10 Important Lessons to Learn from Coronavirus

Ten Important Lessons to Learn from Coronavirus
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The world is currently facing a global turmoil brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Health Organization’s bulletin, the number of confirmed cases is already close to 700,000 as of March 31, 2020. The exponential growth of this contagion suggests that we could hit a million in a week or less.

Words aren’t enough to express how hard the situation is for all of us at this moment. The smell of fear, uncertainty, and doubt is present everywhere.

I am currently living in the province of Cebu, Philippines. The enhanced community quarantine has been implemented here in our place just recently. Strict measures, however, are enforced long before.

You know, I am as fearful as you are. I have a sister who is about to give birth and is currently situated in the Philippines’ ground zero of the corona outbreak. My family also solely relies on me financially.

But I am hopeful this too shall pass. And when the dust settles and everything slowly goes back to normal, I don’t want to look back to this day hoping I could have done better.

You can use your energy ranting or feeding yourself with all the negativities. Or you could use this time trying to find some light to get through this very challenging moment.

Underestimating the situation, however, is something I do not recommend. Keep yourself informed and do your part, but don’t let this very moment consume you.

So today, I’m going to share a few of the things I am doing to cope up with this situation. The following may not be applicable to everyone but I’m hoping you’ll get some useful insights somehow.

Important Lessons to Learn from Coronavirus Pandemic

1. Spread information from reliable sources

Important lessons to learn from coronavirus: Spread information from reliable sources

Since the start of this global outbreak, I didn’t spend much on TV and soc med. I kept myself informed but did not dwell much on counting the numbers.

You see, any big or little news related to COVID-19 is already terrifying. More than the panic it creates, it can negatively affect your psychological well-being.

You should avoid creating or sharing fake news so as not to create panic in the community. It is also best for you to check if the website is reliable or not.

I advise you to check out the official website of the World Health Organization to get appropriate advice on how you can prevent the spreading of this virus and get daily updates about the state of this health issue around the globe.

For my fellow Filipinos, you can check out the official website of the Department of Health (DoH) to be updated about this coronavirus outbreak in the Philippines.

2. Take advantage of the technology

Important lessons to learn from coronavirus: Take advantage of the technology

The virus can spread in any means that is why we are required to have a stay a meter away from someone.

However, you should also consider that the virus can spread through objects that you usually use.

It can be your money that is transferred through the physical banknotes.

For this reason, I recommend using online technology if you want to transfer money to avoid physical contact with someone and to avoid getting yourself infected with the virus clouding over that valuable piece of paper.

Use debit or credit cards when paying for your groceries. Also, I highly recommend using online banking and e-wallets such as GCash, Coins, and Paymaya for cashless transactions (money transfer, bill payments, load subscription, etc.).

3. Stretch out your emergency fund

Important lessons to learn from coronavirus: Stretch out your emergency fund

Employees are greatly affected because of halted company operations.

This phenomenon is already telling us the importance of allocating a budget for Emergency Funds to support yourself and your family in times of crisis. It will totally lessen the government’s burden in providing the daily needs of its constituents when people are financially prepared.

If you have kept a significant amount for emergencies, good for you. If you think you’re financially prepared enough, you can donate the goods that were given to you by the government to other people who need it the most.

4. Make another source of income from your skills

You can’t deny the fact that most Filipinos are very dependent on one source of income that mostly comes from active income.

Active income just means, well, no work, no pay. And this is heavily affecting most of us right now.

Sadly, the issue forbids you to work outside your home. This could be a lesson that having another source of income is really helpful.

Personally, I do a lot of side jobs aside from having a day-job and I appreciate them a lot right now. They have helped me financially since the start of the home quarantine. In fact, I’m currently working on my part-time job as a website virtual assistant.

I admit it’s really difficult at first since you need to require a lot of activity management to do without compromising your day job but it’s all worth it. And the good thing is, you’re not yet too late to find your other source of income. Use this time to learn new skills or to start monetizing from your abilities.

