By now you’re getting back into the swing of things. Work has probably resumed, whether you’re rostered or back to work in full. Traffic is piling up a little bit, even though it still is not as bad as when school is open. The country is slowly getting back to its former self. And now you have been thrust back to reality after being home for almost three months. And it’s as if there wasn’t a pandemic right. You’re expected to be on top of your work, meet your targets, and get stuff done. How are you coping? How is your team coping?
We can sometimes get so caught up in the work and in the excitement (or whatever word you want to insert here) to return to some semblance of normalcy. One of the positive things I think we can take away from this pandemic is that it gave many of us the opportunity to pause. We were forced to slow down a bit. Thanks again to the essential workers for continuing to work to keep us safe while the rest of us were reflecting (hopefully). Have we really taken into account that returning to work has been and will continue to be a transition period? We should. I have been thinking about this a lot especially since while all of us are grateful to return to work, many of us, including myself, have to figure out arrangements for the children while we are at work.
Just wanted to share some tips to keep you all going as we get back to (the new) normal:
- Slow down. Planning during this time can be very overwhelming. Take some time for yourself to do something to help you unwind – shop, exercise, Netflix (or whatever works for you). You need to do that so that you can remain centred and so you can approach things with a refreshed outlook as opposed to in a stressed state of mind.
- Talk to someone. We sometimes do not want to be a burden to our friends and family in whom we confide. Do not bottle up your issues though – it is often a relief to discuss your problems with someone you trust and to get new insights. Most companies also offer Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) services so you can contact them to talk if you prefer.
- Communicate with your team. If you are a Team Lead or Manager, it is good to check in with your team to see how they are coping with the resumption of work. Ensure that they feel as if the company is conscious of the adjustments they have had to make given that a lot has changed in the past few months. Helping employees to feel less stressed at work can help them to be more motivated and committed to their tasks.
We will be talking about Covid-19 for months to come. We need to be realistic about its effects on our mental health and take steps to ensure that we are in the best state of mind to deal with whatever comes. Hoping that applying these tips make a difference for you.
Remember, #Perituscanhelp!
#stress #coping #backtowork #pandemic #newnormal
NMLO
Peritus Consultancy Services 