Mala Sharma, 48, Engineering Manager, Michigan
With ONE word, how do you hope to come out of this quarantine?
"Healthy"
What was the effect of COVID-19 on your routine?
"My last day at work, which was also my last day out of the house, was March 11. My routine has been affected in the following ways:
(a) Smart work from home instead of working at office
(b) Not going out to shop for groceries or other items
(c) Not eating out at restaurants or ordering food from outside
(d) Having kids at home from school."
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What is one realization you’ve had about yourself or the world?
"We truly do not have any control over our future.Even something as microscopic as a virus can destroy the best laid plans. The correct approach to live life is do your best in life and not worry about the future."
What works and doesn’t work while in quarantine? (open-ended)
"I like the ability to work from home as I am saving time spent on travel and still getting all the work done. I am not necessarily getting any more free time as there is more cooking and house related work that need to be done. I do like the fact that I am trying many new recipes nowadays and our family is eating healthier. I do not like the fact that we do not get enough exercise during the day as walking is limited to within the house. The weather is still too cold here to walk out everyday. I like being able to spend more time with the kids as all of us are home at the same time. We are able to eat more meals together as a family as everyone is not in a rush to get somewhere. I miss having the freedom to go out and buy what you need when you need it. Everything has to be more planned now. I miss being able to meet people in person. Though, we are still managing to connect through phone calls and video chats."
In what ways have you shown self-improvement?
"I am getting better at telecommuting (work from home). I am making more time for exercising and cooking."
If you had to give your “pre-quarantine” self a piece of advice, what would that be?
"Don't sweat the small stuff and don't worry too much about the future. Do the best you can."