Staying Calm during COVID
Welcome to our Wellbeing during COVID-19 resources blog. Each of our blogs links directly to one of our 6 rules for keeping calm during the COVID crisis.
Finding calm before fighting another storm.
We’ve talked about ‘Zoom’ fatigue, home working fatigue and frontline fatigue a lot over the past few months.
A dip into some research of the ‘re-opening phase’ as some are calling this stage, shows that some major UK corporations will only be able to have up to 50% of their workforce within their offices by Christmas. This way of working looks set to stay for quite some time.
Finding ways to help you work with this ongoing situation and keep your calm is vital to successful leadership and good mental health.
There’s one really simple technique that’s worked well in a number of situations for many people. One colleague uses this before public speaking when stepping onto a stage, when the amygdala takes over and the adrenaline kicks in.
When this happens, your speech speeds up, your thinking isn’t focused in the right way and you might find it harder to make rational arguments.
By taking a mindful minute before that...
Manage your anxiety in 5-4-3-2-1
With spring now actively upon us, you may well have noticed more of the changing season around you - the reduction in road and pedestrian traffic has allowed the sounds of spring to become more apparent.
I was reminded this week of a fantastic coping technique for moments of anxiety. This is called the 5-4-3-2-1 technique. By focusing on each of your senses at a time and becoming aware of your immediate environment, you can reduce your heart rate, breathing and bring your mind and body back to calm rapidly.
In my outdoor space, practising this technique I realised quite how much of spring was around me and how much joy it brings.
