A way to remind yourself to slow down after coronavirus

With the country -- check that, the world really -- on lockdown, many of us find ourselves with some extra time on our hands to contemplate life and weigh decisions that can have a huge impact on our future, whether personal or professional.

Many people who lead busy lives welcome the change of pace, even though having to balance work and childcare at home can be awfully challenging for some.

Life will go back to being what it used to be. It won't be long before we're once again stuck in traffic, jostling through lines of shoppers at the local Publix or Macy's, and exhorting unruly teenagers at the theater to quit making noise during the movie.

That means it's going to take a conscious effort to hit "pause" and take a deep breath once in a while, as was the case pre-pandemic.

Here's a suggestion for doing just that:

Assuming you have one, just stop what you're doing and look at your pet or baby.

Indeed, they teach us that we can be find happiness in simplicity.

Give your baby his favorite teddy bear and you've made his day.

Throw a ball and watch your dog lunge excitedly toward it as if, for a brief moment, nothing else in the world mattered.

Watch the stress you're feeling from work melt away -- if temporarily -- as your cat snuggles with you.

And as parents and/or pet parents, we all know that cats, dogs, and babies are big on naps, reminding us of the importance of getting enough sleep ourselves.

Once we return to normalcy, many people are going to fall back on their old habits, running up their credit cards by purchasing expensive stuff they don't need rather than being grateful for what they have.

They don't realize until later in life that it's the simple things in life that fill us with real, lasting satisfaction -- the taste of hot cocoa on a frosty Sunday morning, the anticipation of finding out how the page turner of a book you're reading finally ends, the joy of seeing your niece's face light up when you take her to the zoo for the first time.

So even if you don't have pets or small children, you can still take pleasure in life's simple treasures -- even if it's just admiring the sunset, a full moon, waves lapping against the clear sand, or light rain gently streaming down the window pane.

Once the pandemic passes, aim to carve out at least a few minutes each day to put work and other responsibilities aside, express gratitude for what you have, and mindfully savor the little things that often go unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.