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A Decision-Making Framework for Re-Entering the World
Having a plan in place will make it easier to navigate the gray area ahead
A few weeks before shelter-in-place orders began, my family and I sat at our favorite restaurant weighing the pros and cons of taking a long-planned trip to Phoenix. After a brutal Minnesota winter, we needed some Vitamin D. Our kids would be disappointed if we bailed. Plus, we’d spent a good amount of money on flights, which we might not get back.
Despite all that, we decided it wasn’t worth the risk of getting ourselves, or others, sick. We stayed home. In hindsight, I’m relieved we didn’t travel during what became a global pandemic. But in the moment, I wished someone would just tell us what to do.
While the following weeks were full of anxiety, decision-making became easier in light of the obvious risk. The rules were clear-cut: Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Don’t go outside unless you have to.
Now, as communities begin to reopen, the black-and-white rules are once again blending into a murky gray area. It’s once again up to each of us to figure out what feels safe and what feels like too much of a risk.
For some people, that newfound freedom will feel refreshing. For others, it’s a nerve-wracking amount of responsibility. Sure, the day care is open, but does that mean you should send your toddler back? And yes, the shelter-in-place orders may have expired, but how safe is it really to go visit a friend?
Each of us is about to face a million decisions, big and small, about how to resume our lives. There’s no way to make it not stressful. And with so much in a state of flux, it’s unrealistic to say that you already know exactly what you’ll do.
But you can, and should, start to craft your re-entry principles. Having a framework for decision-making can give you something to reach for when you’re feeling overwhelmed by choice. It can help you avoid making poorly considered decisions down the road…
