Best Ways to Make a Decision During Covid-19

When in doubt, think it out

In the midst of a pandemic, I’ve had to make several life changing decisions. Some decisions have been great, and others have been awful. I’ll share a few personal experiences to provide guidance in the middle of doubt, fear or anger.

1. Choose Life over Money

You may think this is in obvious choice, but for me, it wasn’t. Up until a few days before I resigned from my job, I thought working hard for as much money as possible was the most important thing in the world. Even when I switched positions, headhunters and other employers called, asking me to come in for interviews. My identity was wrapped up in what I did, not who I was.

In the end, I needed to decide if the risk outweighed the reward. Was I going to go to work every day in a place where Covid-19 was a threat, or was I going to head to a place where I could preserve my health and life? In the end, I wound up telling my employer I was leaving. It became a choice of “your money or your life,” and in the end, my life and well being won out.

2. Don’t Let Fear Dictate Your Choices

Unfortunately, in the middle of fear, we may make some bad decisions.

One regret I have is listening to a family member pressuring me to resign from my job before I was ready to do so. Both of us thought a travel ban might be instituted to prevent airline travel in the U.S., as international travel had already been banned. My intuition was telling me to wait for 24 hours before resigning, and I ignored that.

I resigned, and after 24 hours elapsed, I found out the office I worked in was transitioning to remote work.

The lesson? Fear is the worst GPS to navigate your way through a major life altering decision. When in doubt, find the way to remain calm, and write a list regarding your decision, including the pros and cons of what you want to do next. Then take the evening to rest, relax, and have a good night of sleep.

Intuition will tell you what to do, and what you want to do. At its best, your inner “gut” feeling will raise an alarm when you’re moving off course. If you pay attention, you won’t regret it.

3. Do a 180 Degree Turn

Sometimes we make a decision, then feel stuck with our choice.

I was working out of state and am now working remotely at home. I was expected to return, and to work in the office before the holidays. I therefore rented an apartment so I’ll have a place to live when I return to work.

However, renting the apartment has proven to be a mistake, given prevailing conditions of the pandemic. The decision to travel back to the apartment rental is difficult and uncertain, as Covid-29 cases are spiking.

I had a discussion with my employers to advise them of the circumstances surrounding the apartment rental. I said, “Since I have been working remotely, in my own home, I want to continue to do so.” They agreed.

I could be angry or upset about the time and money I spent to find and rent a second apartment, but I did the best I could with the information I had a few months ago. I thought renting an apartment would be better than staying at a hotel or Airbnb rental.

I think the best antidote to anger is acceptance. I realize in the middle of a pandemic I will not always know what to do next. There are also times when I’ll be surprised with making a decision that is better than I expected. Either way, I have the power and choice to think and say, “I don’t like what’s happening. How may I change the situation I’m in?”

In all, there are three best ways to make a decision during Covid-19:

1. Choose your life and health over money or material goods. You have one life, which can’t be replaced.

2. Fear is the worst GPS. When you make life altering decisions, remaining calm, getting a good night of rest, and relying upon your intuition will prevent mistakes.

3. Do a 180 degree turn. You don’t have to remain stuck with a choice you made in the past, and you don’t need to remain angry.