It is hard to believe that it’s been two years since the world got turned on its head. When the pandemic started, there was so much uncertainty, so much we didn’t know; it was a wake-up call for the majority of the world!

Prepare for instability

We’re now a few days into 2023, and this calls for a moment of reflection and a time for planning because even though things have been improving, that doesn’t mean we can afford to go about our lives as we did before. Planning for the future is more important than ever.

The importance of family (and its increased relevance)

If there is one thing that many of us have been able to lean on for comfort in uncertain times, it is family and friends. Being in lockdown for months at a time helped to give us a better appreciation for the people living with us. We were able to learn and teach each other new things and forge stronger bonds, especially with our children.

At the same time, however, it also raised a poignant question; what will I leave my family with when I’m not here anymore?

It is a tough question that no one likes to think about, but it is a crucial one, especially for family patriarchs and matriarchs. In today’s fast-paced and technologically advanced world, we haven’t really had time to answer these questions, but the pandemic slowed things down and gave us that time.

Take time for yourself

If we want to be here for our loved ones as long as possible, we can’t forget to care for ourselves too. Dedicating so much time to the service of others while neglecting our health is like trying to drive a car with low fuel; you will wear down, and your body will eventually fail on you.

Exercise is not enough; what we eat and what activities we participate in all play a factor in how often we get sick, what we get sick with, and how severe it can get.

Improve your means of income for the next crisis

One word that can be applied to how we have lived our lives during this time is “Adaptability.” Be it out of desire or necessity, we as humans have an innate ability to adapt to even the worst of circumstances.

It’s no secret that the pandemic left thousands of people unemployed, wondering where they would get the financial means to support their families. As it turned out, this was a hidden blessing for many. People discovered there were ways of making money online on their own, way more than they ever gained from their regular jobs. People who were either unable to find employment or had little satisfaction with their current jobs leaned towards becoming their own boss.

Here are a few examples of the businesses people have started for themselves:

  • Bloggers
    • If you are knowledgeable about a topic or industry, there are people who will want to learn from you.
  • Service provider
    • From photographers to dog trainers, anyone can leverage their skills to make a living. Then you can augment it by selling products, educational or otherwise.
  • Online personality
    • For people who have the desire to share their thoughts or simply entertain others, the online space has been the gateway for many to establish their businesses.

The biggest driving factor for the entrepreneurial boom is that more people started to realize that they were trading their time for money, time that could not be spent with their friends, families, and themselves.

Save it for a rainy day

This is the single most critical lesson we can learn from Covid. It serves nothing to work so hard and dedicate so much time if we don’t set aside the necessary funds for when it is absolutely necessary.

Thankfully people have learned to be more responsible in dividing their finances appropriately.

Under normal circumstances, you should strive to have savings anywhere between 3-6 months; the exact amount will depend on your essential expenses (water, electricity, food, medical, clothes, etc.). However, in abnormal circumstances like a pandemic, try to have enough savings to last at least a year.

With the number of opportunities people currently have to increase and diversify their means of income, setting aside enough should be an easier goal to achieve.

As stated earlier, the pandemic was a wake-up call for all of us, and now we have a responsibility to ourselves and our families to take the right steps to ensure two things. That we have a safety net to land in when we fall and to make sure our family can move forward when the unexpected happens.

This article was provided by the good folks at Money.com.