As we continue in our time of quarantine, it occurs to me that each of us has an opportunity for a do-over. What’s really interesting is that many people may not have even realized or wanted a do-over. A do-over is often used for second chances or when we don’t like the results of a situation. Then, like children who don’t win when playing a game, we look for an opportunity to “do-over.”

So often, do-overs do not really give us a fresh start, but COVID-19 is giving each of us an opportunity to do just that.

For most of us, even if we have been homeschooling children and working from home, we are finding that our lives have really slowed down. No more activities for our children, no evening meetings, no running here and there. Instead, we have been given an opportunity to experience life with our families in a way that we would have never selected on our own.

Instead of eating dinner on the run, we are enjoying dinner around the table—together!

Instead of trying to get homework done in the car as we drive from activity to activity, our kids are getting homework done during the day, or early evening.

Instead of passing family members like ships in the night, we are getting to know each other again.

It really is a DO-OVER.

But, anytime we get a do-over, we must look to see what lessons we learn and how we can apply those lessons to be even better going forward.

Like you, I am looking forward to being able to go to restaurants again, shop freely in stores, and enjoy gatherings and outings. But, before we rush to engage in those activities, perhaps it is time to really look at our lives as we have lived them through quarantine.

Personally, I have discovered that I am no longer walking around in a state of exhaustion. Those first couple of weeks, I was sleeping 9-10 hours every night but as my body has “recovered,” I have settled into a nightly pattern of sleeping 7-7.5 hours every night. I am feeling so much better now that I am not exhausted all the time.

I have also re-discovered the gift of having daily, in-depth and meaningful conversations with my spouse as we linger over dinner because neither of us is rushing to get to an activity or meeting.

Families everywhere are enjoying each other as they play games, solve puzzles, and spend time together—in the house, not in the car or on the road.

I am enjoying the feeling of having closets cleaned out and cabinets organized—it has been years since some of them were cleaned out.

And so, now I am beginning to look at what I want life to look like when quarantine ends. I believe that every situation or circumstance offers an opportunity to learn and if we choose not to learn from the situations, then it is our loss.

Before rushing back to life, take a few minutes to determine what you like about this time at home and what you have learned. To help you, we have created a worksheet that can be copied for each member of your family to create a life you love.

What are you currently doing that you want to continue?

What are you currently doing that needs to end?

What did you used to do that you are really missing?

What do you want to continue to do?

What new things have you discovered during this time?

Perhaps its time for you and your family to be really honest about what you like to do and what you don’t like to do. Perhaps all of you have been doing things because they were expected of you. Now is the time for a do-over—for you all to decide how you want to move forward.

Obviously, there are some things that we have to do even if we don’t like to do them, toilets must be cleaned and teeth must be brushed, but what if going to an activity every night is not something you and your family want to do? What if, you made the decision to not put in really long hours working so you could enjoy more family time in the evening?

How could your life be different?

It’s time to have a conversation with the entire family to determine how you will live out your do-over. Use this worksheet to guide your conversations, making sure you give everyone a chance to talk about what their ideal life would look like. Now is your chance to create the Awesome Crazy Life you would love to live.