How To Build Resiliency While Working From Home
Most of us have been working from home for over three months, and have seen the positives to it such as: scheduling at any time and saving the time and effort for commuting to and fro from work. We do, however, also know that working from home can be isolating. It is important to build resilience during these times of uncertainty and stress.
Here are ways to foster some spirit in your personal life and career as you work remotely.
Find a mentor You don’t have to do this alone, Research shows one-on-one mentoring increases resilience at work. Check in with your mentor or supervisors often for both short-term and future goals. Career conversations are important if you want to improve, and want a sense of progress that boosts your satisfaction and motivation. If these goals seem impractical to you, then think about what you want to achieve in the meanwhile, and enlist your mentor to help you do that.
Slow down and don’t “panic work” High performers have seen the tendency to work their way out of hard times. Yes, this does feel like a good short-term solution, but it’s not sustainable. It can lead anyone to burn out. Ensure that you’re slowing down. Don’t forget to come up for air and focus on significant work that will produce accomplishments in the long run.
Take a long-term view In stressful times like these, one can get caught in the moment quickly and be unable to see the long-term possibilities. To achieve true resilience, it is important to look at it long-term and realize that this period won’t last forever. Re-evaluate long-term goals. Is the current role something you want to continue doing? Where do you see a skill gap? Do you see yourself making a career change in the future? Keeping a long-term view will boost optimism for the future and motivate you in the present.
Practice gratitude You need social support to improve your resilience. This means that you need a network of people you can rely on when things get too overwhelming. It can also mean that you have people on your side no matter what.
When you receive a positive email from your colleague or supervisor, don’t delete it. Spend some time with it. Read it and express gratitude for it. You can even create a separate folder for it which you can look back at any time.
It’s important to note that resilience can be built with perseverance or willpower, but sometimes it is more than that. Reaching out to people, even virtually, will allow you to get through difficult times, and lay the foundation for the next stages in your career.