Go Forward, Not Back to Work!

 Go Forward to Work: Returning to Work as the Pandemic Declines

"Go Forward to Work" is the beginning of the title of my upcoming book Go Forward to Work: How to Use Your SPIES to Get Your Right Fit Job During a Pandemic.  This blog post will focus on effectively adjusting to work as the pandemic winds down.

As we are in the midst of recovering from the pandemic quarantine and lockdown, returning or resuming work may not be the same as going back to work.  to "Go Forward to Work" challenges us to think about the reality of how the pandemic impacted our lives.  

For many of us, work will never be the same. Even if your employment is now requiring you to shift from virtual work and return to the physical work space on a full time basis, it will not be the same.  How are you processing this experience?  How secure or comfortable do you feel being in an environment in close proximity to others? How happy are you to resume seeing and  interacting with others after working remotely and maybe in an isolated manner? How are you adjusting to resuming a commute? 

For some of us, the pandemic presented us with a total re-evaluation of work.  Some persons decided to retire.  While others, came to the realization that their previous work was unsatisfying. Those workers most likely now seek  new career paths.  For these persons, the importance of being happy in one's career life has become a higher priority. Yet  have others embraced new ways of doing what they previously did.  This may mean deciding to work virtually full-time or now utilizing virtual and technical skills that were generated and strengthened during the pandemic.

The most challenging situation for many is most likely, having lost a job due to the pandemic.  Most likely persons in this category struggled financially, even with the help of stimulus payments and unemployment benefits.  This period presents an opportunity to learn new skills and pivot toward those job industries that grew either during the pandemic or since the re-opening.  

Let's approach these situations being mindful and self-determined by using my AAA approach to managing our emotions to enable the most effective decisions.

AWARE AND ACKNOWLEDGE: Recognize and identify what you feel.  It's okay to acknowledge the distress caused by this pandemic. The goal is to work through emotional obstacles, such as fear, insecurity and lack of confidence.  Being aware is the beginning of enabling you to address and reduce your distress.

ASSESS: Determine ways that you have been impacted, either positively or negatively by the pandemic.  Also notice the intensity of any distress and how it is hindering you in your work life.  For instance, losing you job may have shaken your self-confidence.  It is important to regain your self-assurance to move ahead and regain employment.

ADDRESS:  Identify what you need and how to go about meeting those needs.  Find and tap into available resources.  Ask for and accept reasonable help, personally and professionally.  We can recover from a setback