Find your footing: Managing your emotions and reactivity in the times of Coronavirus….
(4-5 minute read)
Find your footing
and manage your emotions
I write to you at a time when we are facing multiple uncertainties at once and this can feel overwhelming. From worrying about the wellbeing of ourselves and families, our businesses, friends and co-workers, those who are vulnerable; to worrying about our finances and our loved ones finances; to the planet, the country and the impact of the virus on our and other economies; and generally what is going to happen and when will it all end and what will life be like afterwards. Wow, it is a lot for our brains to process!
Like many people I have spoken with, I am eager to find adaptive ways to deal with the crisis we face and establish some footing, so to speak, amidst the day-to-day worry, uncertainty and seeming chaos. By “adaptive” I refer to a response that is neither a denialist under-reaction nor panicked over- reaction (Dr David Rock in his video speak eloquently to this (see https://neuroleadership.com/your-brain-at-work/coronavirus/).
A few things that have helped me find my footing and adapt right now are:
Remind myself what I can control and what I cannot – follow wise advise; keep Up-To-Date; limit information to a minimum and ensure the sources are reputable and backed by science;
Establish a new rigorous routine that:
takes account of other family members needs and facilitates frequent connection;
starts at a certain time each day and ends at a set time;
supports me to work less but more productively – love this podcast – https://player.fm/series/building-a-storybrand-with-donald-miller/ep-78-daniel-pink-how-to-stop-wasting-time-and-start-wielding-it about peaks, troughs and rebound periods and scheduling cognitively demanding work to fit my rhythms; being a lark rather than an owl is super helpful as most of my thinking, prep and planning work gets done in the morning.
Regular fresh air breaks – not fridge breaks
Hold onto practices that help me remain calm, present and appreciative
Expressive writing – one of my personal favourites – the power of writing to make sense of the tangled thoughts and emotions that are coming at me every day – sorting it out resets me and gives perspective and enables deep appreciation for what is good – and research indicates it is resilience building and promotes a positive mental attitude.
Yoga, gardening and music
Praying often – every time I wash my hands – this is a call to pause and connect with what I find personally meaningful spiritually
Stay connected
Tea times with my son and husband when they break from their work
WhatsApp chats with siblings and friends
Community of practice meetings with colleagues – sharing and learning from each other
Keep a sense of humour
Today it is wearing my favourite and my husband’s least favourite pair of faux leopard skin pumps.
They make me smile when I think of his reaction when I bought them; it reminds me where I recharge most - the bushveldt – and anchors me to my country!
I am sharing my routine, not because I think what I am doing is special or what I think you should be doing. Rather, I hope that it creates possibilities and conversations that will help you and others adapt in this new world where remote working is not just for progressive and tech-enabled businesses.
A client who leads a team of highly skilled data scientists said yesterday that he believes there is no turning back even when the virus is under control or beaten. I am inclined to agree with him. In this time of isolation, real stories of real people doing simple things has always touched my heart and been imminently more applicable to life than the intellectually rigorous research (as much as I like to consume this too).
Please share your top two tips on how you are adapting and helping those you lead adapt amidst the uncertainty and turmoil.
I have been struck too, by how many people are eager to offer their help in ways that will make a difference, and in a manner that honours the regulations and prescriptions that are in effect globally to curb the rampant spread of the disease. As we in SA are less than one day away from a 21- day shutdown, and many of my clients globally face similar restrictions, I want to make a contribution.
I am going to start by making a limited number of 30-minute complimentary sessions available here (https://veronicaroyston.as.me/findyourfeet ) . These will be somewhat restricted so book early if you want to take some “off-the-clock time” to pause, connect with what is meaningful for you and find your footing.
Most of you are responsible for teams of people and businesses, and are probably not thinking about yourself first, but rather about others.
Taking a few moments to catch your breath – or put on your own oxygen mask first ‘so to speak’ - may help you
to be more deliberate about your routines, or
adopt new creative routines
think through as a leader some strategies to help your team find their footing and remain focused
or simply have someone to listen fully and attentively and give you space to get some perspective.