135 days later (that’s how long I’ve been in quarantine) and the face of the world has changed forever.
I keep track of my quarantine days on a wall calendar. I think it’s a great way to stay sane. lol.
So many things that one took for granted in the pre-pandemic world are no longer possible or outright dangerous.
For instance, we may never be able to shake hands again.
While I don’t specifically hate that, handshaking was a great way for me to get a quick read on the personality of a person I’m meeting for the first time.
We’re about to enter into Stage 3 of COVID-19 reopening plans minus the GTA and other parts of southern Ontario.
The lockdown on the border between the US and Canada is now tighter than drum skin.
Wearing masks indoors is now mandatory almost everywhere in the GTA.
Some people are not happy and protesting. Some people are downright having vicious arguments about wearing masks.
And some people are viewing it as a move to curtail their freedoms. Everyone is entitled to their opinion no matter how ridiculous it is.
However, I like my lungs and I’d like them to stay healthy so I’m wearing a mask.
I only go out once a week to grocery shop anyway or pick up take out so I have the mask on for less than 2 hours.
I really don’t think wearing a mask is a big deal. I keep immunocompromised people safe from me and I keep myself away from joining the patients at the overwhelmed ICU.
Until a vaccine for Coronavirus is developed, it sounds like a win-win scenario to me but that’s just me.
You can keep track of Canada’s Coronavirus updates HERE.
For more on different kinds of masks and the best ones for normal everyday use, have a look at this infographic from 3M.
Working from Home During the Pandemic
Work-wise not much has changed except I can no longer go to coffee shops or the library to work.
I work exclusively at home. It was tedious in the beginning but now I have a routine all worked out.
I also had to properly equip my workspace so I could provide coaching and consulting services more effectively.
I live in an apartment building and it’s not always as quiet as I’d like but noise-canceling headphones are one of the greatest inventions ever.
Overall, I’m grateful I still don’t need to fall back on CERB after all this time.
The hardest thing for me has been staying in one place since January. I’m an avid traveler and I had a list of places in North America I was going to explore.
In fact, I was in the middle of making travel arrangements to Barbados when I started getting alarmed at COVID-19 news around mid-February.
I canceled and locked myself up like 3 weeks before #canceleverything and #lockdown hashtags started trending everywhere.
Hopefully, someday soon, I will be able to start traveling again.
Over in the US, ever since their president started using the pandemic as an excuse to push his anti-immigration agenda, more entrepreneurs are looking to Canada as a startup option.
So don’t get discouraged if you were planning to immigrate to Canada under the self-employed program.
Though the processing time may have slowed down due to the pandemic situation, you can still send in your application.
That’s it on my end for the moment. If you’re feeling a bit down because of the quarantine, have a look at The Positive Sides of Quarantine.
Stay safe!
This post may contain affiliate links which means I will make a small commission if you purchase through those links. Read full disclosure HERE.