Recession lessons: Back to basics
One thing this recession has done is to bring us back to the basics. For the time leading up to it, we were living sky high. Most were. Lifestyles had improve dramatically, and more people had money to burn. More people starting having other do their basics for them, such as cutting the grass, fixing things around the house, cleaning, etc. And the companies that service those areas that are being hit hard by this recession.
I started thinking about this yesterday while I was working out in the yard (hence why I had no post yesterday). The weather was beautiful. Last week it was snowing, yesterday it was in the mid-70′s. I went out and finished those things I didn’t have a chance to do last fall, like getting the yard raked up, etc. I got bushes trimmed. I got some grass seed down. Worked on organizing my shed.
Although I never got caught up in paying other people to do that kind of work, I could have. For a large part of last year I was flying across the country weekly. When I wasn’t traveling like crazy I was balancing a full load between work and school. Not everything got done when and how I wanted it to, but eventually it got done.
There is a value in hard-work. I’ve been tightly sprung since last fall, and nothing I have been able to do has been able to relax me. Those who have worked full-time and gone to school full-time can relate. Once the semester is on it’s 100% go go go attitude to get through it. Your goal is to hit that break between and get some rest. What happened on my break? My wife was laid of and we were struggling to survive. What a break.
This week is spring break for me. I decided I’m not going to hit the books till later this week. For now, I’m just going to be a regular dad and husband. The best medicine for this stress? A day of busting my rear outside getting things done. Sure I am sore, but looking at what I did yesterday, I can hang my hat on it.
That’s a lesson we need to pull from this recession. Those who kept with the basics and didn’t get caught up in all the hype are doing much better than those who did. If don’t have time to do the basics because you are out having fun, then you need to reevaluate your position. If you are having to work 2-3 jobs to cover your bills, then you’re buying too much.
You can’t even make it anywhere until you’ve mastered the basics. This recession is proving that.
