6 Ways to Maintain Control Over Life During a Crisis

Many people who closely identify with their jobs and companies feel lost on the personal front in times like these. Here are tips for coping.

During difficult times like these, many people get guidance and directives from their employer with regards to work-related challenges and changes. That's part of great leadership from employers, but many people who closely identify themselves with their jobs and companies feel lost on the personal front. They feel helpless and frustrated because they think they've lost control over their professional and personal lives. Here are six things for everyone to consider if they feel like they are losing control.

Ways to Maintain Control Over Life

• Accept that there are things happening that are beyond our control; what we can do is focus on things that are within our control.
• Take care of ourselves. This is the most important thing we can all do. Don’t panic but take all precautions to stay healthy and avoid COVID-19 infection. Everyone else's health is dependent on our good health; that's how contagion prevention works. This is a great time to focus on yourself and your loved ones.
• Communicate both professionally and personally more than normal. One of the major challenges of a remote workforce is staying in touch, keeping connected, preserving the office culture. We all must work together to stay connected and support each another. Jokes, funny stories and personal experiences should be shared so we can all take a much-needed break from all the negative news during the crisis. Let your family and friends know you’re all right and what you are doing, especially if you are under a shelter-and-stay-home directive from the government. If you have single family or friends, reach out to them regularly to check in and let them know they are not alone.

Focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. Having survived several global crises, I can assure you there is always an end to these situations. Try to focus on that resolution and not the immediate panic and hysteria. Make future plans for when the crisis is over; planning for the future is not only cathartic, it gives people hope.

Take in the news intermittently and don't watch it all day -- that just adds to more anxiety and hysteria. It's important to maintain balance to reduce stress. Focus on positive things to balance out the surrounding negativity. Play with the dog or cat or kids, and do yoga, engage in cardio excercise, play games, binge-watch streaming content, find recipes to test out  -- whatever brings some escape and enjoyment.

All of us will react differently during this pandemic; let’s be more empathetic, supportive, kind and non-judgmental. Let’s focus on supporting each other through this. Let’s share the burdens and stress of challenging times like this. Have you ever watched the flying formation of migrating geese? At the very front is a leader of the flock and they fly in an aerodynamic V formation. When the lead goose gets fatigued, another steps up into the lead flying position and they all take turns sharing the physical burden of leading. There’s much we can learn from their example about ourselves during this pandemic. You are not alone -- we're all here to take our turns and share the burdens.  

Hopefully these considerations will help you feel like you do have areas of your life where you can exert some control. Stay safe and healthy, and stay connected!

Source:  Northstarmeetingsgroup.com