12 Ways To Manage The Continued Disruption & Uncertainty In Our Working Lives

This time last year, we were locked down and homeschooling. It was unbelievably challenging and tough.

This year, although schools and childcare are mostly open, we are having to navigate the reality that a class might be sent home or a school closed at short notice.

For my family, already in January, we have had to step back to homeschooling three times due to school, class or bubble closure. In all of those cases, we were told late the night before or in the morning before we set out.

We have to navigate a huge level of day to day uncertainty.

Recently, one of my clients asked how to manage the ongoing disruption and uncertainty in our lives especially the closure of schools and childcare at short notice.

If you know me, you know I couldn't resist sharing my tips and advice.

These are shared with the recognition that some will be easier than others and some will be extremely challenging. I recognise and call out the privilege threaded through the this advice.

At the same time, wherever you are and whatever your circumstances, I hope you find something of value that you can try in your life.

1. Practice flexibility.

Expect short notice and short term change. Have flexibility built into all plans as much as possible. I am mocked for adding 'if possible' to all statements about plans. I have accepted that plans are always changing.

Be ready to do something different from what you expected.

If you have the bandwith to play with this idea, try changing what you planned to do at short notice to normalise change.

2. Make Everything A Learning Opportunity

For you and your children,

Formal learning is important and do it if you can but so is wellbeing. Trying to get a small child to do addition whilst feeling stressed is counter productive. It also starts linking learning in their brain with stress.

Learning takes lots of different forms. For one of the recent closures, my son came on a research trip around London with me. I like to think he learnt what it's like to run your own business.

3. Relax the rules a little and give yourself permission to be imperfect.

Normally, we have restrictions on screen time. Normally, we aim to have a tidy house. Normally....

With a school closure or a surprise isolation, the normal rules do not have to apply. Trying to keep to them will make you unhappy and stressed out.

If on a day you have to work your children watch both Frozen movies back to back, they will be ok.

4. Get all the help you can afford. It's a game changer.

You really don't have to do it all alone to prove you can. Getting help is a sign of strength rather than weakness.

The world has fundamentally changed. Let go of the idea that a mother must do it all alone or whatever version of that belief is stopping you from getting help.

If you can't afford help, get all the free help you can. Let people help you!

5. Look for ways to make more money. Raise your prices, sell something, sell something high price, learn how to negotiate a pay rise or bonus.

It saddens me greatly that we have created a world where your wealth impacts your wellbeing.

But it does.

More money equals more choices. More money = more help.

6. Market to and prioritise clients who value flexibility and understand the challenges or pursue job opportunities in teams or organisations that get it.

There have been so many organisations I could have worked for. I have turned down opportunities and said no to projects when they don't understand families with working parents.

I started my business to have flexibility.

I am flexible with my clients and they are flexible with me. They understand when I need to postpone due to family challenges and I do the same for them.

If you haven't seen my out of office yet, drop me a hi at hello@ruthlouisethomson.com

7. Refine your business model to be highest value and pay for lowest time. As you make more, buy more time for yourself.

There is high paid work and low paid work.

There is high intensity work and low intensity work.

Look for and learn how to design higher paid, lower intensity offerings that deliver value for your clients.

As with the more money equals more choices. More time freedom and flexibility gives you space.

8. Work with your partner (if you have one) to build a supportive relationship where you both support each others work lives.

It is too much for one woman to parent, run a household and work single handedly.

It has to stop and it's time for the new way to emerge.

I don't coach women or couples on this so if you want book recommendations for this, let me know. There are some great ones on this topic.

9. Do a ruthless time audit. Cut out all non essentials for the short term and relax standards.

There is time. You have time. Time is available to be used in different ways.

Audit how you are using your time and you'll see ways to make improvements. This is something I really enjoy doing with clients. It's amazing what is hiding in plain sight.

10. Get as much sleep as possible.

Everything is much easier when you are not exhausted.

Almost daily, I have to prioritise sleep over other really tempting things.

I understand it is really, really hard not to have any time to yourself and the late evening is the only time available.

The flip side is that if you are tired or very tired, everything is harder and you can't think as well. You brain is not working at full potential.

Your body needs more sleep in pressurised and stressful situations.

11. Practice being kind to yourself.

We are being forced to do tough things all the time. We are forced to imperfect and face our imperfections.

Cultivate and practice self kindness. If it's new to you, it feel strange but it gets easier.

Negative self talk is draining your energy and slowing you down. Cultivate kindness.

12. Breathe and come back to the present moment.

Thinking about the past or worrying about the future is draining.

Notice 10 things around you.

Accept the present moment and notice the things that are ok right now.

You are strong. You can do it.

In case we haven't met yet, hello! I coach and mentor people to create work lives that work for them. My clients are mothers, fathers, care givers and multipassionate people who want their worklives to feel good, provide meaning and growth and be well paid.

The only way to work with me currently is through 1:1 coaching. I design each coaching programme bespoke for you depending on where you are and where you would like to be. The first step is to book a chat https://calendly.com/ruththomson/30minutecall