Recovering Lost DIY Skills: Will The COVID-19 Pandemic Usher In A New Era Of Self-Sufficiency?

Before COVID-19 entered the picture, I was "addicted" to the weird and wonderful world of Ali Express, from which I got most of my clothes and more home decor items than I care to admit, even though I know how to sew.

Before COVID-19 entered the picture, I'd replace items that could really be repaired, because  who's got time for that, right? 

Before COVID-19, I got most of my food from the supermarket, which I went to at least twice a week.

I'd call a plumber, electrician, or car mechanic without a second thought whenever I needed one.  

Has COVID-19 woken us up to the fact that we've lost skills our ancestors took for granted?

While I've not been able to find any scientific studies on the topic of how COVID-19 may have made people go in search of lost life skills of the kind our ancestors once took for granted, "anecdotal evidence" certainly suggests that the pandemic has caused a resurge in the wish to attain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. Yes, by "anecdotal evidence", I mean news articles and YouTube videos I've come across. 

That matters, because we were already on a downward spiral. We've all heard that Millennials in particular tend to be great at completing degree after degree, but have missed the boat when it comes to basic life skills. Most (US-based) Millennials routinely pay for fully-prepared meals, in some cases because they don't know how to cook. Many don't know how to sew, knit, garden, or even do the laundry. 

But enough whining about Millennials, right? They get all the hate already. This is a society-wide problem. We've either never gained the skills that would be prerequisite for a truly self-sufficient lifestyle, or those DIY skills have atrophied as we have grown to rely on experts and outsourced nearly everything we'd once have done ourselves. 

Instead, perhaps we should let our COVID-19 panic propel us into a (personal) era of self-sufficiency, as we go after the life skills we discovered we didn't have when there was nobody else to just come and fix it for us. 

A lost-skills inventory: What might you want to work on learning in a post-COVID-19 world?

You may have heard about Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a five level "pyramid" model that gives an easy overview of the spectrum of human needs. The needs from the bottom four levels need to be met before someone can aspire to reach the top — "self-actualization", which basically means being creatively engaged in the things you see as your actual purpose on Earth. 

These skills would include — and maybe follow along to see which ones you don't have:

• Food-related skills you may learn about or improve on could be cooking, baking, cooking from scratch without relying on a recipe every time, gardening, composting, canning, preserving, hunting, fishing, and foraging. Even knowing how long after an expiry date something is still good, learning more about macronutrients, or learning to cook budget-friendly meals could go here. 
• When it comes to clothes, you could start with basic sewing if you don't know how, whether by hand or using a sewing machine. If you do, you could progress from simple repairs to sewing your own clothes from scratch using a pattern, or even learning how to design clothes and make your own patterns. Knitting and crocheting are also incredibly useful skills, whether you want to make a sweater, a scarf, or a blanket. Folks who already have some DIY skills under their belts could look into learning about leathercraft. 
• Your home will be a lot more comfortable if your appliances are treating you well. Thanks to COVID-19, the internet has been crawling with free courses lately, and they include home improvement courses that will teach you how to do basic electrical repairs the safe way. 
• In today's world, your computer is often not a luxury but a necessity. Improve your computer skills, whether that means hardware or software. Do you know how to replace a hard drive, a keyboard, or a computer screen? Are you comfortable with your antivirus software or your Linux terminal? If your answer to any of these questions is "no", you may have found yourself a new adventure. 
• Basic car repair skills everyone who drives should really know how to do include changing a tire, changing the oil, changing spark plugs, and replacing a battery. There are many more. Get on it! (I know I will!)
• Health-wise, taking a first aid course is a good idea for everyone who hasn't already done it (and even if you have, you need to stay up to date). To prepare for a world in which you may not have access to a a physician, Where There Is No Doctor by Hesperian Health Guides is an excellent resource. If you have a medical condition, you will want to know as much about it as you can. If you take medications, you will want to know what to do if they are suddenly unavailable as well as which over the counter medications you should never take while you're on them. 

Maslow's third and fourth levels are social needs and deeply personal needs, like the need to feel recognized for your talents and appreciated. While learning to be self-sufficient in meeting your lower-level needs can take a lifetime, it is a very good idea to pay attention to your mental health, too. 

Learn what makes you stressed, and learn about good stress coping mechanisms. Learn to recognize that inner voice that screams you need a break from it all to go have some fun. Learn how to support a friend or relative through a mental health crisis. 

A final word

We're living in a bit of a paradox — humans are quickly losing the skills our grandparents and even parents considered essential, but at the same time, it's never been easier to learn. If you have an internet connection, almost all skills you need for a more self-sufficient life are almost at your fingertips. (Yes, it still takes hard work and experience, but the information is there.)

Will the COVID-19 pandemic wake us up to the fact that we've been relying on other people to meet many of our basic and less basic needs? It's too early to tell, but it should. The pandemic has shown us how fast everything can come crashing down, leaving us to essentially fend for ourselves. You may have been unprepared this time, but will you find yourself wishing you'd taken advantage of some of those awesome free courses next time? Don't wait to find out, and get learning!