This article was contributed to us by Priya Surya from Goodwill, a homegrown digital will-writing service for Singaporeans.
The best way to thrive during a crisis is to use the opportunity it provides to change the status quo. This applies not only to our work, but also to our daily lives.
Here are 5 ways you can use of the lull time during this stay-home period to get some important life admin done.
#1 Organising Your Passwords
According to a Google-Harris Poll, 66% of people use the same passwords on different websites. And it’s clear why. They are hard to remember and a pain to create, but they also put your identity and finances at great risk.
Here’s where password managers like 1password and LastPass come in. A password manager will record the username and password you use when you first sign in to a website or service. Then, the next time you visit the website, it auto-fills the sign in page with your stored user login information. With a family account, you can add your own private logins, as well as shared logins for sites you share with your family – perfect for services like Netflix or Amazon Prime.
Shared vaults also ensure that your spouse or children will know where your financial accounts are held, and how to access them.
#2 Writing Your Will From The Safety of Home
A crisis like this can finally clarify the important things that we don’t usually have time to prioritise.
You may have thought about making guardianship arrangements and writing a will in the past, but what exactly is required? How much does it cost? Where would you have to go? And wouldn’t you have to do it all over again if circumstances change?
You can use Goodwill, or other services like it, to write a will online to make decisions where they belong — right at home. The app helps you add your family and wishes and create a comprehensive and valid will in minutes. Download and sign with two witnesses to make it legally binding, and store in a safe place. Update anytime.
If ever the time comes, your children and your assets will be cared for by those you choose. Learn more about writing a will here.
#3 Figuring Out Life Insurance
Do you have a spouse, children, or elderly parents who are dependent on your income? Or who may become dependent on your income in the future? Then getting some life insurance is a good idea. There are two main types—term life insurance and whole life insurance.
Term life insurance lasts for a set number of years before it expires. If you pass away before the term ends, your beneficiary receives a death benefit. A whole life policy has both a premium and cash value, could be 5x to 15x as expensive for the same amount of death benefit. But it gives you permanent coverage and you’re assured of some cash value should you wish to surrender it.
Do speak (remotely, of course) to a trusted financial adviser to understand all your options.
#4 Archiving Photos And Memories
If you’re like me, you may have accumulated photos in many laptops and hard drives over the years. And you may not always have managed to wrangle all your beautiful memories in one place.
Rather than using your own hardware which can dilapidate over time, using cloud storage services from Apple, Dropbox, or Google Photos. This can bring both peace of mind, and great joy for years to come, knowing that you’re preserving the things that are most important.
#5 Meditation And Mindfulness
Skipping the daily commute to work from home, you may find yourself with a little extra time, and some difficulty getting into a productive ‘zone’. You have to resist the pull of social media, whatever’s on Netflix, have a second breakfast, and all the other treats that may tempt us at home.
The key is to channel internal motivation rather than relying on external triggers to summon concentration. Mindful meditation creates awareness in the moment, improves focus, and helps battle stress and anxiety. Apps like Insight Timer and Headspace can be helpful for both beginners, as well as those renewing their practice.
As Winston Churchill once said, never let a good crisis go to waste. Use the urgency, and the time at home to level up, and get things done.
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