Last week I met with my coaching supervision group where fatigue was a core topic of discussion. All our clients (and family/friends for that matter) are reporting they’re ‘tired’ and in most cases they ‘don’t know why’. I’ll admit I’ve been a bit the same lately, getting out of bed some days has been a struggle for no particular reason. My supervision group boiled it down to this: it’s hard to be a human right now. For so many reasons. I know the phrase ‘unprecedented times’ feels over-used, but it really is. And as events have shown us in recent weeks, it’s far from over yet.
So this got me thinking – how can we continue to keep our eyes on our careers and wellbeing when some days we’re just not feeling it, or like many of my clients report, we’re feeling drained and distracted. Here are three ideas:
Number 1: Write down a single goal for the day.
I personally use manifestations or affirmations to help me get my day off to the right start. But you could write a goal too. Full disclosure: I’d been pondering how to write about ‘fatigue’ for a little while, so my manifestation today was ‘I’ll write about last week’s supervision discussion’. Against the backdrop of what’s going on overseas at the moment, I’ve also felt a bit uncomfortable about putting my voice out there. However yesterday I had another conversation with a client about energy levels which prompted me to focus today with the aim of helping those who read this.
My manifestations/goals for the day can range from very practical ‘today I will make stick to my agenda and prepare for X meeting tomorrow’, through to ‘today I will conserve my energy, write three reflections at the end of the day, and get 8 hours sleep’. I genuinely believe if I write it down at the start of the day, I remain focused and get the job done.
Number 2: Don’t fall solely into ‘small talk’ chat.
We’re all starting to venture back into work in one way or another; many with very mixed feelings ranging from excitement to trepidation. However, what I do know is that people feel to a certain extent that they are having ‘wasteful’ conversations with others about how busy the train was, rather than meaningfully connecting or sharing something useful. Many report hours upon hours of surface level chat which leaves them feeling like their time isn’t being well spent when they are actually face to face with others.
Within all of these conversations I encourage you to do two things: Ask the people you meet how they are and truly listen. If they say ‘fine’ or ‘busy’, try to get a bit deeper. Usually simply saying ‘but really, how are you?’ will draw someone out. Secondly, when they no doubt ask you how you are, try to share something interesting about the work you are doing at the moment – focus on what’s giving you energy or you are excited about. Not only will you tell them something that’s useful, but this sort of conversation will feel positive and meaningful. From a career perspective, sharing this information at a very high ‘drip feed’ level in all interactions is very strategic as it serves to build your reputation.
Number 3: Give yourself time.
Many of us have become disciplined and quite rightly selfish about our own time since the pandemic began. Now signs of returning to the office (etc) are in full swing, this doesn’t mean we have to revert back and sacrifice the routines that we have come to love, value and most importantly, need. So don’t be afraid to have a good quality discussion with your Line Manager, or if you’re a Leader, your team, about your own (and collective) ways of working. Help them understand how to get the best out of you; whether that be working from home 2 days a week when you’re usually in meetings anyway and therefore commuting is quite pointless, or whether it’s needing to finish work earlier one day to collect your children from school.
It’s important that we take time to appreciate the good things that have come from what’s been a traumatic 24 months on Earth. For me it’s a much better work/life balance and a set of personal ‘red lines’ that I won’t be breaching. That includes time with my kids, time for exercise, and time for sleep. These three things make me a more productive person and actually a happier human being who is better at my job. I am not afraid to tell people about them to set expectations. So I encourage you to do the same. If you haven’t taken the time to consider what your red lines are, take 5 minutes today to write them down and consider who you need to share them with.
Summary: You’re not alone in feeling a whole range of emotions at the moment. By setting a daily goal, connecting with others meaningfully, and being kind to yourself, you can navigate the coming months with more energy and focus whilst setting yourself up for a happier and healthier life too.
If you want to talk about any facet of your career or personal well-being, feel free to reach out! [email protected]