Client newsletter | Groundhog days and a WFH structure | 30/03/2020
Newsletter 4
Ground hog days
This week my heart sank when I heard that the lockdown will be extended for a further 3 weeks, its really tough to stay at home and away from family and friends. On the upside the dogs are very happy! They’ve had more walks, attention and company than ever before…
But for us, how do we stop every day becoming ground hog day? Executive Grapevine wrote a great article about this which I’ve replicated here...
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Unlike Groundhog Day’s protagonist, time is moving on, yet the daily routine of trudging to your computer and remaining alone until the end of the working day does have the same element of monotonous repetition, which many are struggling with. For those who haven’t seen the film, Murray does not set a great example; wrestling with himself and the seemingly endless identical days drives him to commit some drastic actions; following his lead is not advised. Instead, follow the below advice and weather this storm with the best arsenal of tools available to you.
Create a routine
Without structure in your days, it’s easy to slip into a pattern of listlessness. Instead, instil a strict set of rules that you can follow. Create a schedule that works for you and stick to it. This must include non-negotiable start and end times for the workday and a full lunch break. Try to imagine that you’re still in the office; create a routine that follows what you would be doing if you’d have travelled into work.
A routine involves making breaks in otherwise long and indistinguishable periods of time. It means that a day now has a beginning and an end. After the end comes a new beginning, which resets us.
Set yourself goals
Obviously, this is not business as usual, but your career isn’t simply on hold. Set yourself goals to achieve each day or week. Improve your knowledge, tackle a task that you’ve been meaning to get round to or even simply attempt to beat your own average productivity. You’ll find the achievement rewarding, and we all need to occasional win at the moment.
Embrace the chance to change
No one in the workforce has experienced a situation such as this; even in previous times of adversity the tools available to professionals have never been as innovative as they are currently.
This means that, despite the threat to your wellbeing, learning to be adaptable and embracing the chance to improve your own endurance and will to succeed are available to you.
This is a chance to prove what kind of leader you want to be, so take it.
Look after yourself
It sounds like vague advice, but ensuring that your own wellbeing is the number one most essential part of remaining in quarantine. In Groundhog Day, Murray’s health deteriorates as he struggled to cope with the situation he finds himself in and the consequences are grave. Every day, you must make time to work on your own wellbeing and mental health.
This may mean going for a jog to release endorphins, it may mean doing a workout video, eating a diet of increased nutritious foods or doing guided meditation.
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Ultimately, only you know what will increase your wellbeing – so don’t wait until it’s too late.
There are many great tips and ideas for the next 3 weeks.
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy weekend.