We are all excited to see 2020 behind us and to start a new and promising year. With a COVID vaccine just over the horizon, it brings a new hope of getting back to some sense of normalcy. We do need to appreciate, however, personally and professionally, that we are still going to be spending a lot of time at home this year as we wait for the vaccine, and there’s also the issue of a ‘new normal’ that might be here to stay for some things. We need to continue to adapt and evolve to be successful in our ever-changing world. That all being said, have you checked in lately with your own self-care? Are you still working in your kitchen? Does the daily news stress you out? Do you seem more agitated? Do you have a short fuse lately? Let’s take a pause here to regroup and check in with ourselves. We can’t be at our best for our employees, clients, family, friends or anyone else unless we care for ourselves first.
SLOW DOWN!
We are wearing so many hats these days that it’s no surprise that some of them are starting to fall off our heads! Don’t try to be a superhero- at least not every single day. We will burn out and then we’re no good to ourselves or anyone else. Take your micro breaks. We are not machines, but we can also break down.
UNPLUG
Walk away from your screens, put down your smartphones. Give yourself permission to have time unplugged. Do some stretches, pour a tea and look out the window, go out for a walk without any devices. Sounds simple, but ask yourself how much time you are unplugging? Not convinced? Unplugging helps us focus on our own well-being rather than what others are doing. We’re able to focus on ourselves and be in the moment without distractions.
LESS NEWS, MORE LAUGHS
As professionals, it’s our duty to know what is happening in the world and be at our best in terms of having the acquired knowledge for best business practices. However, too much information can be overwhelming and detrimental to our mental health. Take some time to watch something funny to make you laugh. Many are ditching the dark tv shows for a comedy right now– any ‘feel good’ stimuli is very healthy for the soul.
THE POWER OF RESILIENCY
I recently watched a presentation by Carla Rieger at the 2021 virtual HRPA Annual Conference. She talked about how she caught a reflection of herself while miserably walking in the rain to a meeting. She said she looked awful- sunken shoulders, hunched over, scowling face, dripping wet. She decided then and there to change her demeanor. She stood up tall, rolled her shoulders back and started smiling – despite her dismay. She walked up to a cross walk, and a bus splashed everyone with a big muddy puddle. She reached both arms up in the air and yelled “Excellent!” and surprisingly others did the same in response. This really impressed me – We can all use this in our lives! We may not be able to control all that happens to us but we do have control over how we choose to react. Try this!
YOUR NEW OFFICE SPACE
Take a minute to look at your workstation. Many of us are working from home, and not everyone has a good set up in this new working environment. Are you hunched over your laptop at the kitchen table? Are you high up on a bar stool looking down at your computer? Check out your ergonomic workstation set up and ensure you are working safely and effectively. The longer we’re working from home, the more likely we will suffer from awkward postures if we’re not set up properly.
REALLY, SALMON OIL?
Why am I talking about fish oil in a professional blog? Simple – it’s a quick and easy way to improve our health and well-being. It gives us a mood booster and a brain booster and what professional doesn’t need that right now?! Fish oil also has an incredible impact on the brain, especially when it comes to mild memory loss and depression. It’s also incredible how very little of this Omega-3 fat we have in our diet. I’m an HR professional – not a Nutritionist or Dietician, so do some research and see the benefits for yourself. Spoiler alert – It comes in different flavours and it’s tasteless in shakes.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR
Many of us are feeling that we are stuck in the movie “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray (It’s a comedy – so I recommend watching it!) However, when one gets to the point where it’s hard to get out of bed and get dressed – the day-to-day becomes unbearable, and there’s crying and/or internal anger struggles for more than half of the day, it’s time to call your Doctor. Recall “It’s okay to say you’re not okay.” Don’t struggle alone when there’s support out there to help get you through these difficult times.
CONCLUSION
Put on ‘one hat’ at a time whenever possible. Some of the best ideas, problem-solving and self-care strategies come when the screens are put down. Watch a comedy. Happily yell “Excellent!” when you spill your coffee. Set up an awesome long-term workstation for yourself. I dare you to put a little salmon oil in your protein shake. Don’t suffer alone if you need more support – call your Doctor. Even if there’s just one ‘take-home’ here (while you’re at home already) that you can utilize in your own life to make it a little happier and a little less overwhelming, than this blog was worthwhile.
Above all else – be kind to yourself. No one else knows what you need more than you do.
Stay well Everyone!
