What might we do differently?
By Candice Williams M.D, D. ABA
Anesthesiologist/Pain Specialist
President, Premedical Consultants
Imagine this scenario: We’re finally outside; social distancing and stay-at-home no longer holds us back; we are shopping, driving, in and out of traffic, back to school and back to work. We are just settling back into the daily grind of everyday life as we know it. But will it really be the same as it once was?
I can’t say for certain, but here are the ways in which our lives may be impacted in the future by COVID-19:
1. We will slow down. This quarantine era has given us time to rest, reflect and take inventory of what is important. Our faith, loved ones and life passions are the real things that keep us going. Many will decide to pursue their dreams of entrepreneurship or working from home after this pandemic. It’s been shown that we can work from home successfully, and many of us will opt to keep this format of working.
2. We will be more intentional about communication. While society seems more impersonal since we are all on social media, now we have made it a point to call, connect or Zoom with loved ones. This will hopefully change our focus to making sure we reach out to family.
3. We won’t take our community for granted. Being forced to stay inside for prolonged periods has taken a toll on our health, mindset and jobs/businesses. Many people are now unemployed or have lost money in business. However, the cost of failing to social distance long enough could be too costly, affecting the health of our community. We can no longer take our neighbors, first responders and healthcare workers for granted.
Moving forward, my hope is that we will learn to be grateful for our freedoms and for the impact each of us makes in our communities.
Dr. Candace Williams is an anesthesiologist and Pain management specialist residing in Los Angeles, California. She is also a coach to premedical, medical students and residents guiding them throughout their process of becoming a doctor. https://www.drcandicewilliams.com/
