Navigating Life in Times of Crisis
Between the bedroom, brief stops at the kitchen, the sofa, viral news updates, nagging conspiracy theories and the section quarantined off as my current work space: life as I know it is being re-defined.
I enjoy the sun, being around people, walking on the dusty streets of Nairobi and crossing over to the tree lined avenues of middle class habitation; routine. It’s my normal. Today, everything is less than normal. Let’s not bluff, even if I don’t feel as agitated or anxious, there’s a persistent nag at the base of my instincts, the what if, denial of which is fatal.
7 pm ,Friday the 27th, was the first day Kenyan authorities actively took steps towards reducing social activity: a country wide night-time curfew, which leaves those who love the dark and bright of the cities feeling further isolated.
Planning and adapting to change by maintaining and creating a sense of normalcy is the way to embrace, even thrive in this new normal. Through well structured routines for work, rest, exercise, meals, creativity and continuous learning we, are able to ground ourselves in an increasingly chaotic and thoroughly uncertain atmosphere.
Now is the time most suitable for rapid personal progress. We no longer have the luxury to predict an uncertain future — especially with a novel disease. Governments and healthcare professionals are working with knowledge as it comes in. Whole curricula are being relaunched based on new information on the current global challenge, because at 5 months, so much has evolved; knowledge gleaned 1 month ago is like a pin in a tank. Everyone is learning to learn, as fast as now. There’s zero excuse for you to binge-watch whole episodes of Netflix while constantly scrolling biased media coverage at the expense of your physical and mental well-being. The World, as we know it, may end tomorrow: so what, this is your motivation to maximize the massive deposits of time you have for your personal development.
Learn now in your areas of fantasized interest. Make them a reality. Such times teach us how to let go of limitations and false perceptions of self. Prepare to adapt. It may be a new career, a new investment or a new direction/ calling for your life. Remember the passion project? Start it! The passion craft… get going with it. Even if you don’t have the right equipment, generate interest by scouring the net for free offerings of courses during this period. One of the benefits of such upheaval is that it revives our society to the fundamentals of commerce and humanity — benefiting others. Here’s a list of sites providing free courses in the interim :
2. Music Production (Protools Basic Course)— Berklee Online
3. Music Business — Berklee Online
4. Write a Book in 6 Days -Todd Brison
5. Coursera — Science Matters: Let’s Talk About COVID-19
7. Free Classical Piano Course (Beginning to Advanced Levels) — Josh Wright (American Pianist & Brilliant Teacher)
8. Piano & Improvisation for Beginners — Home School Piano
Of course, this list is biased towards my interests — music, food, science and writing — go ahead and work on yours.
You want to also use this time to help people, teach people, check up on your friends too — make this crisis your new normal. For long we’ve taken everything for granted and been a bit lazy now’s the time to be disciplined! Do as much as possible to embrace this new normal and work with the energy to drive you towards your goals. Make sure to check out Darius Foroux ‘s insightful article on time management and discipline during this season.
Stay at home. Stay alive.