Over the past six weeks our homes have gone from being somewhere we spend time when we’re not at work to the only place we feel safe. Indeed, for those of us who are completely self-isolating, they have become our whole world. And while we’re all waiting for our enforced lockdown to be lifted – some of us working from home, others getting to grips with home schooling – most of us will be reflecting not only on the way we live our lives, but where and how we do it in the future.

Questions many of us are already asking ourselves include: do I like where I am living or do I want to move to the country or near the sea or perhaps into a bigger city to take advantage of the greater cultural opportunities? I enjoy working from home – should I aim to continue when the lockdown is over, maybe even buy somewhere better suited to home working? Or possibly enforced separation from elderly parents or adult children has made you think seriously about multi-generational living.

It is important that reflection is done systematically. Since most families these days are two-earner families, it’s crucial to involve everyone and to give them a voice in the ultimate decision. This can be done as a kind of family game.

In the first instance, parents should set aside some time to sit down and have a serious conversation about how they see their future careers and what this might mean for where they live now and in the future. This has to be an honest discussion about the pluses and minuses of their jobs and where they would like their careers to go.

Then come the kids, who have their own needs to be built into the family decision-making process.

Of course, any decisions you make in the coming weeks will be partly based on where you are in the life cycle, whether you are single or partnered; whether you have young children or teenagers; or whether you are empty nesters.

But the thing about this pandemic is that people are reflecting in the context of a potential life-threatening disease which gives them a feeling of ‘it’s now or never’. The longer this lockdown and social isolation from family and friends goes on, the more likely we are to resolve to do the things that will maximise our future happiness and the health and wellbeing of our families.

As the old saying goes ‘change is here to stay’ or as Winston Churchill once quipped: ‘to improve is to change, to be perfect is to change often’.

Professor Sir Cary Cooper, CBE, is Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health at ALLIANCE Manchester Business School. He is co-author of the recent best-selling books, The Apology Impulse and Work and Wellbeing.