If we are being honest, 2020 was a year that none of us could have been prepared for. Had a time-traveller visited you in the middle of last year and presented you with a copy of any newspaper from March 2020 or later, the headlines would have been close to incomprehensible. If the year has taught us one thing, it is that preparedness for unforeseen events is more important than any of us realised, and many of us have spent this year adjusting to that reality.
So while we can’t possibly foresee exactly what is coming down the line in 2021, we have had a crash course in just how quickly things can change in a major way. We can also say with some confidence that although 2020 on the first day of January, its imprint will be sticking around for at least a while, and we can do a few things to be ready for the next stages of the “new normal” as situations develop.
The virus: It’s not over until it’s over
When the first national lockdown lifted back in June, there was a sense of optimism that the Covid-19 crisis had turned a corner and that the worst was over. Throughout the summer, relative normality returned and many people went back to life as usual. Of course, by early November the country was back in lockdown, and the discovery of a more virulent strain of the virus has seen limitations placed on Christmas celebrations.
The announcement of a viable vaccine has been definite good news, but its rollout will not be simple – and there may be a full lockdown in place from early on in the new year, so we need to be prepared for that. The virus will not be “defeated” until people are immunised in large numbers and cases are down to nearly zero. We don’t know when that will be.
What we do know is that we will need to continue to wear masks well into 2021. Choosing a mask to wear when out in public if you are able to mean you are being conscious about your health and that of others. But it doesn’t mean you need to wear disposable masks every day. Choose from a range of washable masks at Dynamicgift.com.au to step up your accessories and add some fun to your outfit when out and about.
If you have a decision to make, don’t put it off
It’s hard to believe it now, but when the country began its first lockdown, there was a sense of collective action, people using time that had been freed up to discover new hobbies, and many of us were talking about what we would do when “this was all over”. That was when we had a reason to believe it would end soon. We’re not in that position right now, and putting things off may mean that putting off a decision until “this is all over” simply means you need to make that decision when the situation is worse.
If you have a health issue you want to focus on, speak to an expert about it now, because time is critical. If your car is on its last legs and you need to replace it, look at the likes of Car Synergy for a replacement now, because with supply lines from the continent closing, there could be a period of real scarcity on the horizon. “Wait and see” is a luxury we only have when we have a fair idea what’s around the corner.
Being ready for 2021 to be as tough as 2020 in its own way may seem like a pessimistic way to approach the new year – but if you are ready to meet it on its merits, you can still have a positive outlook as the year goes on.