Hint #1: Now is not the time for overachieving.
One month into our current world scenario, you may already be addressing these issues, but going forward these are still so important for thriving during challenging times and beyond.
1. Let’s get real. Let go of high expectations. Folks, I am sure you’ve found, this is a monumental task both practically and emotionally, of working from home, or losing work, taking care of family and attempting to teach our children while handling all of the emotions and loss we are experiencing right now. What is going to give for you? How can you lower the bar a bit, and allow for things to be good enough? For your sanity, and for peace at home, just do the best you can. It is OK to return to big achievements later.
2. Structure = sanity. For now, allow yourself to not try to adhere rigidly to number of minutes on a screen or studying for your kids. Figure out what your family needs most right now. Getting dressed and showered, keeping some semblance of a bedtime schedule for younger kids, start and finish study/work routines, mealtimes, time for daily exercise, are all good ways to create some structure. Think of this as a framework which includes what is most important, not a rigid set of rules, that works for you and your kids.
3. Self awareness: Yes, you’ve got it, you can’t get an article written by a therapist/coach without this piece. The more you acknowledge where stress, fear, worry are showing up for you
( and they are ), the better you’ll manage the current conditions, and in turn, your success at work and home increases. Identify the physical or emotional affects of this pandemic and quarantine on you, be crystal clear and give yourself what you need, and you’ll be vastly better equipped going forward.
4. Health and Wellness Maintenance: Make this next month a time for self-care. There is a good reason the flight attendant says put your oxygen mask on first ( though I cringe every time). Your self- care is urgent right now. If your well is empty, you’ll have nothing for yourself or others. This time of being homebound will pass, but for now, doing just 30 min./day of movement plus some good food will go a long way. The main point here is, shoot for maintaining through good nutrition and movement, not setting new or big goals. Hey, if you’re a marathon runner, a personal trainer, or the like, go for it! But, for the rest of us, maintenance is a good place to focus for the time being.
5. Long term visioning based on values: This is the perfect time, with the world slowed down, to reassess your most important values and vision for your future. When you know your own values, you can use them to make decisions about how to live your life, when you don’t, it’s very easy to lose ourselves and the opportunity to create real happiness. For example, if you don’t value competition, and you work in a highly competitive sales environment, are you likely to be satisfied with your job? Identifying and understanding your values is an important exercise – your personal values are central to who you are and who you want to be, and you truly can drive your future.
Here’s how:
Look back at your life and find the times you were the happiest.
In your personal and professional life, when were you most proud and why?
Identify times when you were most satisfied and fulfilled. What contributed to those feelings?
Based on the experiences you’ve come up with, look at a list of values (google it if you need to), and find 10 that are right for you.
Prioritize the top 3. This can be hard, but worthwhile.
Take very good care of yourself, and keep loving, growing, and giving.
Ellie