Difficult times are behind us and we will probably have to face them again, in one form or another. By working closely with business leaders in different industries, I developed valuable insight into the powerful lessons we were all taught by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. These lessons (or should I say, “universal truths”) are valuable both in professional and personal settings. That’s why I am sharing them here and inviting you to incorporate them into your everyday life to preserve energy, improve mental health, and forge meaningful relationships.



LESSON 1 –– We are not created equal when it comes to coping up with fear

This pandemic has brought some common ground to all of us. Sadly, this common ground is called FEAR.

I once heard an acronym for fear that very much resonates with my own professional experience: FEAR stands for “false evidence appearing real”. This definition carries additional weight in the light of the mass confusion, lack of direction, and overwhelming anxiety induced by personal interpretations of the current global crisis.

Fear has affected just about all of us at some point, although we have all experienced it with different levels of severity. In my professional practice, as well as in my private life, I have seen some people succumb to crippling anxiety while others remained better equipped to deal with their fear.

Generally speaking, we humans do not deal well with uncertainty. In fact, the word “stress” was first used in the 14th century to define “a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in life”. If the past year and a half has taught us anything, it is that humans are not equipped to deal with uncertainty. However, I strongly believe that the resilience of human beings depends on the levels of adversity they have been conditioned to accept by experiences faced in the past.

Fear is not always bad. It is a visceral signal that something is wrong, and we should pay attention to it. It is our reaction to fear that determines whether we will grow or succumb to stress. Controlled and periodic exposure to fear can push our boundaries and make us stronger.



LESSON 2 –– We need alone time as much as we need connection.

When the pandemic first pushed people into remote working, everyone rushed to join in video conferencing, online chats, and videos. Being stuck at home has been uncomfortable; these tools are designed to connect us with others, and we have seen the world turning to these platforms to provide the connection and collaboration we can no longer have in person.

However, I for one have discovered that even with technology, we all still need our “alone” time. Our homes have turned into the single location around which everything else revolves: school, office, relaxation, and family time — everything happens in the same place. This can quickly become overwhelming, leaving us insufficient space to recharge our batteries and spend some quiet time alone with our thoughts.

It should be one of our priorities to carve out some space in our daily schedules for personal activities, whether that is a bubble bath, reading a book, or having coffee half an hour before everyone else wakes up.



LESSON 3 –– Wellbeing is key, and it measured by Energy.

The pandemic has impressed on the world just how essential health and overall physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing are. These invisible forces can have a critical impact on our quality of life. Mental health is just as important as physical health — the fact that people with mental disorders die 20 years younger than the general population only confirms this statement.

What you may not realize is that wellbeing can be measured. Some call it “performance” or “results achieved”, while others call it simply “energy”. By tracking how you feel and being aware of what “drains” you, over time you will be able to optimize your energy levels and maintain an active, productive, and fulfilling lifestyle.



LESSON 4 –– Feeding our minds and contributing to a greater cause is a literal life-saver during stressful times.

Jim Rhon, renowned author and entrepreneur, shared the maxim, “stand guard at the door of your mind”, emphasizing the importance of nurturing our minds and protecting them from unnecessary and harmful inputs. With the news and media running 24/7 during the pandemic, our levels of centeredness have been directly affected.

I often say that the news can cause a 360° about turn in our mood: we feel depressed after watching the news, but we keep watching because we are addicted to the dopamine release.

Here’s a little refresher on dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that sends signals from one neuron to another, and it’s probably the most important factor in our experiences of pleasure, motivation, and reward. Dopamine is the final common pathway for all pleasurable, intoxicating, rewarding experiences.

Dopamine is released every time we hear astonishing news, read a controversial Tweet, or see an idyllic Instagram post from an influencer whose lifestyle we envy. Every time these actions are repeated, these dopamine neural pathways become stronger, predisposing us to repeating the behaviors that triggered them.

To maintain our dopamine levels without becoming addicted to the news and social media, we must learn how to stimulate it in a healthy, sustainable way. This might be through balanced nutrition, exercise, or meditation; but it can also be through giving back to our community or developing close social contacts that help us feel loved and appreciated.



LESSON 5 –– Rituals and time management are critical for coping with uncertainty.

Being stuck at home and lacking in-person connections to others has certainly changed our appreciation of time — for some of us, time has expanded, and we have experienced excruciating boredom as well as constant anxiety.

By developing little rituals and managing our time to manage our energy, we can bring structure into our day. This structure reinforces our sense of certainty in an uncertain world — something we all crave.



LESSON 6 –– Above all, we need to concentrate and focus on what matters the most.

The  pandemic brought with it a sense of loss, and it has forced us all to refocus our priorities. We have seen many people around the globe moving or making changes to their lifestyles, as the pandemic has forced us to refocus on what matters the most.

Instead of spending time and energy on superficial connections, meaningless social interactions, and the never-ending desire for material belongings, we have re-learned that our priorities lie in eternal values: family, close friends, personal growth, and fulfillment.



LESSON 7 –– Returning to love is the easier, and it is a crisis-proof path.

In the midst of chaos, love is a safe shelter. More than ever, surrounded by so much uncertainty, we need to focus on loving what we have rather than despairing about what we don’t have. In this sense, love is not a feeling. It is conscious effort to make people and circumstances around us better through our actions. By consciously deciding to love our lives, we invest time and energy into helping our jobs, our homes and offices, and our physical and mental health achieve their full potential. And for people in our lives, a commitment to love means acting decisively to help them feel loved, every day.



LESSON 8 –– Our brains need variety, and our focus needs to be consciously directed.

Most people suffer if forced to endure a lack of variety, experiencing palpable consequences. Doing the same things over and over, repeating the same routines, and seeing the same people has definitely impacted a lot of us.

Instead  of letting our minds wander aimlessly, lost in the same old boring routines, we should introduce little challenges to stimulate our minds. This can be as simple as moving things around the house, so that we become more present when getting ready for work or preparing dinner, or as exciting as trying one new challenge every week.



LESSON 9 –– Creativity is part of our lives and contributes to our wellbeing.

Creativity is often forgotten or neglected as a “luxury”, as there is so much pressure to check off items on our to-do lists and be “productive”. We often neglect to nurture our creative side. However, for those able to dive into art or other forms of expression, creativity has definitely proven to be an effective tool for coping with the after-effects of the pandemic.

One of the largest studies of its kind, with around 50,000 participants, showed that being creative is a great coping tool, particularly when we’re facing hardships in our lives. Live activities are particularly effective in relieving stress and helping us build up self-esteem and confidence.

Knowledge s meaningless without action. Therefore, I invite you to bring some creativity into your everyday life and see how it will affect your wellbeing. A group pottery class, joining a church choir, a book club… The options are endless, and the benefits are vast. first used in the 14th century