Where are we now? What day is it?

I've had a bit of a break from the blog following those dark winter lockdown months as some other projects were taking off. It also got pretty challenging for me. I think I went into the winter lockdown with a faulty assumption that since we'd been through it before, and since we don't go out in winter much anyway, that it would be easy and things would be fine. Boy, was I ever wrong! I had difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, difficulty keeping to any kind of routine, among other things. I'm sure by now you've heard the term revenge procrastination which was coined before the pandemic, but certainly has been a feature for many since last year. In our current climate, it's not so much about being too busy (although some people's work certainly became more challenging), but I believe it's a combination of the stress of lockdown--general anxiety about the situation, life feeling out of our control, not seeing the end in sight, being at home much more than usual with fewer opportunities to socialise--plus fewer opportunities for good brain stimulation. Cue the endless social media scrolling. No? Was that just me?

I'll be the first to put my hand up and admit that despite the delicious coaching tools I have at my disposal, and the many improvements I've made to my own self-care over the years, things definitely slipped for me over the early months of 2021. I certainly don't have everything perfect, but I accept that I never will. Any professional that you might choose to work with will tell you the same thing: we all have our personal 'stuff,' and life throws all kinds of challenges at us. I think the key is just to keep trying, even if it's little efforts and even if it's unsuccessful. So today, I celebrate being able to get out of bed throughout this difficult time. I also choose to be thankful for the extra rest and flexibility I've been able to enjoy due to working from home.

So dear reader, I want you to have that same compassion for yourself if you've been at all judgmental about any perceived lack of 'achievement' or 'success' you've had thus far during a global pandemic and various lockdown periods. Even if you think that someone else has had it worse than you, and they probably have, that does not mean that you are somehow a failure or that things haven't been a legitimate challenge for you. I think we're at a stage now where we've somewhat adjusted to our 'new normal,' and it will take coming out on the other side of it to step back and realise just how difficult life has been over the last 18 months.

I'll give you an example. Years ago, I was working in an extremely challenging position in a large London borough doing child protection social work. Unfortunately, on top of the stress of a job which often included being shouted at and abused by parents struggling to care for their children, there was also a culture of bullying from management on every level. I had absolutely no job satisfaction and it felt incredibly unsafe, because one misstep meant that management would throw any of us under the bus. I had already planned not to be in the job for too long, and two years in I was able to move into adoption. One day soon after I joined my new team, I returned to the building where my child protection team was based to drop something off for a colleague. As soon as my hand touched the door, I immediately felt terrible pain in my stomach. Now, I knew whilst I was doing child protection that I was very, very stressed and unhappy. But what that stomach pain told me was that I had gone into survival mode in order to avoid having a complete breakdown until I could move onto other work. I knew right away that it was a psychosomatic response, and it was overwhelming to realise that I had been so stressed for so long and I was only just then beginning to have some relief by being away from that toxic environment.

I believe that coming out of this pandemic, whenever that does happen, might feel similar as we're able to look back and think about how much we had to deal with, and how we made our way through it as best as we could.

I've had the privilege of writing an editorial for a local magazine published by Anthony Webb Estate Agents, which you can find here, on page 18.

Here is what I shared:

As the second long period of Covid-19 restrictions are easing, I’ve spoken with many people about their thoughts about what’s next. This unprecedented time has been like a double-edged sword, with its challenges and benefits. Something I’ve found interesting is our opportunity to pause and reflect on our lives. The result for many has been to re-evaluate their career or their lifestyle, and to begin to make some major changes. So what has this meant for you? What reflection have you had about your life? What have you learned about self-care and what this means for you? Have you found you’re doing too much and need to re-prioritise?

For me, even as an introvert, I’ve found myself realising how much I really do need connection and community with people I care about. For you extroverts, I can only imagine how much more challenging you may have found all that time stuck at home. We all seem to be sick of something I call ‘Zoom fatigue;’ those endless video call meetings!

We’ve all been facing our own battles during this challenging time, perhaps with less support than we normally would have had. Given the length of time, it can be easy for this to become a pattern for us. So as we are able to start doing a few more things ‘normally’ again, I want to encourage you to reach out for support if you need it. Even if you’d rather ‘just get on with it,’ remember that this past year has been difficult and it is okay to still not be okay.

Maybe you’re feeling anxious, or burned out, or guilty about feeling this way. Remember that you do not have to suffer in silence just because you know someone who has it worse than you. If you’re feeling okay, be that extra hand or listening ear to someone else. We really do need each other to recover fully. According to UN Women.org, women have been disproportionally affected worldwide by the pandemic. You can read all about this in their article published here.

So if any of what I shared today rings true for you, know that you're not alone! Reach out for support. As noted in the article, I'm running a special this summer of 10% off 1-1 coaching, quote code SUMMER2021. Book your free discovery call today so we can discuss whether coaching with me is right for you. If my services aren't right for you, I'll most likely be able to put you in touch with another coach who is a better fit. Although I run a business and want to stay in work, my commitment is to ensure that you get the best possible service, even if that isn't with me.

I would love to hear your feedback and comments, so be sure to add yours below!

Love,

Christine El Issa

Mosaic Coaching Ltd.