Life in the time of Coronavirus

Apocalypse now. 

I thought I was the rational one. 

I knew my family and friends are going to be ok.

I knew the real mortality rate (once they count everyone) will be <1%. 

I knew THIS TOO SHALL PASS as it always does. 

Still… I started sleeping badly. I started getting annoyed with my annoying friends (they always been annoying, but my reaction is what has changed).

I’m worried. Not scared, but worried. 

I’m a Soviet child – we are raised on WW2 movies, on stories about Siege of Leningrad, our heroes were the teens fighting nazis in the woods of Belarus. We went through food deficits, Russian default, hyperinflation. Apocalypse is in our blood. Boring. Not something to be scared of. 

All this nonsense about doomsday, buying guns, secret labs where bad people are manufacturing viruses – pleeeeese… 

But I am worried about the health of my parents, my extended family > 65, my oldie friends in my apartment building – they are at risk. I am not. 

I am worried about mental and physical damage to people who are going to lose their businesses, their incomes, their houses. It’s incredibly sad that this time around it is the brave ones, the entrepreneurs who will suffer the most. These are the guys who saved some cash, took loans, and opened a restaurant, or a hair salon, or a boutique store selling dog clothes. 

So… in every crisis situation, what do you do? And trust me, I’ll be doing this exercise myself now (… and drinking lots of wine, otherwise what‘s the point…)

1) Realistically assess the situation 

 No, everything can’t be bad. And no, you are not alone. 

– you are young, healthy, kids are ok? Plus

– no income, and probably won’t be one for who knows how long? Minus

– your parents are good, you can now call your mom every day because you are at home and she is at home? Plus

– if you don’t pay your landlord he might kick you out? Minus

– the government is probably going to provide you with some economical relief.. Plus

2) Make a plan

Next day:

– exercise 

– take care of your family

– cook healthy food

– call mom

Repeat

Repeat

Next week:

– figure out your cash flow. What’s coming?  What’s going? How much in the bank?

– do the budget. Cut everything non- essential. Bare bones. Food, toilet paper (joking!!!), cell phone, internet 

– go through your subscriptions and services. Gym? Magazines? Apps that you don’t even use? Kill it. Cell phone/ internet bill? Go and see how you can lower it. Call them, threaten to leave – they will negotiate with you, they will lower it down. 

– call your landlord, negotiate lowering the payment. What can they do? Not like there’s going to be a line to take your place. 

Next month:

Ok… now time to think of what YOU could have done differently. Better. Coronavirus is not your fault. Government response is not your fault, don’t even bother being upset about it. But what did YOU screw up?

Got too greedy betting on the stock market? (Me me me!!!) 

Spent too much money on stupid things instead of building an emergency cushion?

Got a degree in “women studies” instead of something real?

But hey. If you were creative, entrepreneurial, if you took a risk, started something awesome and it didn’t work because of the bloody virus, DONT WORRY. Yes you probably lost your money, but these skills that allowed you to start this business to begin with, these skills are yours to keep. And after this passes (repeat after me: THIS TOO SHALL PASS), you will re-emerge stronger and more prepared than ever. 

3) action!!!

Yes, squats every day. Your butt will thank you in May. 

P.S. don’t yell at your partner – you’ll have to hang with them 24/7 for next month!

P. P. S. Call me if you fancy to chat. Seriously.