My Suitcase

This morning while getting ready for work (the guest room upstairs that now serves as an office), I eyed my suitcase standing at attention in my closet. As I gazed, half asleep, at my trusty sidekick, I considered all that has changed for road warriors since the Coronavirus hit. First, I am careful to admit just how much I miss the travel as I don't want to hurt my husband's feelings. I have loved my time spent with him these last two months, but even he recognizes I am much happier when I am moving at Mach3. 

Back to the suitcase: that juncture in my closet was my ah-hah moment. It struck me that not traveling is why I feel so off. According to psychologists, we are grieving our losses collectively, and it's good to name our losses. So, I will say it out loud. I am mourning the loss of my work travel. Ironically, when speaking to friends and family, they are shocked that I'm not thrilled to be home. "I bet you are enjoying your break from being on the road!" My reply to everyone is, "Um, no, not at all!"

I can't speak for all client-facing people, but not being able to go belly-to-belly with customers is a harsh side-effect of COVID-19. In my opinion, meeting people across the conference room table is essential for building rapport and developing deeper relationships. Most of us in customer-centric roles relish the interaction. We thrive on the ability to meet people and see them holistically: their facial gestures, their hand movements, and subtle cues that make communication easier. We need these prompts to be at our best.

Now might be a good segue into video chatting because it is considered the next best thing to in-person interactions, but the subtle cues I mentioned are missing. We are concentrating so hard to see everyone, trying to figure out when we can speak, and dealing with faulty connections and lags. "Zoom Fatigue" is a real thing. I liken it to the exhaustion you feel when you go back to school. In that first week of classes, you're adapting to your surroundings, meeting new people, trying to figure out your teachers or professors. You have anxiety about where your next class is. Do I look okay? Did I sound stupid when I answered that question? For some people, being on video elicits the same feelings but intensifies the thoughts of uncertainty and apprehension.

Further, I miss the rush of a great meeting. There is nothing better than having a satisfying client meeting with an excellent outcome and sharing the victory with your teammates. I also miss that camaraderie with my colleagues and my clients. A good customer appreciation happy hour, in-person, of course, is just what my soul needs right now to get back on track. Zoom happy hours just don't cut it. They are awkward. No one knows if they can speak. Nothing beats sitting next to a live human being and raising a glass (or four).

So, what can we do to alleviate this feeling of loss? For me, it starts with a daily reminder, "Give yourself some grace." We are allowed to mourn. I'm also committing to showing daily gratitude by writing down three things for which I am thankful. If you don't have a gratitude journal, I highly recommend you order one off Amazon today. Prime members, keep in mind with the COVID-19 delay, you might not get it until next week. Today, I am appreciative I have an understanding and loving family and a husband who has supported me in all my years of business travel. I have my health and the health of those I love. That is what is truly important right now. We have lost friends to this virus, so I don't want anyone to think I don't understand the serious nature of this pandemic or what's at stake. I do get it, but I will be giddy and ready to hit the road when it's the right time. Until then, please feel free to hit me up if I can help support you in any way. Stay safe, everyone!