Lockdown 2.0. Truth be told, I’m a little flat.

No doubt it’s going to be a very interesting time over the next six weeks in Victoria during the new ‘lockdown’ period. There can be no doubt, it’s likely to be a challenging time for many of us as we juggle changing working environments and home-schooling commitments while managing the associated stress of paying the bills and running the COVID gauntlet whilst doing the shopping.

However, what option do we have but to push on and make the best of a bad situation. Recently, I’ve made a conscious choice to focus on what I can control and block out what I can’t. An old Football coach of mine would always spruik, “Control the Controllables”, to the point where it now permanently resides deep in my subconscious. Over the years I have often thought of my coach’s sage advice when I have met with difficult circumstances – and I think Lockdown 2.0 qualifies.

So, in an effort to ‘control the controllables’, I write lists. My daily ‘to do’ lists, and the more broad monthly objectives works surprisingly well. My lists allow me to focus my attention where it is needed and not get distracted with the daily grind.

I wanted to share my Lockdown List in the hope that it motivates you to create your own and hopefully put you in a stronger financial and personal space come late September.

So here it goes:

FINANCIAL

Contact all my utility providers and ask for more competitive pricing on my gas, water and electricity bills.
Review my budget to see what discretionary expenses I can decrease while I need to stay home.
Look at any debts I have such as my mortgage and see if I can get a discounted rate or refinance to another bank with a better rate. This is a big one - please get in contact with me if you this is something you are going to do. Either I can contact the bank on your behalf, or I can give you some guidelines on what to say when you ring your bank yourself.

PERSONAL

Set myself a daily exercise regime I can complete from home.
Contact friends and family more often to check in on them.
Learn a new skill / increase my knowledge base by reading regularly, participate in webinars, or complete a short on-line course.
Learn to play the guitar (apologies in advance to anyone within earshot).

While I may not always be successful, I can promise that I will give the items on my list a crack and focus my energy towards something positive. Who knows, we may come out of this in the best shape of our lives.

Stay safe.
Michael