Positivity in the Middle of Uncertainty as a Worker

Kenneth C. Danan

The world is full of struggles overcoming the uncertainties in life brought about by pandemic. There are some tips to apply and use for us to overcome every fear on our way. As a worker, let us be e an empathetic and compassionate worker. In your work, particularly if you are a manager or at school management, be clear about your expectations. Promote and model flexibility and recognize staff’s extra needs, such as caring responsibilities when working from home.

Experts suggest that supportive communication within the team is crucial in distressing circumstances.

It is important to: Discuss and agree beforehand on performance measures and targets (both at the individual- and team-level). Be clear about work schedules (especially for workers who might not be available to work for certain times of the day) and inform colleagues of what works for you and how to fit around the schedule;

Recognize the value and supportive nature of teams, particularly in taking decisions, to build resilience and support people in coping with times of uncertainty. Maintaining regular,open and two-way communication with the team,making mental health a normal part of these conversations and reminding on the importance of self-care is vital to protect the mental health and wellbeing of employees during the pandemic.

Limiting social media intake. On the one hand, social media is a great way to connect with others. On the other hand, it can amplify anxiety and stress with a constant flow of worrisome (mis)information. Therefore, be careful about your social media use: considerturning offpush notifications,unfollowingormutingaccounts which are triggering for you, muting Whats App groups and hiding Facebook posts and feeds that might overwhelm you. A lot of devices nowadays even offer a function to notify you once you’ve reached your daily time limit of social media use.

Reaching out for others. Without social interactions provided by going into the office, working from home can feel lonely and isolating. Making time to reach out and connect with others is important for our mental health. Socialising decreases stress and anxiety while supporting calm and happy feelings. By talking to someone, we share our emotions and experiences, provide or receive support which makes us feel connected. When we socialise and have physical proximity to others, we reduce cortisol levels. Simply sharing our concerns with a loved one can help us feel better.

Talking to a friend or family member can be a helpful way to keep your stress levels under control. Plan at least one connection a day – a phone call or a chat with a colleague or friend who you can share experiences with. Consider regular virtual meetings with family and friends to check in on each other. This can be a great source of support during these t i m es.

Work-life balance is the key. With the second wave of infections, it looks like we will continue to telework for the foreseeable future. Some people find working from home beneficial for their wellbeing. But for others, working from home brings its own challenges. Longer working hours, isolation of being separated from colleagues, virtual communication issues and technological challenges can all make us feel increasingly stressed. Fear of infection, concerns over job security or continued income add up to the triggers for poor mental health. As the lines between work and home life blur, the risk of burnout increases. If you are feeling overwhelmed and in need of professional support, there are many options available. You could seek help by a professional counselor or look for peer support. Peer support means persons with lived experience of mental ill-health provide support to each other. Sessions are built on sharing personal experience and empathy while focusing on an individual’s strengths, wellbeing and recovery. If you want to avoid in-person meetings, consider looking for online options.

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The author is a Teacher 1, Calangain ES

Lubao West District