How to earn an extra income without leaving your day job? This article is best for you if you are trying to start one.

5. Start a freelancing job

Since this virus forbids you from going out of your home, it’s high time for you to explore an online job as a freelancer.

Some examples of these jobs are the following:

Virtual assistance;
Writing jobs;
Web development/ programming;
Data entry;
English tutorial;
Graphic designing; and
Social media management.

You may also read my blog about How to Become An Online Freelancer in the Philippines for you to know the detailed discussion about online freelancing.

6. Look for passive income opportunities

Stocks and indices have deeply gone south lately, obviously because of this global scare.

I personally see this opportunity for long-term gains. I’m just waiting for the dust to settle to top up my long-term portfolio investments. I am also taking advantage of the market’s volatility in trading global currencies.

If you’re still a novice in market trading, I highly suggest keeping an eye on the stocks of established companies. For now, just observe and avoid catching falling knives until a great opportunity comes in.

Here are some of my previous posts related to passive investments:

7. Rediscover yourself

You can start rediscovering yourself during this time.

Try again the things that you are passionate about or better yet, try something new.

Though we are facing difficult times right now, it could be an avenue for you to recharge yourself by doing things that would make you happy.

You may also try the online jobs I have mentioned above. You might find the satisfaction that you’ve been wanting for, for so long in those jobs.

But Sheila, everything you’ve said is difficult and I am not into those activities. What if I fail? What if I will never succeed in those things?

I know you’re asking yourself right now if you can do it. But I tell you, the best way to succeed is to start stepping one step.

It’s been years that you’ve been working in your day-job. But have you seen yourself growing? Maybe it’s also time for you to come out from that shell?

8. Rebuild your relationship with your family

It could be the best time for you to spend more time with your family.

You can watch movies with them, talk to them about personal matters, cook food for them, read books or Bible to them, teach them household chores, and the likes.

This could also be the best time to rebuild the discipline and character that you want to see in your children.

We really don’t know when this virus will end but the time for waiting could also be the best time that you can rebuild the family relationship you might have lost for a long time.

9. Focus on what you can control

The negative things that are happening to you right now is somewhat a reminder that you cannot control all the things.

You can’t force your employer to send you to work, you can’t force the government to stop the lockdown, you can’t force someone to stay right next to you if there’s social distancing implemented, and you can’t command the virus to stop spreading.

The best thing you can do right now are the following:

• Control your finances. Don’t spend much on unnecessary things. You better save your money or look for other ways to earn while you’re at home for we really don’t know when will this end.

• Control your emotions. Don’t immediately react to things that irritate you the most.

• Control your social media posts. Again and again, stop creating and spreading fake news. Also, try limiting your exposure from soc med to free yourself from unwanted panics and stresses.

• Control yourself. Follow the advice and rules set by the government. It’s better to do a one-time bigtime sacrifice than to suffer for a longer period. Help flatten the curve by doing your part.

10. Keep calm and think of the ways on how you can help

Different individuals are putting their lives at stake to combat this virus.

The best way for you to cooperate is to remain calm and do the stuffs that you can do at home.

It’s also the best time to help your fellowmen. I’m happy seeing people who are donating food packs to less fortunate individuals as well as disinfectants. If you have the capacity to help financially, you can also donate money online. Here’s a list of how to help the healthcare workers and frontliners here in the Philippines.

But if you are reading this and your pocket contains enough income for your family needs, I highly advise you to help the community by just staying at home.

Final Thoughts

Fighting this coronavirus is not just the job of somebody but it’s every body’s job as well. You don’t need to have a lot of money to help but it needs your initiative and cooperation. Though we are of heavy hearts right now because of the increasing number of cases and deaths in the whole world day by day, I encourage you to try looking at the crisis with a silver lining – there are still important lessons we can learn from it.

Like you, I am also troubled by this pandemic but I rest my burdens by remaining calm and looking at things more objectively. I still believe that we can make it through and this too shall pass.

Keep the faith everyone!