Pandemic Kills Time Management

Lockdown is bad news from all angles because it will make us neglect survival tactics we built over time. Time management for example.

Before this virus, we allocated time for everything. We had to, otherwise the whole family and work wall would crumble. Lockdown is nibbling at that skill because it has made us time-free.

We are glued to electronic devices 24 hours a day. Ironically, we don’t  take baths or showers, despite having so much time on our hands. Forget about doing laundry, let alone clean the house. 

Once upon a time before COVID-19, we were so good at time management we adjusted seamlessly to changes around us. There are many examples.

1. Road construction. Four lanes reduced to one. No problem. We didn’t want to be late for work or school, so we woke up earlier or found alternative routes.

2. Snow storms. We cannot use that as an excuse for being late. So, leave the car at home and take the train or bus.

3. Terrorism led to office buildings, hospitals and other places of business looking like airport check-in. Security will frisk you, bags and keys on the conveyor belt. Some more frisking and finally, we approach departure gates.

4. The city changes bus routes. No problem, we find the most convenient one for going to work.

5. Now COVID-19. Before lockdown, our time management filtered in all safety precautions, including temperature checks.

Things will go back to normal. We hope. What about our time management? Will the mind and body understand when we say: ‘Listen up, back to waking up at 6 a.m. shower and hit the road, Jack’.

Another ‘written podcast’ by Nonqaba waka Msimang.