Like many, the COVID pandemic caught me very off guard. As the first cases were popping up in Washington and California, I was in-flight returning to Boston from an amazing ski trip in Salt Lake City. There was reason to be worried, but I naively believed this could be contained and mitigated.

Fast forward 1.25 years, and the world looks very different to me now, though it must be stated that I luckily escaped the pains and trauma that too many others have had to suffer.

As I return my focus to work/life balance, there are many unanswered questions about what this looks like. I’ve spent a year - arguably too much time - with my family in close quarters. My aging dog passed away at age 14 this week; I thankfully got to spend extra quality time with him too. There’s no commute to break up my day… that’s 2 hours I get to use how I see fit though my time management skills need further honing.

So what’s next after the summer? What’s the new normal?

My family and I have definitely learned a lot about each other, especially breaking points and annoyances. At the same time, we’ve been able to watch movies and go on hikes and just relax with each other routinely. This is the first time we have had this.

My employer and I have learned that smart people who got things done pre-pandemic are still smart people who get things done mid and post-pandemic. While workplace flexibility has always been a strength, we’re going to see how far it can be stretched.

In the end, while the pandemic has upended much of my former life, it has paved the way for a new paradigm of work-life balance and familial closeness, highlighting the untapped flexibility of our daily routines - a silver lining amidst these challenging times.