19 People around the World Share How They Prepare for a Post-COVID-19 World

Since its founding in 2015, impactmania always turns to the people who drive cultural, social, and economic impact. We now need their inspiration more than ever. We asked 19 impact makers how they are preparing for the new realities of a post-COVID-19 world.

Hilda Gomez works as a Human Resources Psychologist for several companies and has her own private practice. She lives in Puebla, a city about two hours outside of Mexico City, with her husband, who owns a travel agency, and daughter, who is a doctor. When Hilda is not working, she enjoys watching the sunset, listening to the birds singing, and running marathons. She has run six major city marathons around the world several times (New York, Chicago, Boston, Tokyo, Berlin, and London). Even under normal circumstances, she is very close to her parents and helps in taking care of them.

May 27, 2020

Natalie Gomez in Chino Hills, California messaged Hilda Gomez in Puebla, Mexico over WhatsApp.

Hilda Gomez and her husband ran the Berlin Marathon in September 2019, just before the outbreak of COVID-19.

What is your advice for preparing for post-COVID-19?

COVID-19 is surreal. As the epidemiologists have said, “The Coronavirus is here to stay.” This implies that what we need to start doing from now on is adapt. Every day new situations await us that require us to adapt. The main thing is to work with paradigms about health, the disease, and what is normal or what is abnormal. We must learn to manage our negative thoughts, stress, and fear. To form new habits in our lives, a better way to manage time, new ways of performing and distributing household chores, new ways to make purchases. Learning and optimizing the use of technology, differentiating what is essential from what is not essential. Staying at home, encouraging teamwork. 

Once the period of contingency or quarantine ends in the offices and industries, they need to work on preventive health programs, in many cases restructuring workspaces, as well as planning different shifts. They also have to set a schedule for their cafeterias to eat in shifts.

It will be essential that every person takes responsibility for taking care of themselves and caring for others. Continue to use a face mask, for example. Carry in our bag: soap, water, antibacterial gel, disposable wipes, a bag to throw away garbage, and their own bottle of water. On a trip to Tokyo I noticed that in the winter people on the streets wear a face mask and carry bags to store their trash. At work, do not share pens or stationery, and it is very important to keep a safe distance. We need to be aware of the messages our body sends us, at the very least symptoms of flu, so that we go to the doctor and isolate ourselves this way we also take care of others. 

Gyms and sports venues will also have to adopt many hygienic and preventive measures. It will be best to practice outdoor sports and exercise at home. Preferably to use stairs before elevators. Continue shopping online or try to go only once a month for purchases. I think where you’ll see a big impact is in the tourism, restaurants, theater, and music venues.

Hilda Gomez is currently self-isolating with her husband and daughter at their home in Puebla, Mexico.

How is this crisis changing you?

It has changed me in:

– Being more patient

– Having to learn new technologies to work with

– Implementing new ways to buy, wash, and store food

– Implementing new ways to keep working, be productive, and generate resources

– Doing more gardening at home

– Applying my own hair dye instead of going to a beauty salon

What will our story be post-COVID-19?

The history of humanity after COVID-19 will be that of the search for survival. Throughout human history we have had to adapt to geological, climatic, social, economic, and political changes. At the end of this pandemic I think there will be two types of stories to tell:

  1. The people who failed to adapt to the changes and devoted themselves to complain, be angry, give up, neglect themselves, and be aggressive with themselves and others. It will reflect in the increased rates of violence within the family, social violence, unemployment, hunger, poverty, and sickness. Desperate people who will lose their faith and hope because they could not adapt. An increase in people with depression, anxiety, drug addiction, alcoholism and even physical illnesses.
  2. The story of people who managed to adapt and who created new working ways. Those who generated more financial resources, learned new things, saved money because they stopped spending on un indispensable things. The people who improved their living and eating habits, started or continued to exercise, learned to handle pressures. The development of more united families in those who are fostering cooperation. Those who are being kind and supportive — people who helped others. People who survived because they managed to adapt, and who were very clear that their priority was to survive. People who strengthened their spirit and ability of being resilient.

 


impactmania’s past interviews and programs have been featured in international media, a number of universities, the UN, U.S. Consulates, and have been cited by Harvard Business School, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, and Duke University Press. impactmania’s Women of Impact program was awarded the U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy grant (2019).