Lockdown lessons #3
Lessons
from the lockdown:
Plan B – meaning an alternative strategy.
The
lock down has been all about Plan B, from home work to Work from Home. Today
with the absence of domestic help most of the work that was outsourced
including cooking is being done at home, non- cooks are learning and managing
with all the available help online. Home haircuts are becoming common and so
are home work outs. In short we have
found out ways to do things differently from how we used to and that throws up
a few challenges.
The
other day as we went shopping we drove around to find shops selling vegetables
that were not crowded and found one shop that was selling vegetables that had
opened newly. This shop was selling fruit juices and snacks earlier but with
the lockdown and the prohibitively high shop rent the shop keeper changed to
being a shop keeper. The fact that the shop keeper risked his health to procure
vegetables and sell it to make a living made me reflect. Today pay cuts, job
cuts are becoming rampant. With businesses failing expect many more to be
impacted and I am not immune to it too. So do we have a Plan B?
One
crucial thing that all must do is to scrupulously avoid wastage of all things
and save money at all times. Next is to brush up old skills, acquire new skills
and whatever that may be needed should a time arise to activate Plan B. When
people see adversity few see opportunity this lockdown and the days ahead may
be a good time to venture into the unknown, because this too shall pass and
when the tide turns it will be looking up if we are ready.
Going back to the first paragraph:
If you do all the things that your paid help was doing and you will continue to do them? What happens to your paid help?
If you continue cooking all the meals, gourmet or otherwise at home?
What happens to those working in the restaurants, those in the food business, the delivery executives who can eat if you do?
If you keep cutting your hair?
What happens to the hairstylist, who cannot say M.... pochu!!!
One man's expense is another man's income - read on LinkedIn
One man's expense is another man's income - read on LinkedIn
I do intend to employ house helps and that all you have mentioned would go back as it was before. Not that I cannot do it, but I would like some time for myself and also we support families by employing them. So yes, awaiting the lockdown to completely end. Btw, my help does come now, every alternate days and I ask her only to wash the clothes - rest I want to do until college partially reopens.
ReplyDeleteWhether it's the hair stylist or the cook at the restaurant, we are paying for the expertise of thier service.. those standards can't be in most home kitchens or with the household scissors.... so this goes back to base once normal life resumes ..
ReplyDeleteThe new normal as they are calling this phase... I am happy adapting to change situations,but also feel our house help etc should be paid their salary, i have also been paying fwd, ie go give money at my local store so he can give stuff to thsoe who cant afford it.. little help that I can extend :)
ReplyDeleteBut ya, it is good to see ppl adapting and quickly shifting gears to make the most of the situation