If I have snacks, I can handle anything. ππ₯¨π₯π¬π«
This week I had several stressful events-more than I have had since the pandemic started a year ago. I knew about them all ahead of time - they were planned stress (which is very different than unplanned and unexpected stress). Because I knew about them, I could prep. Here is what I did to make this all a little bit better.
I built out my calendar on Sunday and looked at all the times that I would have downtime. Knowing I had an hour here or there - even in the middle of the day - I took walks, did yoga, or ate a real meal.
I did a power pose before I got on the Zoom call. Taking a few minutes to feel my inner Wonder Woman always makes me feel a little less battle-weary.
I made sure to have snacks. I can't tell you the power of having a tangerine, some ginger candy, and a fig newton to nibble on while receiving feedback. You can always go off-camera for a minute or two and listen/talk without them watching you.
I wrote myself positive reminders on Post It Notes before the meetings and stuck them on my desk. "I expect the best-case scenario." "Take criticisms with a grain of salt and breathe." And my favorite from Wim Hof, "You are doing fantastic." It seems silly, but when I felt nervous about presenting, or the meetings were feeling strained, I could look down and remind myself how I wanted to be.
I listened to podcasts that spoke to my heart in the mornings. This episode from On Being was exceptional, and so was this from Brene Brown. Great stuff about the mind-body connection.
In the evenings, after all of the meetings/presentations, I made easy, whole food meals, read my book (hello, Bridgerton series), painted, and did yoga. Taking actual downtime and not obsessing over how things went helped.
Did I get it all right? No. I was still flustered some of the time, and I had a "technology won't work" frustrating moment, but for the most part, it went much better.
Taking the time to get it right before, during, and after was such a lesson that I want to take with me when things go back after the pandemic. Running from thing to thing, rushing around, and not preparing myself for stressful situations burn me out. It doesn't take much planning to make it better - I will have to remember to do it.
What strategy are you thinking about taking with you out of the Covid Era? I'd love to know.
What's happening in the #DoGoodWorkBookClub? We discuss the first two chapters of Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab, and folks are getting real and learning to set boundaries, have aha moments, and feel seen in the first two chapters! Join us. It's free. Know someone that might like a supportive personal/professional development book club? Forward this to themβthe more, the merrier.
I'm speaking at the National Main Street Now Conference on Using Social Media for Good - Reputation Management for Real People. I recorded it this last week, and on the day of, I'll be doing a Live Q&A. I hope to see many of you there.
If your organization is looking for a speaker, I'm still doing virtual sessions, keynotes & lunch & learns, but I foresee the calendar opening to travel in the fall. Let's talk about what your team might need.
As always,
Do Good Work and be well -
Jackie Wolven