The Three phases of Covid
What an emotional roller-coaster ride Covid 19 has been so far.
Personal wellbeing, motivation, and productivity during the global pandemic seems to have played out in three distinct phases:
Phase 1: The Big relocation
A chaotic almost frenzied period of setting our team members up to work from home. The excitement of kitting out home work-spaces, having more time around family, and taking advantage of extra time freed up from commuting.
Wellbeing, motivation, and productivity levels reported as quite HIGH.
Phase 2: United against the enemy
The nation unites against a common enemy, spurred on with a purpose to ‘flatten the curve.’ The goal being that once this has been achieved things will be able to get back to normality, albeit a ‘new normal’
Again, wellbeing, motivation, and productivity levels still relatively HIGH.
Phase 3: Is there an end in sight?
Isolation fatigue starts setting in.
Global numbers are still rising, interstate and overseas travel are off the table, and loneliness and lack of connection becomes more and more prevalent. With the ongoing uncertainty comes anxiety, boredom, procrastination, and, for some, addictive and unproductive habits.
How has this phase impacted wellbeing, motivation, and productivity levels?
The correlation between loneliness and addictive behaviour
In looking to find an answer to this, there is evidence for social connection and how it is linked to loneliness and the impacts on behaviour in general and how we can make changes to behaviour ourselves.
In a previous article on this topic which I posted in December 2019 , I quote Rachel Wurzman’s TED talk about this correlation,
“…the cycle can be broken, the brain can be rewired, and one of the best strategies to avoid relapse, is to be of service to each other which lets people connect.”
Connection is a part of a strategy to replace either the substances we turn to in order to numb discomfort, or the compulsive distractions and behaviours that provide short term relief, however there also many additional tools that can also be added to our wellbeing tool-kits.
Is it still possible to thrive in the new normal?
The unknowns of phase Three have made things more difficult, yet I believe it is possible, to not only survive, but thrive through this phase.
The question is, what knowledge, strategies and tools will be required to thrive in the new normal?
I fall into that group of 25% of Victorians who live and work alone, and I share with others the sense of vulnerability and risk that this has on wellbeing, motivation, and productivity.
It’s not been easy through Covid, , especially losing all my revenue-based work in March and being unable to visit family here and overseas, , but I have come through the journey so far through applying a number of strategies and tools that I teach. I call them wellbeing ‘safety nets’.
Living and working alone is something I have done for a long time which has me uniquely placed to understand the strains of the environment and create strategies to cope.
During this pandemic, I have been able to undertake personal development, gain professional accreditations, live out a sense of purpose, contribute to others, donate my time to speak in seminars and webinars , and intentionally lose over 15 kilograms and maintain my mental ‘wellness.’
Introducing Coaching for Resilient Wellbeing ™
I have been encouraged by several clients, as well as friends and acquaintances, to pivot my business and add a coaching modality which could be useful to leaders, team members or teams themselves, which I have done, and am delighted to be announcing it today.
Specific wellbeing needs related to phase Three are detailed in the brochure, and my Coaching for Resilient Wellbeing™ approach is based on five core evidence-based principles:
– Wellbeing is viewed as the presence of wellness not the absence of illness
– Complete wellbeing requires Physical, Mental and Social wellbeing
– People already have the ability – trust and guide them
– Purpose fuels performance
– Mental wellbeing is more than mental health
If, you, individuals in your teams, or teams themselves are looking for knowledge, strategies, and practical tools to find motivation to thrive in the ‘new normal’ and beyond, I’d be delighted to hear from you.
