It’s Okay To Wait Until After the Pandemic to Be New & Improved

Summary

The article discusses the societal pressure to be productive during the pandemic and the author's personal perspective on not succumbing to these expectations.

Abstract

The author of the article addresses the widespread sentiment that individuals should emerge from the pandemic with new skills, businesses, or personal achievements, a notion often reinforced by social media and memes. However, the author, who is childless and works full-time, admits to maintaining a consistent routine without taking on additional projects or self-improvement tasks during quarantine. The article emphasizes that it is acceptable to not engage in trendy quarantine activities, such as making Dalgona coffee or starting a new diet, and that one should not feel compelled to reinvent themselves or feel guilty for not doing so. The central message is that it's okay to do the bare minimum during these challenging times, and there is no obligation to come out of the pandemic with a list of accomplishments.

Opinions

The author disagrees with the idea that having more "free time" due to quarantine equates to a lack of discipline if not used for self-improvement or productivity.
The author expresses confusion over the popularity of specific quarantine activities like making Dalgona coffee and homemade sourdough and seeks understanding from those who find them essential.
There is a sentiment that personal value is not solely determined by productivity or the completion of home projects during the pandemic.
The author believes that it is unnecessary to feel pressured to learn new skills, such as a new language, just because one might have more time at home.
The article suggests that it is perfectly fine not to pursue trendy diets or fitness goals during the pandemic.
The author asserts that it's okay to simply "get by" and that there's no need for permission or validation to live at a slower pace during these times.
The author emphasizes that self-worth should not be tied to one's ability to tackle a to-do list or start new ventures during the pandemic.

It’s also okay not to reinvent yourself then either.

I’ve been hearing quite a bit of buzz lately from coworkers and friends about what they’re learning, doing, and accomplishing while they’re “in quarantine”. Many that I’ve heard from have tackled multiple home projects like painting their kitchens and ripping out their bathrooms, some have planted entire gardens, while others have finally read all of the books on their to-read list.

There’s also been the suggestion made that those who don’t have children that are suddenly home-schooled or struggling to be entertained without the help of play dates, should be able to achieve the most during this strange season of life. That since we don’t have kids, we’ve lucked out to have the most free time right now with which to do all the things.

One meme argues that if you don’t come out of quarantine with a new skill, new business or side hustle, or more knowledge, that you never lacked time. Instead you lacked discipline. That’s a bit presumptive.

So when they ask me, a childless, high-capacity producer, what I’ve been working on lately or doing with all of my new “free time” my answer feels… well, embarrassing. I haven’t really done anything that I don’t normally do. And I don’t agree that I have any more “free time” than what I’ve always had.

I go to work everyday; I still go into the office. I come home, eat dinner, do a couple of chores watch TV, take the dog out, scroll mindlessly on Social Media, and then go to bed. Rinse and repeat. Nothing about my work week routine has changed.

On the weekends, I go out as little as possible. I’m an introvert, though, so this has always been my evil plan and is not new either. Weekends with no plans are my favorite kind of weekends.

I have managed to binge watch Tiger King and season 3 of Ozark, take a lot of bubble baths, and eat more s’mores and ice cream than I’d really care to admit. None of these are prize-worthy accolades, however.

Since I simply do not have a laundry list of quarantine achievements, here’s a list of all that things I’m not accomplishing:

That Dalgona coffee everyone’s making? Nope, haven’t done it. I haven’t made any homemade Sourdough either. I’m actually genuinely interested in understanding why these are the must-do quarantine activities. I like sourdough and I like coffee. If you “get it”, please explain it to me.

I haven’t turned Keto. I’m not doing a Whole 30. I’m not even eating healthier. Well, not intentionally anyway. I am eating more truly home-cooked meals by default, so in that respect I suppose I’m a little healthier. But, what I mean to say is that I’m not “on a diet”. I haven’t set a goal to lose ___ pounds during the quarantine.

No home projects have been knocked out. My house is still not “done” in the way that I want it to be. I haven’t hung any artwork and I haven’t started the many décor projects I’d like to do. In fact, I haven’t even mowed the grass. I’ve been paying someone else to do it. If you know me, that’s saying a lot.

I haven’t blazed through my reading list. I’ve actually added to it and not picked up a single book.

My house has not been Marie Kondo’ed. If I’m really being transparent, we still have unpacked boxes from our move into this house. Almost 2 1/2 years ago.

I haven’t signed up for Duolingo nor have I purchased Rosetta Stone. I’m still working with the same basic conversational Spanish I’ve had since my Junior year of College.

I’m not sorry for any of this. It’s okay that I haven’t done any of these things.

Maybe I’ll do them someday. Perhaps, someday will come after the pandemic is over. It’s also okay if I never do them.

And it’s okay if you never do them, too. It’s okay to just do the best you can right now. You don’t have to come out on the other side of this pandemic with a new skill, a new business, or an empty to-do list.

You don’t have to reinvent yourself.

It’s okay to do the same things you’ve always done or to do the bare minimum to get by. You don’t need permission or validation for that.

It’s Okay To Wait Until After The Pandemic To Be New & Improved

It’s also okay not to reinvent yourself then either.