
It’s like compound interest, but what are you compounding ? Is it positive or negative?
Imagine the difference in who you could be after five months if you worked out for an hour each morning, read a book each week, and took an online course each month. A much different person compared to someone who chose to sit around all day watching TV, surfing the web, and scrolling social media all day.
It should be noted that the definition of “unproductive vs productive” is unique to each individual. Maybe Netflix is your way of unwinding and self-care, so no disrespect there. Be intentional with the use of this “extra” time.
There’s still hope
Let’s say the last five months haven’t gone so well in terms of maximising opportunities. Look ahead. There is much more opportunity in front of you. More opportunity for consistent daily action to push you in a new direction.
The questions
Below are the questions which Tim raised on his podcast. They helped to change my mindset from fear to possibility.
– How can you make the next 3-6 months some of the most enjoyable or productive of you life?
– How can you make it something you really treasure, not just survive?
– How is this an opportunity to do what I would never otherwise do?
Tim Ferriss
Take some time to ponder the questions. Imagine your desired future self. What daily action could you take to move in that direction?
Make the most of this opportunity.
