Business As Usual

Regular readers know I focus heavily on the behavioral traits that drive money decisions, and this pandemic is forcing all kinds of changes that are, to me, fascinating to observe.

Most of us have had our lives turned upside down, or at least sideways, in recent weeks.  I’m a pretty routine-based person in general, I find that routines build habits and make it much easier to keep showing up for the important things in life. 

That’s why I don’t have to think about getting in a workout every day, it’s just assumed and baked into the day.  It’s as essential and predictable as eating.  It will happen. 

 

Where’d I Get That Time?

So many are finding they have way more time in their days recently, even though it’s the same 24 hours.  Before you cry foul, I realize that those who are unfortunately out of work obviously have more time in their day.  It’s tragic for them, and a pandemic is not a good way to create free time. 

Others are able to telework from home, but are still finding they have more time because they are free of their twice daily commute.  Most are stopping any activities outside of work.  No more taking the kids to soccer, or even getting a haircut. 

The bottom line is that so many people are finding they have more free time than ever right now.  Their routines – if they had them in the first place – have been completely upended.  And what are they doing with some of that time? 

They’re getting some outdoor exercise, of course. 

I’ve been running and cycling my usual miles during this, maybe a tad more than usual, and I’ve never seen so many people out and about.  On the weekdays I get it, people are either out of work or working from home.  When you work from home you can take breaks and go for a quick walk or run more liberally. 

But I’ve also seen a dramatic increase in people running, walking, and cycling on weekends too.  How come they weren’t doing this before the COVID-19 crisis?

 

Mark Cavendish is a top professional cyclist and a pretty witty guy, and his tweet above had me laughing but also thinking about how people are changing their behaviors during this whole crisis. 

Is there a deliberate “mass disobedience” thing going on here?  Prior to the crisis people seemed to give the proverbial middle finger to the advice about getting movement in their day.  Most Americans do not get any exercise on a daily basis.  And now they seem to be once again disobeying the “advice from above” and going outside to get some exercise in. 

If mass insubordination is what it takes to make America healthy, I’m all for it.  As long as you don’t spread the damn virus. 

Yes most gyms are closed and that surely explains some of what we’re seeing, but not all of it.  On that point, this should also show people the glorious – and free – benefits of exercising outside or in your own home and forgoing the stuffy and smelly gym.  Put $800 a year back in your investment accounts.

Off soapbox 🙂

 

Priorities

“We shall never have any more time. We have, and we have always had, all the time there is.” – Arnold Bennett

Priorities are what you make them, plain and simple.  

Since this crisis started I’ve heard tons of stories of people enjoying spending more time with their kids and family.  They’re enjoying cooking at home and having family meals.  Many are reaching out to old friends they haven’t talked to in years.

What was stopping them before?  Lack of time?  Or was it just not a priority? 

 

Channel It

Look, I get it.  This isn’t easy for many, and lost of folks are suffering.  Not only are they suffering financially, but they’re dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, or the virus itself.

The way I see it this is the time to fight, and channel your anxiety and worry into something else.  Mental energy is energy, and can be applied elsewhere.

Try to set your pull-up record, or start intermittent fasting.  See if you can plank for ten minutes.  Maybe teach your kid how to throw a curveball. 

Learn that really hard song on guitar that you’ve been struggling with.  I’m working on “Over The Hills And Far Away” from Led Zeppelin, it’s a kind of a bitch. 

Set a goal and try to reach it, the interesting part is we don’t know when this will end.  That said, being that it could theoretically end sooner than later, you need to hurry up and make progress toward that goal. 

Use this crisis as a forced motivator, an accountability test.

Throw yourself into something longer term that needs to build, something that needs momentum.  Then when this is over you won’t be able to ignore the momentum, it’ll force you to see it through.  A bored mind with nothing to throw it’s energy at will probably gravitate to worry, or heaven forbid, social media.

You’ve no doubt seen this advice – focus on what you can control.  It keeps getting repeated because it’s good advice, plain and simple.

 

Business As Usual

Be honest – those new walks, runs, and rides you’re doing are pretty nice huh?  The benefits of that natural sunlight while exercising aren’t exactly a mystery to science. Part of the reason you might feel better is because we homo sapiens didn’t evolve by sitting indoors under artificial light all day. 

One of the many reasons I semi-retired early and went part time at my W2 job is to spend less time in an office under fluorescent lights, and more time in the glorious outdoors.  Deep down my body knows it’s evolution story, it knows where it wants to be, and where it functions best.

Here’s the million dollar question – when this is over are you going to go back to business as usual?

I’m not, I’m going to be able to play “Over The Hills And Far Away” on guitar 🙂