A Time Capsule from March 2020: Navigating Uncertainty and Finding Control
Looking Back: A Message from March 2020
A Moment in Time
It’s hard to believe how much has changed since March 2020—and how many lifetimes it feels like we’ve lived since then. That month marked the beginning of something we had never experienced before—lockdowns, uncertainty, and a complete shift in how we lived and worked. While we didn’t know what the coming weeks or months would bring, we did what we could to adapt.
5 years ago today (March 13, 2020), I wrote an email to my community in response to the overwhelming sense of fear and uncertainty. It was my way of offering support and sharing actionable ways to move forward, even when everything felt out of control.
Looking back at this message now, I realize how much of it still resonates. While the crisis that prompted it has passed, the lessons in resilience, adaptability, and focusing on what we can control in a positive way remain timeless.
So today, I’m sharing this as a "time capsule" from that moment—an unfiltered look at what we were feeling, how we were coping as entrepreneurs facing the unknown, and the steps we took to keep moving forward.
My Message from March 2020
(What follows is the original email I sent to my community in March 2020, unedited, as a reflection on our collective mindset at the time.)
It’s OK to Feel Out of Control
It’s getting real out there. Scary, overwhelming, and anxiety-inducing shizznit is happening in our world.
If you’re reading this, you are my favorite people, and I want to make sure you’re OK.
My daughter’s school is closed starting Monday, and I know many people who are dealing with that, plus figuring out how to earn a living and keep themselves and their families healthy and safe.
I was Voxering with my mastermind buddy yesterday morning, and she was in tears because she felt so out of control about it all. For those of us who are control freaks due to anxiety struggles (myself included), it can feel like the walls are closing in real fast.
One of the things she said was that she didn’t know if she should go back to the store to get bread—that she had only gotten snacks and coffee the night before and was unsure if going to get bread was giving in to the fear, or if only getting snacks was too frivolous. I told her to go get the bread if it made her feel better and more in control.
I think so many of us feel that way about business right now. What should we say? What shouldn’t we say? Do we keep going with creating and earning a living? Do we bury our heads?
I don’t think there’s a right answer—you have to do what feels right.
But if you’re affected by being stuck at home, your kids being at home, worrying about sick relatives, having to figure out how you’re going to pay your bills, or any of this craziness—I want to give you some ideas.
Taking Positive Action: A List from 2020
Here’s a list of things you can do if business is slow or you need to take some positive action:
Go through your entire site on a mobile device (when was the last time you did that?)—check for anything that looks wonky and fix it.
Update as many blogs (or whatever content you create) as you can for better SEO and updated information.
Own an online store? Do some backend cleanup to make sure your inventory and “back office” of your e-commerce setup is running smoothly.
Brainstorm ideas for how you can take some (or all) of your business online if you’re a brick-and-mortar business.
Talk to a handful of your ideal customers to get a better sense of what they need from you.
Create a new lead magnet to build your email list.
Learn something new—like any of the courses you’ve bought in the last year or two but haven’t finished yet.
Do as much “back office” cleanup as possible—like organizing your Google Drive, taking inventory of the apps and tools you pay for, or checking your website for broken links.
Rearrange your desk and/or office—there’s something that happens when you rearrange that lets in fresh, creative vibes.
Plan out your content calendar and batch as much as you can.
Review and journal about your business goals.
Reach out to your business besties to see how they’re doing and how you can help each other.
I get scared and overwhelmed too—but I’ve learned to always, always look for opportunities to feel better and be inspired.
Reflecting on This Moment
Ironically enough, our family life is in a bit of upheaval at the moment. I am in the throws of preparing to relaunch my entire business after 2 years off to reset and address some health issues, and my husband is trying to find the right 2nd career without much of a safety net financially. I stumbled across this original email while I was cleaning out my Google Drive to feel a little more proactive and decluttered in my business.
Reading this now, years later, it takes me back to how I felt in those days before everything changed. It’s incredible to see how we coped, adapted, and found new ways to move forward. This message was written at a time when none of us knew what was coming next, yet it’s a testament to the fact that even in the most uncertain moments, we can find a way to take control in small, meaningful ways.
We may no longer be in the same crisis, but uncertainty is always a part of business and life. The key takeaway? When things feel out of control, focus on what you can do. Take small actions, support your community, and remind yourself that you have the ability to adapt.
Now, I’d love to hear from you:
What’s something you learned about yourself or your business during that time?
Looking back, what advice would you give yourself in March 2020?
Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to reflect on this moment together. Or DM me on Instagram to say hello and share your memories too.
Conclusion
This throwback to March 2020 is more than just a nostalgic look back—it’s a reminder of our resilience. No matter the uncertainty we face, we have the ability to adapt, find creative solutions, and support each other through it. While the challenges of that time were unique, the lessons in mindset, adaptability, and taking small, intentional actions will always apply.
So the next time you feel stuck or overwhelmed, think back to this moment and remember: You’ve done hard things before, and you’ll get through this too.
