The last year of our lives has been full of disruption and chaos that required most of us to pivot and reevaluate decisions for our families, careers, and finances. For most people, life became less chaotic without endless activities, social engagements, and travel. However, now a simple trip to the grocery store requires the type of strategy once reserved for Black Friday. We all long to return to the normalcy of pre-pandemic 2020, at least to a certain degree. I am sure even our grandparents and great-grandparents longed to return to their state of normalcy after recessions, wars, and the birth of rock and roll. For over a year, the fundamental truth is that many may have stagnated while navigating the disruption to daily lives and waiting for normal to return. It is time to stop waiting. Many people decided not to set any goals or intentions for 2021 after a disappointing 2020. That is a mistake. Time will pass, and it should not be wasted since it is our most valuable commodity. If you chose not to set any goals while you "wait and see" what the new year has in store, it's not too late.
Family
Gretchen Rubin is famous for saying, "The days are long, but the years are short." Although we know the truth of that statement in our hearts, it took a pandemic and working from home to see just how fast the years had flown by us. Not rushing from home to school, to work, to endless activities and appointments gave my son and me time to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner together. Not a big thing, but it became my favorite time of each day. Discussing TikTok, video games, his friends, podcasts, music, and school made me aware that I had been too distracted for far too long by our schedule to make time to listen to him ramble about what matters to 14-year-old boys. After 10 months, he returned to school this morning, and I woke up early so that I could have breakfast with him before he left. Our normal is quality time, which we had not realized we were missing before the pandemic.
Career
All of our careers could probably use a little refocusing in 2021. Survival and flexibility were the keys to success in 2020. Without realizing it, we've all had to learn some valuable skills this past year to help our careers move forward—time management, improved communication, the ability to adapt quickly to changing rules and regulations, and increased use of technology. Even if you are resistant to change like me, 2020 gave us no choice but to change, and change quickly. It also gave us more online opportunities to develop new skills, take online courses, obtain certifications, and more. Career development is dependent on skill development. Pick one skill that you would like to improve and take a class or workshop online. Last year pushed us all outside of our comfort zones. Now, we need to continue moving our comfort zones' limits if we want to continue to grow professionally.
Finances
Thanks to Dave Ramsey and Suze Ormond, we have heard for years about the importance of having an emergency fund, but most of us didn't have enough to weather the storm of shutdowns and layoffs because of a national pandemic. Friends and family who had been employed for decades still find themselves looking for work. Essential employees were struggling to pay for and find in-home childcare when daycares and schools shut down across the country. We all experienced a gut-check moment when it came to determining what we needed to have and what we could live without. My husband and I found that we became much happier with fewer options for mindless TV watching. It gave us more game nights and introduced our kids to old movies, such as The Goonies. It also gave us more peace when the bells and whistles from a ridiculous number of electronic devices were not going off all day and night. Closed restaurants meant more meals at home. My son has become a fabulous cook, so I can rest easy knowing that he won't starve in college. Set financial goals, and when you reach them, create more goals. 2020 has become synonymous with a four-letter word, but reflecting on what it taught my family and me, personally and professionally, allowed us to focus on the good, not the bad. l am not waiting for my old normal or looking for a magic new normal. I am moving forward, not standing still, and not looking back.
Kristi Hudson is a certified professional compliance officer (CPCO). She serves as the Director of Business Relationships for ChiroHealthUSA where she has helped to educate DCs and CAs on establishing simple and compliant financial policies. You can contact Kristi at 888-719-9990 or [email protected], or you can visit the ChiroHealthUSA website at www.chirohealthusa.com.
