It’s a strange thing. We thought that we led busy and stressful lives where the biggest challenge was trying to fit everything into 24 hours while still retaining a shred of sanity. And now all of that has come to an abrupt halt. The busyness of modern life is no more. Some veterinary professionals have been furloughed and for practices that remain open, shift work has become the norm, minimising social contact to keep everyone safe. Our lifestyle has changed dramatically too. We’re not rushing between work, the shops, school and all the other social demands on our time. Because the only social demand right now is to stay home and stay safe.
Finding ourselves in this new isolated environment has created a whole new type of stress. Life as we know it has changed and many of us find ourselves in limbo. When will life go back to normal? Will it ever go back to how it was or will we face a new normal? It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by all the unknowns. So what can we do about it?
Forced change can be a good thing
Let’s be honest, instinctively most humans resist change. We change when we have to, not necessarily when we need to, and this often is why we don’t see many of our ambitions coming to fruition. So now when we find change forced upon us, we have two choices. We can bemoan the fact that we can’t go out and do all the things we want to do, or we can choose to stop and reflect. Consider whether this could actually be a blessing in disguise and an opportunity to rethink what’s important in life and how we can attain a life that’s more fulfilling and purposeful.
It’s easy to get bogged down in our current situation, especially if you listen to all the doom and gloom reports from the news. But a life of purpose is not one that only focuses on what is, it focuses on what could be and how to turn that into reality. It doesn’t look at what you need from others and outside circumstances. It looks at what you already have, and there’s nothing like a lockdown situation to make one reevaluate what resources, skills and talents you have – because you literally can’t go out to get anything else!
Looking ahead
While we may not know how or when the pandemic crisis will end, we do know that each and every person will have a role to play in rebuilding the economy. So it would be wise to spend this time reflecting on your career, what skills will be in demand, what expertise you have, or can develop, and where you’d like to be making your contribution. If nothing else corona virus has brought home one big truth. Life’s not just about us, it’s about those around us, the communities we operate in, and what other people need.
What will life after lockdown look like for you? Will you be returning to your job? Are you thinking about whether your workplace is still right for you? Are you thinking about having the ability to bring positive change to a practice, and really make a difference? And, can you do that in your existing work environment?
If these questions have got you thinking we’d like to invite you to a Career Strategy Session, a 60 minute strategy session on the phone where we’ll help you uncover what’s really important to you, what you really want, and how to shape that to become your new future. If you’re serious about making changes to help you move forward, we’re here to consult, advise and help you.