I know that title is likely to turn people’s heads and may take some people aback. So before you read further, let me be really clear:
I am not saying that it would be awesome if you fell ill with the corona virus. I’m not saying that anyone getting sick is a good thing. I’m not saying the deaths resulting from COVID-19 are good.
What I am saying is that it just may be possible that being “stuck at home” could be the best thing that could ever happen for you. Especially if…
#1-You struggle with workaholism
It’s frighteningly easy to become a workaholic for one simple reason: it’s often much easier to see that we are winning at work than at home. Healthy relationships don’t often have measurable benchmarks; work success, on the other hand, is often very measurable in terms of paychecks, products sold, promotions achieved, and so on.
Because those things are so tangible, it’s very easy to give more and more time to them- because they make us feel successful- and less and less time to our relationships at home- where (let’s be honest)- we often feel like we’re out of our depth.
Don’t get me wrong- there are some instances where a person absolutely must work more than they should in order to pay the bills and put food on the table. I’m not knocking that. However, most of the folks I see struggle with workaholism are not on the verge of going broke…they are seeking validation.
If you’re working remotely, you can’t “stay at the office” longer and longer hours. Which is going to be a good thing, because if you’re a workaholic chances are…
#2- You’re on the verge of burnout (or are already there)
I do think that there are times where we call something “burnout” and it’s not really burnout- it’s just extreme fatigue. However- that is certainly a precursor to real burnout. And if you’re burning the candle at both ends as a workaholic, then you’re probably on the fast-track to burnout.
Or, you’re already there. Carey Nieuwhof has a fantastic read on 11 signs you might be burning out. I’d encourage you to read it and see if it describes you.
If so- whether you’re already there or heading there- more time at home may be exactly what you need for one simple reason: it gives you a chance to REST.
If you don’t have to get up before the sun comes up to beat traffic, and if you get off and are literally home at the same time, you’ve suddenly got a chance to catch up on sleep and begin to recover.
An extended time of being stuck at home may feel frustrating at first…but it may be that you end up getting the rest you need. And you being more rested and in a better mood, which will help you in what matters most because…
#3- You’re marriage is struggling
A healthy marriage demands time and energy. If you’re addicted to being at work and you’re burning/ burnt out, then I know this about you: you don’t have the energy to give the time to your marriage.
As a result, love begins to grow cold. Intimacy turns into distance. And many if not most conversations escalate into a fight over something ultimately unimportant.
If you’re stuck at home and getting more rest, that means you’ll begin to have the time and energy to put into your marriage. What if it turned out that the COVID-19 crisis ended up being THE THING that saved your marriage?
Not only would that change you…it would be the best gift you could give to the rest of your family because…
#4- You’re relationship with your children is strained
It’s practically impossible to have a great relationship with children when you’re never around, you’re never engaged, and you’re always fighting with your spouse. That doesn’t create a space where children can trust. It creates an environment where children act out to get your attention, walk around on eggshells when they do get it because it’s anger, and eventually check out because they don’t think you care.
Being stuck at home gives you the chance to be present with your children. It gives you a chance to spend quality time with them, to have meaningful conversations, and perhaps clear up years of misunderstanding between you and them.
It also gives you a chance to explore with them- if you’re wanting to be really bold- the mistakes you have made and what they would like you to do to correct them.
However, none of this will matter- or last- if….
#5- You’ve neglected your relationship with Jesus
One of the things I see over and over in people’s lives when they become busy is that the first thing to go is Jesus. There’s “no time” to read the Bible, pray, go to church and so on.
Guess what? That time you spent on your commute, or your hobby, or going out with people can be redeemed by turning it towards time with God.
Perhaps for the first time in your life you now have the chance to have a significant quiet time. You have the chance to pray. You have the chance to- since you’re not traveling on the weekend- to sit back and tune into church online every week.
Being stuck at home gives you a chance to pursue Jesus like never before. And when that happens, then and ONLY THEN will the other changes that need to occur be lasting, and then and only then will being “stuck at home” be the best thing that could happen to you and I.