As the world is taking a collective moment to pause we are forced to deal with the unknown in a manner we have never experienced before. The good news – We will get through this. In the meantime we are dealing with new working situations, layoffs, social distancing and our new ‘temporary’ normal. In my coaching practice what I am seeing is a lot of stress behaviour as people are forced to stretch beyond their comfort zones.
Simple activities such as going to the gym, eating out or even going to a grocery store or pharmacy without worry or reduced access can slowly chip away at the psyche. The running joke in the media now is the shortage on hair colour ( for those who cover the grey or have forgotten their natural colour completely). Small things like this become a real thing! I am here to tell you that when you look in the mirror and do not feel like you are in control and are missing the important routines and rituals you once relied on, stress behaviour will rear its head.
Stress behaviour can show up in many different signals and cues, what it likely results in, is a desire to regain control even in some small way. You will notice that people start focusing on small things that are within their control or become challenged with bigger picture tasks. This is normal. When you recognize that someone is acting in their stress behaviour, take a pause and come back to the topic or listen and acknowledge how they are feeling.
Consider adding a daily reflection to your end of day routine:
- What were my wins today?
- What are my lessons learned?
- What do I want to accomplish tomorrow?
Recognize the importance of routines and rituals – they need not be grand efforts but simple ones that give you a sense of centering and control. Keep your focus on what comes next and remember you can always control your reaction to an event (even if it comes in the form of ‘I could do that differently next time’ reflection and awareness).