There is a lot of advice out there already on the practicality of working from home. And workplaces on the whole are supporting their people during this time of uncertainty.
Like all change, don’t be surprised if you find yourself on this journey:
Shock/ Denial
Fear/Anger
Acceptance
Commitment
Shock/ Denial
I’ve seen this in the past week as some of us continue to go to work, send our kids to school and even go to the shops for some last minute retail therapy. If you started this past week in shock at the current situation and impact of COVID 19, you are not alone. As humans we do this to protect ourselves. We are trying desperately to hold on to what we know because that makes us comfortable, it makes us feel safe and it stops us from moving through to the second stage.
Fear/Anger
There is no denying it, when the change continues for a period of time, our reaction can quickly turn to anger or fear. In the case of COVID 19, you might be feeling scared of the possible outcome for your job in the future, your health or the health and wellbeing of loved ones young and old. You might react to people around you who are still at shock/ denial in a negative way. Be kind to yourself and those around you. This is not the time to turn on each other or to be super critical of ourselves and how we behave. Our world may have changed for now, and this is simply our human way of dealing with it.
Acceptance
As we have seen in other countries where lockdowns are starting to be the norm, once you have worked at home for a little while, you set up your space to work, you have the practical tools to help you, you help your kids do their schoolwork and you start to accept the new reality. Be that a short or long term reality we are in, we find new ways of working through technology, new ways of socialising with apps such as ‘houseparty’, even new ways of entertaining each other and exercising. During this time, continue to explore new ways of doing things. Exploring what works best for you is an important step towards acceptance and feeling safe.
Commitment
What we have to look forward to is our ability to make this new reality ‘feel’ normal. This too is inevitable. And as we start to get cabin fever in our apartments and houses, you might be thinking this can never be the new reality. But there will be a time (and this will be different for each of us) when we feel calm about our existence. Having accepted the reality, we start to look to the future with a new sense of optimism. We start to rebuild in a way that is sustainable. In a way that enables us to work and live better lives.
Is it too early to be thinking about rebuilding?
Perhaps. However, it is with optimism and the knowledge that this is the natural progression of our reality that will enable us to cope.
So next time you are thinking: “When will this end?!” Remember the feeling you have right now will pass and even if the reality doesn’t change, your reaction to it can and it will.
Write a post it note for yourself somewhere you might see it every day with this simple diagram and remember to keep your spirits high and ‘Find Your Vibe’.
Written by Evelyn G Jackson, CEO of Find My Meaning.