2021 in Review, how we survived it all and the lessons we learned

The end of 2021 has come and gone, and yet we are still in the heart of the Covid-19 Pandemic. As much as we were all keen to move on, we are just dealing with other struggles with wave after wave of infections.

Luckily, we are seeing some semblance of normality creeping in. Some businesses are almost back to operating as usual, with office staff, while others adopt a hybrid model. We see innovation and acceptance of different ways of working, which is excellent. For working parents, hybrid models of working are fantastic. Spending quality time with their kids is one element that is huge when speaking to parents about working some of the weekdays at home.

Personally, having my daughter around has been challenging in so many ways. And yet, the time we have had to spend together is priceless. Understand that having a daughter that is trying very hard to assert her independence at this exact time and me wanting to keep her my child is not an easy task for anyone. We have developed through this time a way of communicating with each other that spans the generations. The way we see each other as individuals who can think, reason, and share productively is fantastic if I say so myself. I have discovered that I have a fantastic child that is strong-willed and is set to make a difference in this world, and I could not be prouder of her. ??In addition to my daughter growing up so quickly, my son has shown how much of a young man he has become over the past few years.?For someone who graduated from High school during the pandemic, who never had the chance to experience a prom, a real graduation and of all things, a freshman (at the University he was accepted into) in his first year of college.?He has truly shown resilience, growth, and most of all someone who was able to take the past couple years on his own with such strength and determination that I can honestly say, he is ready to accomplish anything.

Business meetings have also started to take on some hybrid models. Some staff chose to relocate to areas that better suit them and their families. So having some in-person and some people online will be the norm. Although, it is good to see someone face to face again in a meeting room. I have also noticed that some corporations are not set on meetings happening in the office but accepting a coffee shop as a productive meeting option. Keeping colleagues safe yet effective is the desired outcome, not checking in and out of the office anymore.

Working with outcomes-based models will ensure that people can still do the work in their own time and pace yet deliver on their KPIs. Different generations work in various ways, and with three generations now in the workplace, we need to be flexible. I know for me, I like structure. I want to have a clear objective and deadline, and I will ensure it is met, come what may. The X Gen’s are more comfortable with getting the work done, regardless of the hour of the day. Being at home 24/7 was not ideal in so many ways, as this created no gap in the day for home and family time. Initially, people were working much longer hours than before. Maybe it was a fear of losing their jobs or just boredom. But it created levels of anxiety that people had never felt before.

We can see by the myriad of self-help, therapy, and meditation apps that have launched to see how everyone is battling mental health. Work at all costs or meetings every hour on the hour day is not conducive to a good mental outlook.?The Millennials have something right that we can all learn from, and that is work/?life balance is critical to our every day. We cannot take for granted that we need downtime. Not being able to travel has put a spanner in the works of many plans, including my own. While families opted to renovate their homes instead of taking a break, it added more stress to the home environment.

Domestic violence increased to insane levels, and we have seen a rise in reported abuse, divorce, and suicide cases. Not everyone wants to admit they need help, but talking to a friend, professional therapist and having open and honest conversations with your family is key to coping in this current state of affairs.

I love my work. Growing and developing people, teams, and businesses is what I thrive on, but over the last two years of watching this pandemic consume the world, I have re-evaluated what needs to be done today and what can wait within the next week (as we start the new year).

Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has a great matrix where you can plot your task list.

1.????????Urgent things that are also important

2.????????Important things that are not urgent

3.????????Urgent things that are not important and

4.????????Things that are neither important nor urgent

We only ever look at this matrix from a task or work perspective. Still, we should also add in our personal, physical, and mental tasks like exercise, dinner with the family, time with our partner, and socializing with friends.

Of course, we can say that none of these are urgent, but everyone is important and needs to be on the task list at some level of priority.

We cannot be everything to everyone, but we can be everything to ourselves if we plan and make it happen. Today, it is more important to be a fully functioning and happy individual than a stressed-out and unhappy person at work and home.

These are my critical lessons for 2022.

1.????????We are only human. It is ok not to be the best, fastest and wealthiest person on the planet.

2.????????Family needs to be prioritized on the task list

3.????????Regular mental health checks are critical

4.????????Keep fit and healthy. It helps with your mood, ability to think clearly and recover from ailments.

5.????????Stay vigilant. We are not out of the woods yet, so being careful is still required.

6.????????Take time out to do what you love. It is important to stay social too. See friends and family as often and as safely as you can.

7.????????Be kind. Everyone is going through a tough time. Giving what you can, be it time, money, or a service, is good for the soul.

Let’s all go into 2022 with a positive outlook for what the future can bring, and I am sure we can manifest a fantastic year for all. Happy New Year, everyone.