We live in unprecedented times. Streets are abandoned. Shops, pubs, bars and cafes are closed. Roads that were once teeming with traffic are silent and tranquil. It’s hauntingly beautiful in some ways. And more than a little scary in others. Wherever you are and whatever you do, it’s highly unlikely that things are “business as usual” for you. There’s a good chance that your life and career have faced significant disruption. You may have been unceremoniously let go from your job with no support network outside of getting in the long, long line for Universal Credit. You may be a freelancer whose incoming work has either been significantly reduced or dissipated altogether, waiting until June for statutory support to kick in. Even if you’re one of the lucky ones who can do their job or manage their business from home, you’re likely facing your own set of struggles.
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Not only are you responsible for maintaining your own productivity, you also have to keep your own morale up. Make no mistake, morale matters (now more than ever). If you’re to maintain a positive outlook, keep up the good work and help yourself to feel more connected with your colleagues, you’ll need to take the following steps…
Conference call… just for fun
Remember when meetings were a gruelling chore? In the current climate of self-isolation, we’re all itching for an excuse to touch base with our friends at work, even if it’s only via video chat. So make sure that you schedule conference calls regularly. Even if there’s nothing pressing to discuss business-wise, how about scheduling a virtual coffee break together where you and your colleagues can chat over a steaming cuppa?
Start planning your next holiday
It’s absolutely vital that we all have something to look forward to in this uncertain time where one day seems to blur into the next, and the light at the end of the tunnel seems a barely perceptible twinkle. Why not start looking into destinations for your next holiday. Read up on travel blogs like EatSleepCruise.com or start looking into the projected price of flights for your bucket list locations. When the lockdown ends, there are likely to be a great many bookings made. Today’s planning could get you ahead of the curve tomorrow so you can take advantage of the best rates.
Set yourself daily challenges
Could you actually be starting to miss your boss standing over you, monitoring your productivity? It’s hard to stay motivated when you’re in isolation. Start by setting yourself daily challenges.
Just don’t fall into the trap of rushing through your work to get to the rewards. The quality of your output will inevitably suffer.
Reward your achievements
Sure, you might not be able to give yourself a performance-related bonus. But you can still keep up your morale by establishing a system of rewards for achievements. These can vary depending on how much you accomplish from a cheeky cup of coffee to like half an hour of TV time or a particularly tasty snack.
In these chaotic times, it’s more important than ever to take care of yourself at work!
