3 Keys To Nurture Well-Being and Resilience During Difficult Times

The prolonged nature of the pandemic, virtual work, and general uncertainty have pushed employees to their limits with trying to maintain their well-being and resilience. I consistently hear leaders share that employee well-being and resilience are the most important issues facing their organizations today. The good news is that even during extended periods of challenge, there are things we can do to continually develop and grow our well-being and resilience. Let’s explore how it’s done.

3 Keys To Nurture Well-Being and Resilience During Difficult Times

1. Invest In Healthy Relationships

Working from home and having to rely on virtual communication has made it difficult for employees and teams to maintain strong workplace relationships. Combine this with the fact that most employees regularly experience challenging project deadlines, continuous change and unexpected setbacks.

The natural tendency during challenging times is to put one’s head down and push through it—while blocking out any social component. This becomes problematic, as having a strong social support system is the most important thing we can do to establish our well-being and increase resilience. I like the way Shawn Achor summed it up in his book Happiness Advantage:

The greatest predictor of success and well-being is one’s social support network. Countless studies have found that social relationships are the best guarantee of heightened well-being and lowered stress, both an antidote for depression and a prescription for high performance.

2. Build Time For Renewal

Tony Schwartz, the Founder and CEO of The Energy Project, has provided useful insights about how we're designed to move rhythmically between spending and renewing energy. His research shows when people recharge and renew, they can get more done in less time at a higher level of quality and in a more sustainable way.

Since our energy is limited, employees need to find ways to recharge their batteries. They should think of their work as a series of sprints which require ongoing renewal and recovery. Following are proven activities to recover and recharge energy.

• Build in time to visit with close work friends
• Exercise regularly
• Take short work breaks throughout the day
• Deliberate focus on gratitude (3 Good Things)
• Do activities that exercise a strength
• Eat the right foods at the right times

3. Develop A Healthy Stress Mindset

In her wildly popular TED talk, Stanford researcher and bestselling author Kelly McGonigal shares research that shows one of the most important factors for healthy stress management seems to be how well people cope with stress rather than how much stress they face.

Studies show that people who view stress as bad are more negatively affected in terms of happiness and health. Those who view it as motivating report fewer symptoms such as headaches, backaches, and fatigue—even though they experienced the same amount of stress.

This research highlights the importance of focusing on the positive aspects of stress. Too much stress is, of course, detrimental to well–being and resilience, but the right amount can be used as a motivational tool to get more done. Stress can improve cognitive ability and increase productivity and memory. Good stress tends to trigger the “challenge” response, which prompts us to step up, focus, and execute.

A healthy stress mindset includes:

• Understanding when you are experiencing negative emotions and the ability to accurately name what you are feeling.
• Looking at a stressful situation as a challenge rather than a threat.
• Awareness that your body’s response to stress is helping you prepare for peak performance.

Maintaining your well-being and resilience during difficult times starts with building a strong social support network, taking time out for renewal during your day and establishing a healthy stress mindset. As your well-being and resilience grow, you will be better prepared to positively manage the challenges, and adversity of today’s work environment.

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About the Author: Tony Gambill is the President and Founder of ClearView Leadership, an innovative leadership and talent development consulting firm helping executives and managers bring their best leadership self to their most challenging situations. Coauthor of the upcoming book, Getting It Right When It Matters Most, published by Business Expert Press.