Improving Social Well-being behind the scenes of Covid-19 Crisis

Humans are social beings. We thrive on social interactions, meeting our colleagues during the week, catching up with friends and family during the weekends, and planning weekend getaways to unwind. An established routine helps; to have a set pattern that we can follow every day to avoid unforeseen obstacles that suddenly jump into our path. But some of us are so obsessed with our routines that we forget to live outside of it.

Our stress levels could be skyrocketing, but we continue to burn the midnight oil trying to meet deadlines and goals. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown all our lives into total disarray, and although it's been over 2 months, many of us are still struggling to establish a lockdown routine. One of the most critical barriers is perhaps the fact that both our workspace and home are now the same place due to work-from-home practices.

What used to be a luxury we enjoyed occasionally has suddenly become daily life. It's easy to say we're confused as to how to differentiate between work life and personal life, and we must do so before we get consumed by it. It is time to pause. 

Taking the First Step 

The "Butterfly Effect" presumes that a small change can lead to a more significant change, sometimes of disastrous proportions. It may seem like a discouraging task to suddenly attempt to draw a line between work life and personal life, but it can be done. The simplicity lies in the small changes. Spare an hour or so each day, or at least, a few times a week to pursue new hobbies or pick up old ones. (within the permitted lockdown activities of course). Doing what we love increases the release of endorphins in our brains. If you don't know what endorphins are, in simple terms, they're one of the hormones that make us feel good, relaxed, and happy.

Entrepreneurs are often consumed by their work, even if they love it. Passion and dedication towards your goal are essential, but experiencing a burn-out because of your passion can be detrimental to your career in the long run. When our work no longer makes us happy, there must be something we're doing wrong. Block days on your calendar, where you dedicate time towards doing what you love. Like spending time with family, trying some adventure activities to loosen up, or even setting aside a couple of hours to watch a movie by yourself can do wonders for your mental health. 

Creating Meaningful Synergies 

Working in large organizations makes it's easy to become comfortable with only your closest teammates and not bother or have the time to get yourself acquainted with others working on the same floor. Group outings to adventure resorts with colleagues was a great way to break the ice between different teams in the workplace. Life has found a way to remind us not to take anything for granted. Now we have Zoom!

Demanding work schedules mean that your communication with the boss is mostly strained and uneasy. All these add to the immense workload that already exists. Daily work life would be miles easier if you were comfortable enough with your superiors to be able to talk to them freely and agreeably.

Establishing clear communication channels between colleagues smoothens everyday work processes - work can become enjoyable again. Create an environment where you look forward to going to the office as much as you look forward to leaving it at the end of the day. When these small changes are made, they will come together to form a synergy - a positive difference bigger than you expected will become visible in your life.

Points of View 

Mindfulness is about being truly present, being aware of your strengths and shortcomings, and how it affects the way you think and behave. Everyone experiences stress differently. Pay attention to your environment, mood and energy levels, and general stimuli that stress you out. Recognizing the point of origin, and eliminating it is the easiest and tactful way to increase productivity. Map out the aspects that make you tick, that slow you down, and capitalize on them. If you observe that you are more productive during certain hours of the day, schedule tasks that need more attention to that timeframe. 

When you realize that your work has become your life, that's the first sign you need to move things around a bit. Following these simple steps will make it easier to enjoy your work and life, both. It needn't be that you find happiness in one and sacrifice the other.

Inspired by creating Meaningful synergy with Points of You Cyprus

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