COVID Shutdown 2021: How to be prepared

August 04, 2021 • 5 min read

COVID hit the world like a bag of bricks. What everyone thought was going to be a short-term, minor "flu-like" sickness turned into over a year of hell and challenges. The first shutdown caused mayhem in the economy requiring the government to try and step in and help but most efforts have failed or just been a bandaid.

Just think about your life during the first COVID shutdown in 2020, how did it affect you? Did you struggle? Were there times where you were worried about the future and how you would make it or pay bills?

No matter what your opinion is, or which side of the aisle you fall, I think we can all agree another shutdown would make a bad situation worse.

What do you do if there is a Delta variant shutdown?

So, what do you do? How do you prepare?

While things currently remain open for the most part, we are starting to see another shutdown begin. We hoped that 2021 would see things return to normal, get back on track and watch our problems go away, we are actually seeing things get worse again.

Another COVID shutdown could go either way with the economy, businesses, and jobs. In 1 way, we've been through it already so we have a level of preparedness that might make it easier. At the same time, many people are still recovering from the first shutdown so another one might be the final nail in the coffin.

Talks of another shutdown are scary. You barely survived the first one and you're still trying to get on your feet, how would you handle another one?

The important thing to do is start planning now.

Even if it doesn't happen, it's better to be prepared and not need it than to need it and not be prepared. So, it's time to start planning.

How to budget if there is another shutdown

The biggest challenge people faced was money. Many people lost their jobs or incomes and struggled to pay rent and bills. Even with government assistance, it was hard, if not impossible. You might even still be trying to recover financially today.

If your plan is to rely on more government assistance, you might be in trouble. Economies can't rely on those stimulus packages. It has devastating effects on the economy and the government knows that, that is why they are so careful with approving them.

It's going to be on you. You need to start budgeting now. You need a plan to cut expenses and build an emergency fund. Figure out a budget based on the bare necessities.

You need to pay your rent or mortgage. You need to feed yourself. You need to have utilities and insurance. You don't need Netflix, Hulu, cable, and 6 other streaming services. You don't need to Doordash food when the grocery store is just down the road.

Calculate what you need to cover the necessities, and work to build a stockpile of cash to cover these expenses for at least 6 months. 6 months is the minimum you should shoot for because as we saw with the last shutdown, it could last longer.

How another shutdown will affect your income

Continuing with money, what happens if you lose your job? Now, some good news is companies are now prepared to work remotely and handle a shutdown but if their problem is a lack of business, they will be forced to cut their workforce. If that includes you, what do you do?

It depends on you. Want another job? make sure your resume is ready. Do your research now and find companies and jobs that survived or did well in the recession. Start a list so you can know where you'll want or need to apply. You won't be the only one seeking new jobs so it's best to be first.

The next option that saw a lot of success in the first shutdown was to start a business. There are so many businesses you can start, the best thing to do is start brainstorming and planning. If we have another COVID shutdown, you'll have a lot of time to work on a side business, don't let it go to waste.

Start creating a business plan now for what you'd want to do. One great way to look at it is, we've been through one shutdown and there are so many documented new startup success stories that you can look at them for inspiration. Can you copy them and make improvements? Or bring it to your local market?

A shutdown could cut off your income source quickly and if you don't have a plan to replace it, you might be in trouble.

Addressing your mental health during a 2021 shutdown

The last thing we'll talk about is your mental health. This is something most people brush under the rug or are too embarrassed to talk about but it's real and many people suffered in the first shutdown. You need to focus on your mental health and make that a priority.

The good news is it's a lot easier to take care of your mental health than you might think. What is one of the biggest things people feel when they are depressed or their mental health is failing, they feel worthless. So, make yourself have worth.

Continue to work on your goals and move forward in life. Just because the world is in another shutdown, doesn't mean it has to hold you back. Use the time in a productive manner. Maybe you find a new hobby, work on online classes or certifications to move up in the workforce, read books, start the business you've always wanted. There are a ton of opportunities, you just have to look for them.

Another thing you can do is start journaling. Take 15-30 minutes every day to write down your thoughts. It is no secret, it has been documented in many studies that journaling has a hugely positive effect on your mental health.

From reducing stress to managing anxiety and depression, to helping your sort and solve your own problems. There is sometimes a negative stigma with journaling, seeing it as childish or a waste of time, the truth is, it works.

Journaling is simple, and it doesn't matter if you're a good writer or not. You're writing for yourself. Just write anything about how you're feeling, what's going on, what you're struggling with, a win you've had in life. You can handwrite on a piece of paper or type it up on your computer, it doesn't matter, just do it.

Even just basic planning can work for journaling and improving your mental health. The act of daily planning and writing can have the same benefits.

You'll start to notice the improvement in your mood and mental health rather quickly, maybe as soon as you write your first entry.

Be prepared for the next COVID shutdown

Now, you may be saying, "there won't be another shutdown, I don't have to worry about that" but people said the same thing about the first shutdown. No one thought it was going to last nearly a year. No one thought so many people would lose their jobs and business. I bet they wish they had a better plan going into the first shutdown.

It's up to you if you want to be ready for another shutdown. If you choose to plan now and be prepared, you'll be ready for another shutdown and even if there isn't another shutdown in 2021, you'll have set a better foundation in your life and be stronger going forward.

If you choose to not plan, you'll only be hurting yourself. If there is another covid shutdown, you'll be unprepared and struggle more than someone with a plan. Even if there isn't a shutdown, you'll be no better off than you are now. The person who planned will be ahead no matter what.

Boss Personal Planners can help you plan better

We created our planners out of necessity. We needed something to improve our lives, make better progress, and accomplish goals. The easiest way to improve your life is to create a plan and then work on that plan. Sometimes it's easier said than done which is why we made our planners easy to create and follow. Breaking down big goals into small, easy-to-achieve goals. With over 75,000 customers, we've helped a lot of people improve their lives.