The world has seemingly come to a halt. The simple things in life that we used to take for granted, like sharing a hug with a friend, or attending a concert, are being appreciated now more than ever. All over social media people are sharing pictures and experiences that they “can’t wait to get back to.” While I have experienced that same gratitude, I have also decided to look at this quarantine from a different perspective. Instead, I am focusing on some of the habits in my life that these circumstances have forced me to change and finding gratitude in the new habits I have replaced them with.

Here are three things I am excited NOT to get back to:

Unnecessary spending:
Don’t get me wrong, I am all for supporting local restaurants as well as your friendly neighborhood Chipotle, however this quarantine has encouraged me to lean into cooking. Joining the ranks of Chef Rambo, Chef Blaze or the true GOAT Chef Ragonese has always been something I have wanted to do. With the extra time on my hands and the closure of many of my favorite local restaurants, I have leaned into learning new recipes that are both healthy and delicious. When we do finally return to normalcy, I am excited to build on this habit and continue to learn and improve as Chef Rat! This habit also helps to save money, which has become increasingly more important to us all.  With stores closed and the economy struggling we have been forced to evaluate what exactly we’re spending our money on. For me, this raised awareness has led to smarter grocery shopping, less spending on things like clothes and entertainment, and an overall simplification of my life. For example, I took some of my spare time to bag up a bunch of clothes and shoes that I no longer wear and donate them to a local shelter. I have paid more attention to setting money aside and building up my “rainy day fund” which has brought peace of mind. All in all, I have found that spending less leads to using less, thus red clutter and stress leading to increased productivity. I am excited to continue to build on these newfound simplistic and healthy habits.

Not having a Zoom subscription:
Yes, I hit you with the double negative. I am excited to not-not have a Zoom subscription. Probably the biggest revelation I have had through this quarantine has been the power of Zoom for business. For close to five years I have been offering programs in leadership development to local athletes and businesses here in Atlanta. With the entire education system and corporate workforce all relegated to video conferences, it has ignited a spark in bringing my programs outside of the Atlanta market and into online meeting rooms all over the country. In the last week I have connected with people nationwide through webinars and Zoom meetings. Jumping in on a HS programs team Zoom session has become a new hobby of mine. My business isn’t the only one that has learned just how effective video conferencing can be. Just the other day, I spoke to a friend who described similar insights into how they can better use video chat programs to improve hiring strategies and empower sales reps in the insurance industry. While I am very excited to get back to work face-to-face with my clients here in Atlanta, I am grateful that this has given me the opportunity to expand my market and master the art of the virtual meeting.

Ignoring my neighbors:
I live in midtown, Atlanta in a neighborhood called Loring Heights. When I first moved in, I met all my neighbors and had your basic welcome-to-the-neighborhood exchanges. Since that time almost four years ago, I have had practically zero communication with any of the people on my street or in my neighborhood. Since we have been in quarantine, I have noticed something special. My neighbors are spending more time outside, whether it’s taking walks or doing yard work. I have also noticed that we are sharing more smiles, friendly waves, and more conversation (with a six-foot separation, of course). These circumstances have increased all of our desire for human interaction. The simple smiles or positive body language of my neighbors has brought moments of happiness and gratitude into my days. As we return to normalcy, I am excited to seek out these simple exchanges with the people I live closest to.