How we can get through this pandemic stronger than before

What will we learn from the COVID-19 crisis? It's a vital question with applications at all levels of life, from the emergency preparedness of entire nations to the calibration of toddler screen time in my household. It's also a question I'm not ready to think about. Life feels too hour-by-hour. 

But it's a crucial task and I'm glad someone has the headspace to get started now. In his LinkedIn Weekend Essay from The Precipice: Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity, Oxford's Toby Ord sagely asks what will this crisis teach us that will prepare us for — or, even better, help us avoid — the next one. "Being confronted by the weaknesses of our society is distressing, but it should not be disempowering," says Ord. 

We are not through this crisis yet and Ord acknowledges the many challenges ahead, but he also looks beyond them. “There will be a period of reflection on our mistakes; of blame and anger; of despair and division. But we will also find new possibilities opening up, spurred by the shared goal of never going through this again," he writes. I may not be ready with any pithy answers about what we will learn from the crisis myself, but I’m heartened by Ord’s sentiment. Read more here: How humanity may come through this pandemic stronger than before.

?? Don't go it alone ??

Social distancing can be hard. "We are social creatures — I am ANTI social-distancing and pro physical distancing," LinkedIn member Lisabeth Rosenberg told us in the comments of our live show #BusinessUnusual this week. 

If you're working from home or feeling the strain of these unnerving times, consider swinging by when we go live Tuesday through Friday at noon eastern from the LinkedIn Editors page. My colleague Caroline Fairchild and I take turns hosting and this week I brought a bit of #BookIt to the show. I spoke with Dr. Vivek Murthy, former U.S. Surgeon General and author of the upcoming book Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World.

Early on in his tenure as surgeon general, Murthy went on a listening tour of the U.S. to find out what people really needed help with. He was surprised that beyond obvious issues like opioids, obesity, and vaping, one thing came up indirectly over and over again — loneliness. Sometimes it was driving health problems, sometimes it was a consequence of them, but it was making people's lives worse. Now that loneliness feels like it’s everywhere — and may be easier for some to talk about — Dr. Murthy discussed ways we can cope, including finding ways to help others. 

Author and clinical psychologist Dr. Rick Hanson also joined me to talk about what we might do to find a sense of calm. Some of the ideas he shared come from his upcoming book Neurodharma: New Science, Ancient Wisdom, and Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness. One easy-to-apply bit of advice? Try taking three deep breaths. On the first, be aware of the space your body is taking up. On the second, bring to mind someone (could even be a pet!) who likes you. And on the third think of someone you care about and focus on thoughts of love, friendliness, and kindness. I did it in the middle of our live broadcast. And if I could find a moment of calm in that frenzied environment, I hope you can as well. 

Thank you for reading. Get in touch with your ideas and questions about #BookIt. You can subscribe with the button at the top of this article if you'd like to receive the newsletter weekly.