Five Postive Effects of Covid-19
These have been the darkest of days for so many people, for so many different reasons. It is a virus that has affected everyone in the worst possible way.
So how can there be any positives? Well, this has given us all time to reflect and evaluate our lives. It’s through this time of reflection we have gained a greater perspective on what really matters to us.
Covid-19 has taken away so much from us, the one thing I have kept saying throughout this is “I’m not in control of my life anymore”. Once you know you can’t control something you are forced to think of other positive ways you can control your life. So you focus your life on the things you can control and your mindset changes.
So here are my five reasons why we as wedding professionals have found the positive in these dark times.
1. Gained Perspective
This has been the case for both couples and suppliers. Couples have been forced to move their wedding. Some couples have moved their wedding three times, which must be heartbreaking.
I know right now everyone feels really anxious about weddings. In the main the wedding industry has been forced to the bottom of the pile for the government to look at. The means a 10 billion a year income has been left in tatters. Right now we have more questions than answers. The recovery process for our industry has been painfully slow. Speaking personally we haven’t completed a booking since March 7th and I honestly don’t know when our next booking will be.
Our diary changes daily with bookings being constantly moved. Then you start to see how much work you have to complete next year and it feels incredibly overwhelming. Then you stop to think. As I mentioned earlier, there is nothing I can do to change this and sadly there is nothing the couples can do to change this either. You begin to gain perspective.
All I can do is treat each booking as fairly as I can and move it to the new date and not worry about the amount of work I have. The wrong thing to do is look at this as a huge mountain to climb. The right way to look at it would be to say I can only complete one booking at a time and make steps to ensure I do every I can to make that booking the very best possible.
For couples, this has given them time to evaluate their big day and what is really important to them. When the big day does come around they will look forward it so much more. Those attending will be there without the worry and restrictions in place. All the worry will have gone and your just left with the very best day, the day you always dreamed off.
2. Rest & Relaxation
This has been the biggest positive for all wedding suppliers. We never have any time off once the wedding seasons kicks in. Our normal working week would be planning for the weekend, then completing the bookings themselves. So in the height of summer these weeks are incredibly busy.
Here we are at the end of July without a booking in sight. I can’t lie it’s taken a bit of getting use to. I have really enjoyed spending this time with my friends and family. Days out and evening drinks have been much needed and given me that perspective I spoke about earlier.
I have also taken on new projects which include starting a Podcast, a lot of new marketing ideas, I’ve continued writing blogs and creating YouTube videos. I’ve done all of these things with a clear mind which helps with my productivity.
3. New Love For What We Do
So with this new perspective, being relaxed and rested with a clear mind gives you a new love for what you do.
For any business owner you work so hard to achieve all the goals you set yourself, your business becomes a labour of love which needs constant attention. The rewards aren’t always financial, the best feeling is when you receive a wonderful review or testimonial from a happy couple. These mean more to you than money, they give you a warm fuzzy feeling which can’t be explained.
In these strange and uncertain times when your business has effectively been taken away from you realise why you love what you do so much. I miss being at an evening reception, seeing guests laughing, drinking, dancing and being happy. I miss seeing couples having their first dance, I miss seeing tears of joy during the father-daughter dance. I miss summer evenings doing the one thing I love most, playing music and the wonderful effects music has on people.