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Wow didn’t see this coming! Coronavirus Crises…global pandemic, unprecedented, recession or depression. 

You have heard all the adjectives of COVID -19 and how the world and every country is attempting to deal with it. Every day we wait for the “new case” number and hope that it is coming down. It feels like we are in the eye of the storm. I wanted to share my insights around what I have learned so far during the pandemic and what I have found to be helpful, touching on the topics of stress management and resilience.

These are two great skills to have at the moment. One of my colleagues had a fabulous idea a couple of months ago that couldn’t be more relevant now. Imagine going to the doctors for a ‘resilience shot’- a top-up of resilience to help you through trickier times. How good would that be right now?!

Unfortunately, the ‘resilience shot’ isn’t available just yet that I know of. The stress that we are seeing can be a combination of real issues brought about by these times including financial, domestic, job security and also the reality of the health situation that we are living day by day. This stress can have a substantial impact on our work productivity and our mental wellbeing.

It’s good to talk

We are physically distancing but this doesn’t mean socially disconnecting. Keep connected to your friends and family. We are lucky to have so many options, phone, texting and video calling. Have a buddy that you call to check in with – someone that you can be open and honest with about how you are feeling. It’s encouraging to know you have a support system around you, don’t forget to celebrate successes no matter how big or small they may be. 

The cliché that many of the TV networks are running at the moment – “we are all in this together”, is so true. Reaching out to others will not only be beneficial for yourself but also for others. Talking through shared experiences becomes so important. Don’t be afraid to ask someone if they’re OK and if you are under stress, be open and don’t be afraid to open up.

Rituals

Getting into your “new normal” routine, going for a morning walk in nature with your frothy coffee instead of your morning commute to work, treating yourself to screen breaks, getting some fresh air and doing some form of exercise each day are all habits that have been proven to boost productivity. 

If at home is working for you and you’re productive great but if it’s not, change it up and change your ritual to make it work for you.

For me, it’s the thought of a margarita on a Friday evening…

Whenever I’m faced with a challenge whether that be going on a long trek, getting myself out of my comfort zone or trying to stay away from the fridge (!) it’s so important to have a Positive Mental Attitude. Flipping your mindset to a positive one has so many mental benefits and it helps to build resilience levels too. So in these testing times more than ever we need to remain upbeat, remember to be grateful for what we have and keep things in perspective. 

Currently each night we talk about something that has made us smile and something that we are grateful for which we find really cathartic.

Be kind to yourself

This year for mental health awareness week the focus is on kindness which comes at a very apt time reminding us to stop and reflect on what has been going on in the last couple of months and how far we have come. Many people have been juggling new responsibilities whether that be; home-schooling children, navigating working from home for the first time, managing a team remotely, creating new HR policies and procedures and some of my clients have even onboarded new employees remotely for the first time which can be a real challenge in itself. 

Keep going we are getting there, this will pass and hopefully we will have developed skills, spent more time with loved ones, gained qualifications or even learned to appreciate what we have more.

To summarise, although we can’t control what’s happening with the current climate we can control how we react to it. I hope these tips help you create your new normal whilst remembering to be kind to yourself. For further advice or market insights feel free to reach out.

I’d love to hear how you’re navigating through the changes or what’s helping you with your new normal, have you made any new rituals that you will continue after COVID-19?

#tandemparters #pandemic #kindness #resilience