The Power to Reset: How to Emerge From the COVID-19 Crisis Better, Not Broken

By: David Robert, Chief Strategy Officer, Loeb Leadership

April 2020

Note from the author: The following blog details my personal experience only. I am aware that others have suffered greatly from both the virus and the ensuing financial crisis. I offer my heartfelt condolences to those adversely impacted, and I wish for a quick discovery of a reliable treatment and vaccine.

The thought of quarantining for a few weeks sounded like an ideal way to ride out the pandemic. Even before COVID-19 arrived, it wasn’t unusual for me to seek out opportunities to isolate from the outside world. I’m a highly social introvert. A long period of solitude is the only way I can recharge my batteries. I know others might find the prospect of isolation to be intimidating, but I was looking forward to the clarity that a temporary lull often brings. But this time it feels different. Very different.

It became obvious to me after the first week at home that I wasn’t deriving the same sense of peace and restfulness that I enjoyed previously. Maybe it’s because I’m now jammed into a small at-home office with my spouse and two restless dogs—not exactly the tranquility I had envisioned. Or, maybe it’s because in my pre-COVID life, I had the option to re-engage when I was ready. My isolation was self-imposed and practiced in the spirit of mental wellness. This time I feel claustrophobic, both physically and emotionally. The past few weeks I’ve felt uneasy, anxious and, quite frankly, sad. I’m struggling with what feels like a deep sense of loss—the loss of my daily routine, the loss of time spent in the physical presence of friends, or not being able to receive the hug from my neighbor when she dropped off her homemade pasta each Friday. Maybe it’s all of that. Or perhaps the feelings are my way of dealing with the reality that my life may never return to the way it was. My life experience will be permanently reshaped and many of the things I’ve taken for granted, the things that bring me joy, will be gone. That’s a tough pill to swallow.  

But as luck would have it, I’m also an optimist. I see a silver lining in just about any circumstance. I’ve been setting aside time each day to focus on how I’m feeling in an effort to remain upbeat. I use a journal to capture those reflections and after reading through what I’ve written thus far, I became energized at what I saw as a significant opportunity for something good, a chance to reset.

Prior to COVID-19, I’d eat dinner at home twice per week, at most. I spent too much time making myself sick over which sports team was going to win on any particular night. I was at Starbucks so often the staff knew me by my real name (not the one I give them so they can shout it out when my order was ready). There was an Amazon package at my doorstep nearly every day. I too quickly turned to television rather than making a selection from the stack of books in my office that I told myself were “must reads.” And most importantly, I blurred the lines between my personal life and work life. I hadn’t realized how exhausting my life was nor the physical toll these behaviors were having on me. The past few weeks have essentially been a recovery period; a time to break free from the non-essential things that were taking up space in, what I refer to as, my reservoir for happiness. COVID-19, for all of the horror it’s causing, has given me an opportunity to plan my re-entry into this next version of my life and to be purposeful about what I choose to invite back in.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love my job and I derive a great deal of satisfaction by helping our clients solve problems. And I enjoy a wide range of autonomy. But I know that as work begins to return to some semblance of normalcy, there is a healthier way for me to re-engage. I’ve been jotting down my thoughts about how things will be different for me; how I will be different. Here’s my list thus far:

·      Pay myself first. These are words of wisdom my parents shared with me when I was younger. They were attempting to help me understand the importance of intention; to choose to invest in my own wellbeing and happiness. Now seems like the perfect time to take their advice. I now get up an hour earlier each day and use that hour for me. I’ve used this time to exercise, read, and meditate.

·      Limit my exposure to social media. I’ll admit it, I’ve been somewhat of a Facebook junkie. I check the app first thing every morning, several times throughout the day, and before I go to bed. To be honest, I have no idea what I think I’d be missing if I stopped. What I do know is that, recently, social media has only added to my stress and anxiety and right now I need things in my life that offer calmness and stability.

·      Create boundaries between my personal life and my work life. Working remotely can create significant challenges to keeping personal and work activities separate. But I need to begin creating those boundaries now so that I don’t get confused about what’s causing me stress. If I can more quickly identify something that is problematic, I am in a better position to find a sustainable solution.

·      Express gratitude. When my life moves at what seems like the speed of light, it’s difficult to pause to express gratitude for what I have. I need to make this a priority, though. I’ve learned that gratitude can be a powerful tool in increasing mental and physical wellbeing. When I feel grateful, I tend to be more empathetic. And empathy is a necessary ingredient for healthy personal and work relationships.

·      Be more collaborative. I know this one seems generic and not clearly actionable, but I think it’s something worth exploring. As I watch the world grapple with the enormity of the COVID-19 pandemic, two things are crystal clear: when we withhold, we suffer; when we work together, great things happen. The nature of my role already necessitates a high level of collaboration, but I know there’s room for growth, especially as it relates to my ability to be agile and accommodating. 

·      Learn to be present. With so many distractions pulling me in a variety of directions at any given moment, I’ve lost my ability to be truly present when in the company of others. If I choose to surround myself with the people I care about, I owe it to them to pay attention, listen and meaningfully engage.

I’m curious how others might describe their own reset given that we likely see and experience this crisis differently. For example, what word would you choose to describe the commitment you’d like to make as you re-emerge. I’m even more curious about what could be possible if we all made such a commitment. I have no idea what the remainder of 2020 will bring. I’ll assume there will be further ambiguity, anxiety, and challenges. Yet, the optimist in me remains hopeful because when we work together, great things happen. So, I encourage you to share your reset story and help to raise our collective confidence that we can emerge from this crisis better, not broken.