Pajama Perspective: How to 'Bounce Forward' Post-Covid

“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”

~ Maya Angelou

Hey, Michelle Cederberg here with one very important question. How are you doing? Like really doing. This pandemic had been life-changing… even traumatic.

If you’re like me it’s all getting a bit tiring, and any mention of ‘covid coping’ ‘the new normal’ ‘unprecedented times’ or anything Covid-related has entered into eye-roll territory. Hopefully you’re coping, and looking for the good through it all. This situation may change us, but we don’t need to be reduced by it.

Watch the video below, or read the transcript that follows, and let me know the positive things you’re taking from all this.

Since we’re not yet out of the woods though, we have to stick with the current self-isolation game plan for a while longer. Our leaders and medical professionals are taking our health and safety very seriously, and while an eventual return to ‘business as usual’ will come, it may be awhile yet.

So, hang in there, because despite the restlessness and frustration you may be feeling, perhaps there’s some good in all of this? Hopefully how you’re working is working well. If it is, Kudos to you for shifting gears and landing on your slippered-feet at home! I never knew I could be so productive and so comfy at the same time!?

Some of you are no doubt keen to get back in the office, but I bet there are many of you who have taken a liking to this work-from-home thing. Whichever side you’re on, now would be a good time to reflect on this experience and ask yourself, “What am I learning from this?”

I’m learning that too much fresh baked bread is a blessing and a curse, and that I can reasonably get three days out of my favourite hoodie before I need to change things up, but that’s not what I’m talking about.

No, I’m asking you to use this experience as an opportunity to assess what’s working with how you’re working? What do you like about working from home … or running meetings online … or commuting to the dining room?

What have you learned about your focus and work ethic… or your ability to connect with co-workers remotely… or to embrace technology?

What do you miss from your pre-COVID work situation, and more importantly, what DON’T you miss? And, how can you use all that information to strengthen how you work and live once you get the ‘all clear’ to go back to the office?

I don’t want to get cliché here on you; there’s solid scientific evidence that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. It’s called Post-Traumatic Growth and it’s a little-known companion to “Everything will go back to normal” or “Everything will end terribly”

Traumatizing events happen, but with the right mindset you can come out the other side with enhanced personal strength and self-confidence, as well as a heightened appreciation for, and a greater connection in, your social relationships.

What matters is your subjective experience. It’s less about what happens to you and more about what you can make of it. Self-isolation is eventually going to end, and when it does, I say let’s not just bounce back, let’s bounce forward.

Michelle Cederberg, CSP, MKin, BA Psyc
CEP, CPCC, ORSC

Empowering today’s dreamers, leaders and go-getters to create the life and career they want.

www.michellecederberg.com
403-850-5589