About one and a half months ago, I shared some thoughts on how to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. We’re now in late May 2020, and the lockdown is still in effect in many places. The purpose of this post is to discuss what to do when you’re routines and systems seem to be failing you – when you find yourself continuing to struggle. This situation has been challenging for all of us, and we’re in this together.
Realize That There’s Nothing Wrong With You
You’re not getting as much work done as you’d like. You didn’t have the energy to do an in-home workout today. Your kids and/or family are driving you nuts.
The first thing to realize is that there’s nothing wrong with you. Breathe and give yourself some slack and space. It’s going to be OK, even though it feels like it’s not. This global situation is NOT normal, so it’s understandable to feel like your life has been uprooted and flipped on its head.
You’re not a robot and you don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be so hard on yourself. Take life one day, one breath at a time.
Give Yourself a Break
Instead of focusing on maximizing your productivity, give yourself a break. Watch a show or a movie. Play a game. Order in.
If no one in your family is an at-risk group, go for a walk outside while keeping your distance from others. If you aren’t able to go outside, see if you can step into one of the rooms in your apartment/house to get some alone time. You deserve it.
Create a Balance
Your habits, routines, and systems are failing you. You’ve eased up on yourself and given yourself a break. Now it’s time to lean back into structure while getting one thing done at a time. The way to not feel overwhelmed is to put fewer items on your to-do list and create a balance in your schedule between free time and scheduled time.
Perhaps all you do for the day is eat well, exercise, work, and take care of yourself and your family. That’s enough. Perhaps on another day, you make a little time for your hobby or some reading. The balance between structure and free time is where you’ll find your sweet spot.
The answer isn’t to be caught up in structure 100% of the time, and the answer isn’t to have no structure whatsoever. You need to adjust to find the right routine for you while working from home.
Concluding Thoughts
There are going to be days when you feel bad and shitty. There are going to be days where you feel like life sucks. Sometimes all you can do is grab some coffee, fight your way through your working day, and then collapse. All of this is OK. You are human, and this coronavirus situation is brutal. You WILL get through this – stay strong. I believe in you.
Jeff Davis is author of The Power of Authentic Leadership & and a leadership keynote speaker.
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