I will admit, there are plenty of subjects that I feel incredibly unqualified to talk about.

I don’t know a ton about technology.

I have never ridden in an Uber or stayed in an AirBnB (although I am currently learning about their origins in the book The Upstarts).

I do not have any friends named Alexa and I have never held an iPhone. (In fact, the most recent phone I was physically able to touch looked like this.)

I don’t know what kinds of fun things people do around town.

Bars and restaurants are closed? I have not been to one in years. (Recently I mentioned a local restaurant I wanted to try with Stephanie. Apparently it went out of business nearly a decade ago.)

I don’t know much about current trends.

Popular shows, fashion, or the latest chart topping songs? Definitely not categories I would pick on Jeopardy.

My increasing physical challenges over the past decade have kept me confined between the four walls of my house for years now. With the exception of a hospital visit a year ago and the follow-up appointment a few months later, I literally have not left my house since my wedding in 2016.

To be honest, a lot of my view of the world is largely shaped by what I see from behind my computer screen, and is accompanied by the feeling that I am out of touch, behind the times, or even from a completely different era.

But now I see that people are panicking about how to “survive” during an indefinite period of social distancing in environments of thermostat-controlled homes with running water and, in most cases, full refrigerators.

What?

I keep seeing posts from disgruntled citizens who see no alternative to passing the time in the coming weeks by binging Netflix.

Seriously?

I may not be an expert on much, but I know what it looks like to be stuck at home.

If there is one thing I’m certain of, it is that our lives do not get any better when we passively check out and turn off our brains while we wait for outside factors to blow over.

So why not take advantage of this opportunity in front of us?

Here are just a few easy ways to make the most of the time while the world is essentially on pause:

1. Shift your perspective

Write out the top five frustrations you have about dealing with this pandemic. Now, for each one, ask yourself, “Will this matter in a month? A year? A decade? 100 years?”

 Let’s find anchors to put our hope in that cannot be shaken by a virus or the fluctuation of the stock market and that will have lasting importance no matter the timeframe.

2. Read a book that makes you think

Nothing has expanded my mind and my view of the world quite like reading. My preferred topics lately include faith, history, manhood, and business. Download a list of my favorite 25 books here.

3. Journal for 5+ minutes each day

Get your best ideas onto paper before they are forgotten, clarify your thinking, and have a record of your thoughts to re-examine later in order see how your perspective has shifted over time.

Journaling has been an absolute game-changer for me by showing me just how much I have grown in certain areas. Additionally, it has served as a turbocharge for writing and other creative ideas.

4. Learn a new language

We may not be able to travel internationally anytime soon but that shouldn’t stop us from learning about other parts of the world. Learning a new language is also a phenomenal way to strengthen and develop our brains.

Right now I’m using the free app Duolingo for one lesson a day of Spanish (takes less than five minutes), while Stephanie is learning French. Competing with friends on the “leaderboard” makes this immensely more enjoyable than some nightmare of flashbacks to flashcards in high school.

5. Make a gratitude list

Stephanie and I implemented this practice last year when we recognized we were both experiencing a temptation toward dissatisfaction. Fixating on what we don’t have only fuels disappointment and frustration.

Here’s the simple routine we began: Each evening we sent each other a quick email of three things we were thankful for from the day. It could be profound or trivial, but the point was to focus our attention on what is good, rather than wishing for an alternative situation.

6. Kickstart a new venture

I know you keep pushing that blog idea, small business concept, or other creative project to the back of your mind, for example www.dlouhygaragedoorrepair.com/. The “I don’t have time” excuse is currently off the table. There may be no better time to set the groundwork in place so that you can hit the ground running when some sense of normalcy returns. Why not get started today?

7. Commit to a Bible reading plan

I kept a Bible right next to my alarm clock in my college apartment, assuming that having to look at it every day would automatically lead to reading. I always told myself, “When I find the time, I am really going to get serious about this.” Unfortunately that time did not come until I was looking for answers in the aftermath of a life-changing accident.

Once I finally ramped up my effort to dive deeper, I began to understand more about just how life-changing the truths of this book could be.

I generally switch up my reading plan from year to year, but I recently came across a plan that incorporates video as a supplement for better understanding. You can download the free plan here.

8. Prioritize people

The most redemptive aspect of the last decade since my accident has been having the time to connect with family and friends on a whole new level. Stephanie and I are convinced that the opportunity we’ve had to connect with each other with very few outside distractions has been extremely crucial for the foundation of our marriage.

The people you share a roof with (or can connect with via video chat) are immensely more interested in what you have to say than your social media followers or your coworkers. With less distractions, let’s be intentional about loving the ones we’re with.

A world of “social distancing” is not going to last forever.

Take a deep breath. Stop looking at your stock portfolio. Turn off the news. Let’s focus on what we can actually control.

How great would it be to look back at this confusing time as one the most fruitful seasons of our lives?

Let’s make it count.

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For more Coronavirus reading, check out last week’s post: 5 things to think about instead of the Coronavirus

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To follow my journey via e-mail click here

I released a mini e-book to commemorate ten years since my accident. Check it out here

Have you seen my resource list? Hope this can help

Check out my list of 25 favorite books