How Are You Coping with the CoronaVirus? (Part 3)

How Are You Coping with the CoronaVirus?

On the morning of Friday, March 20th, I sent an email to my entire list with the subject of, “How are you coping with the current situation?”

I received over 100 responses! This is the 3rd part of this 3-part series.

I will, of course, edit these answers to protect their authors’ identities, but I wanted you to hear that the fears, worries, and stresses you are experiencing are not unique. You are not alone in this.

If you have not read the first post or the second post I suggest you stop and read them now.

Job Offer Put on Hold

I was supposed to have knee surgery this week, which was canceled due to a UTI that was not treated as it should have been. Therefore, I am stuck as I was waiting to start a new job in another state – based on when my knee was well enough to proceed. So I am trapped at home, alone, unable to get toilet paper. Although I’ve been working at home for many months now, it is lonelier and difficult to take a break by going to the gym or meet a friend for lunch.

I spoke with my new employer (TBD) and they are deciding how I should proceed. One personal issue is making a major move, alone, during such an uncertain time. I’m going to a place where I will know no one. Doing this while having knee pain is no picnic either.

I am lucky that I have income, insurance and a nice place to live. So far. I’m afraid, however, to even look at my pension fund. I have family in serious trouble and I can only do so much.

But thus far, I know I’m blessed.

Note: Since I received this the new employer is giving her a 3-month contract and allowing her to work remotely.

Social Contact Job is on Hold

I am living in London at the moment.

The pub I worked at has closed down, and as I’m a Pilates teacher as well, I have stopped giving classes so we can isolate and avoid continuing the virus chain.

People are still walking out, shops are open, and life looks the same apart from people working from home or not at all.

Recession is going to hit us hard soon so IDK what to expect.

I guess karma is a b****. When we took advantage of this planet and destroyed a part of it.

Stay safe.

Laid Off Contractor Worried About Health Insurance

I am in flux, not knowing what is next. I am a contractor, working for a large corporation in their corporate offices. They closed the offices last Friday and said that they would pay us through the end of the month (next Friday). At the time we all believed that we would return on March 30th; however, now I am not so sure. Because I am a contractor, I cannot work from home. I have no idea what will happen as of next Friday, and I’m terrified. I am almost 65 years old. I cannot look for another job during these times as all companies are closed!

I am married to a 72-year-old man who is working and collecting social security. I will not be eligible for Medicare until I am 66 and 2 months (who decided that?), so health insurance will be very expensive for me. I am terrified when I look at my future (hoping I don’t get sick!), and wondering what’s next (under normal circumstances, I would be excited to find the next thing in life, but now, I’m terrified to see what’s coming down the pike).

Note: I told her she can apply for Medicare at the age of 65 and not 66 and 2 months.

Retired, Returned to Work and then Let Go

My husband and I have been working from our apartment this past week. We live in an apartment in the DFW metroplex in North Texas because of work. Fortunately, we have a semi-rural home in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico and plan to drive there this weekend.

I just got the word yesterday that my contract with (removed) ends March 31. I retired early from (removed) years ago and due to some serendipitous circumstances returned to work for them. They had plans on hiring me as an employee when the virus issues hit.

Sadly, but gratefully, both our parents have passed. It was a struggle with the last two – his father and my mother – because they both had health issues and dementia. We led almost separate lives, each of us assisting in the care of a parent, for a little over a year. The stress was difficult. I had quit my job for a few months to recover, then I got the contract job with SWA. I had only been there for 3 months.

My heart goes out to those folks caring for aging parents and/or children at this time.

Working from Home and Coping

Thanks for checking. We are coping. My situation includes:

Working from home. I started on March 9. My wife has a compromised immune system due to a chronic illness, and my older daughter has asthma. My employer (Fortune 50 company) asked all employees who can to work from home, effective March 13. We are being asked to adjust our work practices to ensure the company’s network is effective and efficient during peak hours.

My wife already works from home. She is homeschooling our younger daughter who is a junior in high school (she has been homeschooled since pre-school). Their space and schedules have been disrupted with two extra people.

My older daughter is a sophomore cello performance major at (removed). Her spring break was extended by a week and her classes will be remote through the end of the semester effective March 16. Her teaching of private lessons and taking personal lessons will be a major change. Her orchestra conductor is still trying to figure out what can be done for the rest of the semester.

Our church has canceled services for the next eight weeks and hopes to provide an on-line service starting in two weeks.

Dealing with Multiple Calamities

Right before the Coronavirus got big, my mom was in the hospital in critical condition with major heart failure. She made it through and now is at her home with 24-hour care (finally found caregivers she likes). The same week, a friend of mine was killed on his bike – driver crossed the yellow line and took out 7 cyclists. Devastating. Then one of our closest family friends died the same morning. Two days later, the pandemic was announced. I was sad and stressed. I have my good habits to help stabilize me when s*** things happen. No funerals for either.

Listen to the most recent episode

I also was a finalist for a really good remote job – WordPress Developer for a cool company. I didn’t get the job but made it through 4 rounds of interviews including a difficult coding challenge. As you know I lost the SaaS consulting job (in November) and gave up on (removed). I still had my (removed) client but the work has dried up. I have very little work now. But I feel I am in a better position to land something because I have a lot of remote experience in different industries. I also passed the LinkedIn assessment for (removed) soI have a badge.

Because I am in the (removed) area, we are practically on lockdown. All the restaurants, stores and now my gym are closed. My gym was open until Wednesday so I got a long swim in and a few really good workouts. I’ll be able to ride my bike, run, walk and organize. Nothing else I can do. I will try to make use of this isolated time to really organize. I look in on my 95-year-old mom almost daily so I am socially isolating. (removed) and I have food in both our house and condo, so if we get sick, we can stay in. I have stocked up on vitamins and over-the-counter stuff so I am prepared.

My biggest worry is my mom, and hoping none of her caregivers get sick. My second worry is keeping well myself, and third is generating income.

In Conclusion

As you can see we are all dealing with a variety of issues as it relates to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Are you looking at these issues as a problem to solve or as something you have to deal with? Is this a challenge you are prepared to take on or are you worried and stressed?

If you look at these issues as challenges, you have a lot of hardiness. Check out the book review that one of the Career Pivot Community Members wrote about the book Hardiness: Making Stress Work for You to Achieve Your Life Goals.

After reading these posts, where are you emotionally? Please respond in the comments below.

Marc Miller

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