Aren’t you longing after sweating your ass off while dancing to techno music in a full, dark club somewhere in Berlin, Tel Aviv, or Tbilisi? Or being able to hug your grandmother without thinking you might risk her life while doing that? Do you miss going to a restaurant and seeing the face of your waiter? No masks? No restrictions? It sounds a bit like a utopia, and I can’t tell you when Covid-19 will end. It will hopefully be soon, though. Things are getting worse now in many countries, but many claim that it will get better after that. Also thanks to the availability of vaccines. Let’s see.
The list of things to do once this whole shitshow is over is probably very long for everyone. Of course, we all want to go traveling again, and of course, we want to sit in a full restaurant with friends and family too. Though, we shouldn’t forget that a large part of the economy will suffer for a long time, even after the pandemic is over. Also, people might suffer from mental health issues way beyond the end of Covid-19. Therefore, I have some small ideas of things that everyone can do to get back on our feet as quickly as possible again.
1. Support small businesses
If you can, spend your money on small businesses. This can be clothing, jewellery, interior design, bars, restaurants, and delis. All kinds of stuff you need to buy, try to buy it local, or at least from small producers, who were hit hardest by the lockdowns and restrictions. Need a new T-shirt? Check out that brand that the small designer in Amsterdam just launched, instead of big clothing chains. Craving Pizza? Support that cute little Pizza place, right around the corner, instead of feeding your money to a place that hasn’t suffered as much. All this, if you can. If you don’t have the money to spend your money on these things, then don’t. If something is much more expensive at another place and you simply can’t afford it, don’t spend yourself into ruin. I’m just saying, if you have the choice, support small businesses.
2. Visit our loved ones and those who feel lonely
Go, no, run and visit your granny, see that friend that suffers from depression, talk to your old neighbour who doesn’t have close family, maybe even invite him over for coffee. It’s these easy things that can make someone else’s life so much happier and lighter. Can you help out at an elderly care home or anywhere else where help is needed? Do that; it will also emotionally enrich your life.
3. Reduce unnecessary trips
No, don’t cancel that holiday you booked now. I rather mean business trips that could be avoided. Taking the plane from Frankfurt to Brussels for one meeting, where you sit silently while playing solitaire anyways – is it that necessary? Maybe your presence over Zoom is just enough? Gathering the whole European team in one city for a meeting that will take only 15 minutes anyways? – Have it on Teams instead. Some meetings have to be in person, yes. Those that don’t have to be maybe might even profit from taking place online. Also, travel more by train!
