Memorial Day has morphed from honoring the men and women who valiantly sacrificed their lives for our country to the unofficial kickoff of summer and holiday sales.

In light of what we’ve been through, while horrific, wasn’t storming the beaches of Normandy or being at Pearl Harbor. To also honor the Covid-19 casualties and losses, maybe we should take this long holiday to do something meaningful and worthwhile.

Before you change the world, you need to get your own life in order. The first thing most of us have to do is decompress. Practice self-care. Take some time to contemplate the trauma endured. How are you feeling? Do you experience panic attacks, sadness or a sense of portending doom? 

Mental health issues are at record levels with people talking about the effects of isolation and unrelenting stress. This is the right time to start dealing with what happened and decide the next chapter of your work and life. 

Now that restrictions have been lifted in most cities and states, millions of people have been vaccinated and restaurants and businesses reopened. Start reconnecting with family and friends, as it will make you feel better. 

We’ve learned the hard way that life is precious and fleeting. It could be gone in an instant. With this stoic knowledge, you should plan to make the best of your short time here. We only have this one life to live. It's self-defeating to waste valuable time that you’ll never get back. 

The pandemic provoked honest conversations about the way we work. The steadfast commitment to commuting into a large city, laboring in a glass and steel edifice with flickering fluorescent lights for over eight hours, then coming home exhausted may be a relic of the past. Hybrid and remote work will be the future, offering a nicer, more humane work-life balance.

People have woken up to the fact that they can change. If you’re not happy with your job, since the economy and job market have improved, there’s a window of opportunity open to find something new. Perhaps, it's a role that offers you intrinsic meaning and a sense of purpose. Maybe the goal is to earn much more money to provide for your family. 

We’re entering a new era that may be wide open. As barriers and old norms are being broken, consider pivoting to a new career or completely reinvent yourself and start over again in a job or profession that you’ve always wanted but didn’t have the confidence to pursue. Now is the time.

If you want more out of your worklife, this is the time to take bold actions. Use this weekend wisely. Think of where you are in your career and where you want to go. Get your house in order. You can't later complain when you haven't made a concerted effort to improve yourself and advance your career first.

Start substituting good habits for bad ones. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through social media sites, watch or listen to podcasts or YouTube videos that turn you on to something new and smart. Rather than lying on the beach for hours, take a long walk on the boardwalk. Add a workout, yoga, bike riding, running or meditation to your daily routine. 

It won’t be easy. Distractions and temptations are all around. Tune out the white noise that sucks your time and energy, which takes you away from achieving your goals. You don’t have to accept every invitation to argue and fight on social media. Watching so-called classic movies for the umpteenth time is an opportunity cost lost. Knowing all of the stats for your favorite sports team won’t get you that coveted promotion. 

Before the workweek starts up again, write down a plan of action to improve your career and life. Map out your goals and how you’ll achieve them. Tell trusted people about it. These actions will hold you accountable and push you to proceed, even when things get tough and you want to give up. Incrementally keep moving forward everyday.     

One of the best ways to honor fallen soldiers and those who suffered during the virus outbreak is by living your best, most productive, meaningful life with a sense of determination and purpose.