Growth In The Time Of COVID

It’s time for yet another COVID-19 blog! We’ll probably keep running these intermittently until the worst of the crisis is over; hopefully, our next blog will be about something else. For now, we thought it would be appropriate to take a bit of a lighter tone and examine some of the things that you can do to grow when there’s a pandemic eating away at the global economy.

Growing your practice right now might be somewhat difficult, at least in the traditional sense. Unless you have years of experience representing medical supply companies, or you like to take cases involving event cancellations, you’re probably not going to find a glut of new clients looking to hire. That said, there’s plenty you can still do to ensure personal growth during this time.

Now is an excellent time to take online CLE courses. Consider taking courses that are outside of your norm. Staying indoors can lead to a feeling of stagnation, and leaving your comfort zone might help you beat cabin fever. 

On that very note, you’ll need to stay active when you’re cooped up indoors, and you might not have access to your usual outlets for exercising. You could opt to get a Peloton bike – one of the more extroverted exercises available, considering the circumstances. That’s not necessary, though. Take up bodyweight training; it’s incredibly inexpensive (basically free), you can do it anywhere, and it’ll give you an outlet for your energy. You might also opt to try yoga if you haven’t already – the combination of mindfulness and physical activity might be the perfect balm for these trying times.

You’ll need to keep your mind sharp. You’ll still be doing a lot of the work you’d usually do (see our previous blog post for tips on how to telework), but a lack of new environments can leave the mind wandering. Pursue creative activities; pick up a new hobby! Mastering a few dishes is an excellent idea right now; nothing soothes the soul like food! You could take a stab at writing – working on your own firm’s blog could be a great creative outlet that could pay dividends down the line. Paint, play an instrument, get started on a home improvement project. Not sure where to start with hobbies? The New York Times has an excellent guide; it breaks down how to schedule your time, find a hobby, the benefits of hobbying, and much more.

One of the greatest things you can do with your spare time is volunteer. You might volunteer as an attorney; there’s no telling how many COVID-related cases are going to crop up. You might volunteer in other places, from soup kitchens to crisis help lines. The nature of volunteering has already changed dramatically due to COVID, and there may be fewer volunteers – fear of the disease is very real. 

You don’t need to volunteer in an official capacity; going out of your way to help your neighbors can be enough. Pick up groceries for people vulnerable to the virus. Shovel someone’s driveway or mow someone’s lawn. Do what you can. You’ll grow relationships with new people, and you’ll grow as a person – all of that grows your practice.

About The Author

Colleen Burchfield: Colleen is a respected author and has worked as a staff writer for Gator Free Thought News since its inception. She particularly enjoys cooking, swimming, and watching documentaries when she’s not on a job.