Today is labor day and I’m sure we need this day off more than ever as our “labor” has certainly expanded beyond our normal roles the past 6 months.
Is our future unknowable? Probably for most of us as right now, our world is still turned upside down. We are in roles we never would’ve thought we’d be in. Some of us have unexpected financial issues, end of marriages, and other negatives from this. Others have gotten pregnant when they deemed it impossible, gotten married, had virtual celebrations, and strengthened distant friendships.
It’s about the opportunity you create. Whatever happened, good or bad-you are destined for an amazing new chapter of your life and I am sending positive vibes your way!
Usually, September is full of new beginnings with back to school for families and employees pushing to meet the end of the year/quarter goals for their companies. However this year, I think we all can agree has been nothing short of a shit show.
When I go on social media, the general vibe has been what I would describe as “panic” since the beginning of August. Families are stressed trying to figure out childcare so they can work and employees who were furloughed and promised to come back in August/September still don’t have answers. So how do we make a plan? Where do we start?
As the quote says, “the best plan is the one that lets you change your plans” and that means flexibility. What works one week may not work the next depending on what’s going on. The best thing you can do right now is line up options so you know what they are.
If you’re a parent and you have someone watching your kids while they participate in remote school, have a backup plan in case that person cancels or can no longer come. Sit down as a family and make a plan together to accommodate work and school schedules. Find your problem areas and brainstorm solutions together.
If you’ve been furloughed, look into learning a new skill online or see if you can do some freelance work with the skills you already have. Better yet, reach out to other people from your job whether they are still working there or not and connect with them. Despite the circumstances, there are a lot of companies hiring now with remote start to fill roles and a lot of older folks retiring who don’t have the desire to learn the necessary technology to keep working in our COVID-19 world.
A personal example for me is how in the past I would typically have a September appointment for a haircut. If you’re in dire need of a haircut, order some scissors online and watch youtube to cut it yourself. You can do it! I’ve cut my daughter’s hair, my husband’s, and my hair recently and I have zero experience. It wasn’t too hard and it didn’t turn out that bad. Sure, it’s probably not up to salon standards or Instagram worthy, but it was free and super convenient! I gave myself the option to do it myself rather than risk the health of myself and my family by going to a salon right now.
Give yourself permission to find and explore options.
Connect with others online, offline, whatever it takes to remind yourself you are not alone and keep connecting with others. Use social media, text friends, find related articles online. It’s out there and waiting for you to discover them. Despite our crazy world, I can say that right now, more than ever people want to help. Don’t let yourself isolate right now! You are not alone, I promise you.
We need to help each other right now and lift each other up.
Keep an open mind and remind yourself to continue being as flexible as possible. When life changes, the best thing you can do is change with it. This whole year is like one big adjustment cesspool, I get it. No one could predict a global pandemic would happen. We can’t control the people around us who think getting COVID can’t happen to them.
What we can do is control ourselves, keep being safe, and remind ourselves that this world we are living in right now is temporary. Eventually (and hopefully soon!), this will pass and I want you to be able to look back and be proud of yourself. Proud of yourself for staying flexible and finding options to simplify your conflicts during a difficult and out of control time.
You will not be defeated right now! You will stay positive, adjust, and continue to find and create options where you need them.
You got this!
