Talent and Leadership Assessments
Plousha Moore Group
As the new year begins, we continue to face unpredictable challenges – How much longer will the challenges last? How will you continue to deal with the stress?
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues we find ourselves continuing in many of the same patterns we began living with in 2020:
- working from home is a fact of life
- online meeting platforms is the norm
- work/family balance is constantly shifting
- family gatherings remain virtual
- daily stress is consistently rising
From a mental health perspective, stress, burnout, anxiety, depression and our life balance is propelled into the forefront of our lives.
As a leader, it is important that you recognize the signs of stress in your team.
As a clinical psychologist, I have identified some issues associated with working remotely:
- Loss of physical contact with friends
- Too much or too little access to virtual connections with friends and family
- Lack of “normal” elementary, junior high or high school experience
- Increased anxiety and worry over “what am I missing”
- Anxiety over exposure to disease
- Constant reminder of Pandemic from parents, local, national or international news (via online, smartphone or the old-fashioned television)
| Symptom: | Solution: |
| Burnout/exhaustion/fatigue | Daily exercise, meditation, healthy eating, utilize a healthy sleep schedule, take a daily break. Keep online meetings short to reduce fatigue – break the meeting routine occasionally. Think of ways to have fun or lighten the agenda. |
| Non-verbal miscommunication | Nod and smile during online exchanges. Refrain from fidgeting or looking down. Ask questions during online exchanges. |
| Anxiety about using online platforms | Log-on early, use breathing exercises before a call, have water easily accessible, review materials that are going to be covered and write down questions, in advance. |
Depending on what 2020 has dished out and 2021 continues to telegraph … it is possible to maintain a successful career. Using these suggestions maybe helpful to improve your burnout, exhaustion, fatigue, anxiety with online platforms.
If you have questions or concerns, reach out to a mental health professional for advice and help.