Quick Check: What’s changed for you?

Here are 10 questions to answer, yes or no. What’s changed for you – professionally and personally – as a result of the pandemic?

1. I feel the work I do (or did) has little impact and would like to feel that my work makes more of a difference.
2. I have a very clear idea of a new project / venture / change in my routine where I would like to focus my energy, but I struggle to make it happen.
3. I feel financially insecure and spend considerable energy seeking resources and allaying my fears.
4. I am grateful because I feel I will be okay financially, but at times this leaves me feeling guilty.
5. The uncertainty of being able to plan is leaving me restless and agitated.
6. If I have to do one more zoom meeting …
7. At times I find myself completely out of sorts. Sometimes I know why (something that happened at home, work, or on the news.) Other times I have no idea. But it’s really hard to get things done when I feel that way.
8. I am amazed at all the new things I’ve learned.
9. I’m struggling to balance returning to “normal” with what feels safe. My office mates are returning to work – do I want to go? I could really use a haircut – is it too soon? I desperately want to socialize with others face-to-face – how do I do this?
10. Sheltering in place has given me the opportunity to make key decisions about how I want to structure my days and has given me new levels of autonomy and freedom. I’m concerned with having to give that up and having others make these decisions for me when we “return” to how things were before.

What did you discover/learn?

• You may be feeling wobbly and unsettled; you may be feeling grounded and secure. But if you’re like most of us, you’re experiencing a combination of both – depending on the day or hour or even moment.
• If you’re concerned that you’re feeling significantly stressed, anxious, fearful or low, please seek care from a mental health professional. If you need help finding someone, please reach out to me and I will help connect you.
• But if your low feelings come and go, and they’re intermixed with feelings of “I’m okay” and even “At times, things are pretty good” – you’re not alone. These ups and downs are part of the process.

What next? How to create harmony between “grounded” and “discontent”?

• Take the time to acknowledge your feelings, and also to evaluate what is and isn’t working for you. Importantly, be gentle!
• As you acknowledge the areas of discontent, ask yourself: Which areas do I want to address? And which areas am I comfortable accepting as they are for now? You do get to make this choice. But if there are areas where you want to feel better, there are ways to get there. The first step is to articulate where you want to focus.
• Please consider signing up for my free, daily, mini-tips if you’re not already receiving them. They include humor, insights, and ideas to make you think or laugh. And they’re short! Less-than-a-minute to read, they are meant to have a positive impact to last through your day.
• If you want to explore any areas where you’re feeling discontent – finding more meaningful work, crafting time and structure to work on a new venture, aligning your life to fit the new reality – please consider an introductory coaching session with me. (For the near future, I’m meeting with clients via phone, Skype or Facetime.)

In closing, here are three quotes from my free, daily, mini-tips that I hope make you think, smile or both!

• Studs Terkel – “Most of us have jobs that are too small for our spirits.”
• Robert Brault – “Optimist: Someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s a cha-cha.”
• Lily Tomlin – “If trying harder doesn’t work, try softer.”

Again, if you want to receive these, you can sign up here.

To your wellbeing,