What I realized after 2 weeks of COVID-19 quarantine

This is my very first article on LinkedIn and I'm glad to start in a way that presents one of my character's aspects and core values: Optimism.

Optimism: Is it something easy to achieve? No, not always. Is it something worthwhile trying to achieve? Definitely!

What has triggered me to do so is a walk that I took after my lunch the other day and enjoyed the surroundings of my house and of the greater neighborhood. I was wandering around and looking normal daily stuff that looked beautiful. And then I realized how refreshing such a walk can be. Furthermore, I realized that I wouldn't have done this walk if it wasn't for the quarantine; I would have chosen to do something different. Not because that other thing would be necessarily something better or fancier, but because I would have taken this walk for granted (my house is there anyways, my neighborhood too, come on, I can do a walk whenever; or just...never).

And then it stroke me: How many things am I doing differently these days with all the consequences that we're facing due to the Covid-19 and the quarantine? How many of these things have shaken up my daily routine, my habits, my way of seeing everyday life? How many of these things have actually a positive impact on me, in my daily life and on those around me? I started to mentally create a list of all the positive things I could count. I soon realized than with every step, the list was growing longer. It grew so long, that I couldn't keep it in my brain's short-term memory. So, what I did was to shut down my thoughts and continue enjoying my walk.

But this time I had a goal in mind: to create a list of all those positive things upon my return back home. And that's exactly what I did, and I am sharing it here with you.

It is a work in progress as I am sure that I can add more bullets as the days go by. I also did a simple categorization for easier reference, but no special ordering.

Health

1. You can sleep more.
2. You have better food quality and food choices (ok, you need to put a little extra effort for the second part).
3. You have more time for training and exercise (yes, even in your living room).
4. You get to know more types of (online and offline) training and exercise (Yoga, HIIT, Tabata).
5. You have a more minimal way of living. Fewer choices, less noise, less stress. You focus on the most important things and activities.

Personal

1. You (should) have more time. Period.
2. You can share more moments with your family (if you live close to each other).
3. You can spend more quality time with your friends and family (you plan your time to speak to them via telephone or video).
4. You have more time to enjoy your home.
5. You can live with less material goods (clothes, shoes, jewels, you name it).
6. You have fewer expenses.
7. You realize who really cares about you and for whom you really care about.
8. You have less day-to-day obligations.
9. You appreciate more the things that you weren't paying so much attention to (this old granny's library isn't that bad at last, no?)
10. You realize that time is not the only constraint for not doing something as you've been constantly complaining. (You have more time now, are you doing all those things that you were putting off?)
11. You focus on what you really can control and not in factors outside of your control.
12. You realize the blessing of having a home to live in.
13. You have more time to invest in (or test) your relationship with your wife/husband/kids.
14. You have more time to read books.
15. You have more time to watch movies or series.
16. You have more time to invest in yourself or to learn a new skill.
17. You have more time to spend with yourself, to do a self-introspection.
18. You have more time to lie in bed.
19. You have more time to make love.
20. You have more time to dream.
21. You can listen to more records.
22. You can spend more time with your pets.
23. You can spend more time by your fireplace. (Ok, I am guilty about this. I have one and I love it!)
24. You can enjoy more the comfort of your toilet. (Sorry for taking away the romance here, but is there anyone who doesn't appreciate this?!)
25. You are more grateful for the trivial daily things you normally take for granted (ie internet, technology).
26. You have more time to finally review and classify your old photos (analog or digital). Who doesn't have it as a task in his to-do list in a digital world where we take at least 3 identical photos for any instance of our life?

Professional

1. You can experiment and gain experience from different types of work (working remotely).
2. You find more (creative) ways to communicate and collaborate with your team (remote working tools, online platforms, collaborative boards, and canvases).
3. You have more opportunities and options to get online courses, services, and subscriptions at a reduced price, or even free of charge.
4. You have more time to update your LinkedIn profile and your CV.
5. You have more time to do stuff outside of your professional comfort zone: Write articles, create a blog, start a podcast or a YouTube channel about subject(s) that you have expertise in.

Global

1. Nature is breathing. Literally. Less street/air traffic, less CO2 emissions, less environmental pollution, more fresh and clear air above the big cities' skies.
2. You realize the power of online communities. The way that various communities reacted on-the-spot was astounding: Sharing knowledge and experience on remote working, offering help and advice, providing online webinars and organizing small conferences. There've been even online fitness events that have been set up in just a few days!
3. You realize the unity of the globalized world, the empathy and the support that one can give to another in general.

Feel free to write in comments your positive perspectives and I will enhance the list :-)

(Note: I'm not saying that there are no negatives in this unprecedented situation we're all living in, but I'd rather focus on the positives and this is the scope of this article.)