Covid is the Perfect Reason to Begin Outwitting Life

Outwitting life is all about taking control and changing how you deal with adversity. Covid is the perfect reason to begin outwitting life.

Go turn on your T.V., and the top news story is most likely Covid featuring the number of Omicron breakthrough cases tallied today. It is almost impossible to get tested for Covid right now. Clinics and Urgent Care facilities have lines with four-hour wait times to schedule appointments.

Did your holiday plans get canceled? Did you contract Covid? I did. I have been in quarantine for the past week. My daughter did not come home for Christmas. It’s the first Christmas ever that we have not been together as a family.

Nothing is Normal Anymore

Untouched presents are still under our tree. Nothing about this Christmas is normal.

However, It’s a familiar feeling for me, having dealt with breast cancer. I have been chasing normal since my first lumpectomy in 2016. All I wanted was to get through my chemo and radiation treatments and get on with my life. Unfortunately, I came to learn that things don’t work that way. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the normal you crave will remain elusive.

The conception of this OutwittingLife blog came about when I finally accepted I needed to create a new normal after having breast cancer. I learned there’s no going back from a major tragedy like cancer (or covid). Nothing is ever normal again. It becomes up to us to create a new normal.

Just like cancer, Covid is a tragedy of epic proportions. Its impact on the world is staggering.

Globally, as of 7:06pm CET, 23 December 2021, there have been 276,436,619 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 5,374,744 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 23 December 2021, a total of 8,649,057,088 vaccine doses have been administered.

World Health Organization https://covid19.who.int/

More than five million deaths! We are not dealing with your average cold here. I believe it is time we seriously take responsibility for our actions. Ignoring Covid will not make it go away. This disease has to be addressed by everyone. But how?

How Can We Fight Covid?

For starters, we can all get vaccinated and get a booster shot. Statistics prove that vaccinated folks have far less severe Omicron symptoms than those unvaccinated. According to NYC ER Doctor Craig Spencer, “the unvaccinated are hospitalized at a rate of 15x more than the vaccinated.” He gives a complete breakdown of his findings here: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/nyc-er-doc-breaks-down-how-omicron-affects-the-boosted-vaxxed-and-unvaccinated/3468742/.

We need to continue to practice social distancing. Standing very close to a stranger at Target will not make the line you are on move any faster. Take a couple of steps back and protect yourself. Avoid large gatherings where social distancing is not feasible, and wear your mask in public places.

Try to Ignore the Politics

These precautions have nothing to do with your politics. They are proven tactics that can lower your risk of getting Covid. My apologies for “standing on a soapbox” here; I am very passionate about fighting this disease. I know too many people who have died from it.

Accepting that this disease is now part of our lives, what changes can or should we make to manage its consequences? It will help if you start by listing the impact Covid has had explicitly on you and your family.

Example of a Covid Impact List

1. I lost my job and am on unemployment.
2. My job’s safe, but I need to work from home (same for my husband).
3. My children are on remote learning and need at-home supervision.
4. Our household budget needs to be overhauled.
5. I’m stressing out, not sleeping, and scared of getting sick.

As scary as making this list can be, you’ve now put everything down on paper and can begin outwitting your current life situations. I recommend you take your list and systematically brainstorm on each line item.

There Are Resources Available To You

The good news for job seekers is that resources are abundant right now. Mentors are available at no cost to you through the government unemployment website. Are you thinking of changing careers or interested in starting your own business? They will guide you and help you explore those options. https://my.ny.gov/.

If you prefer to stay on the same career track, you can tap into LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, or Indeed. They are all terrific resources that can assist you with your job search.

Figuring out where and how you and your partner can work from home is challenging. Be creative! Can that little nook in your bedroom with the one odd chair fit a small desk? You’ll be surprised at the functional workspaces people have designed. There are lots of DIY ideas on Pinterest here: https://www.pinterest.com/heytherehome/home-office-diy-idea.s/.

Why not contact other moms and organize a home-school group? The kids go to different houses for school each day. Limit the group to five kids, so there are five host families–one for every day of the week.

Overhauling your household budget is a big task but something you’ll need to tackle since you are down to one income. The best advice I received on this was to shop my pantry and freezer for a couple of weeks. If you are like me, there’s at least a two-week stash of food you can make use of in there. Other top tips: only buy what’s on sale, never shop without a list, and shop at discount grocers like Aldi’s or Walmart.

Take Care of Your Mental Health

Lastly, if you need someone to speak with from an emotional standpoint, you can start here: https://nyprojecthope.org/?utm_medium=G1Search&utm_source=Google&utm_campaign=OMHProjectHOPERSPGrant. It’s a website designed for people that require mental health assistance during Covid.

There are so many different ways that Covid will have us outwitting life. The important thing is to take action. Don’t settle for the situations Covid may have thrust upon you. Figure out the best way for you to make some changes and get on with a better, more productive life.

Create Your New Normal

There is a new normal out there waiting for you to embrace it. Are you ready to find it?

Please let me know if anything I have written resonates with you in the comment section below.

P.S. We are picking a day and calling it Christmas. We will open those presents soon!