How has the pandemic affected your pace?
Even the best of the best have experienced challenges in finding their new pace at work. Focus and concentration have been more of a challenge for leaders, managers, and employees. And it’s no surprise: our sense of time has been distorted. Two factors explain this phenomenon:
- Feeling stuck in a holding pattern
- Loss of flow
Feeling stuck is not unusual for those who remain at home, or have yet to return to their previous work environment. You see, when we are unable to structure or manipulate our experience of time—when our temporal agency is deprived—we feel stuck in the present.
Fear also alters our perception of time and pace. According to Dr. Sylvie Droit-Volet, PsyD, author of Subjective Time (The MIT Press 2014), threatening stimuli can distort our internal sense of the passage of time.
Whether you remain at home or have yet to make your re-entry, understanding why may be helpful, but what to do about it is most important. Creating the safest possible work environment and managing anxiety are fundamental components. Developing four psychological skills in self-management can overcome feeling stuck, loss of flow, and help you find a new pace.
In Summary
This article and Article Nuggets explore how the pandemic has affected our sense of time and flow, and suggests ways to find a new pace at work.
This is a brief synopsis of a 1,100-word article and 3-Article Nuggets*, suitable for consultants’ newsletters for executives and leaders in organizations. It is available for purchase with full reprint rights, which means you may put your name on it and use it in your newsletters, blogs or other marketing materials. You may also modify it and add your personal experiences and perspectives.
The complete article includes these important concepts:
- 4 Psychological skills for self-management under great pressure
- Tips to minimize distractions
- Anxiety management for return to work
- A New zone focus
And references to the following sources:
- Andrew A. Bennett, Allison S. Gabriel, Charles Calderwood, “Examining the interplay of micro-break durations and activities for employee recovery: A mixed-methods investigation.” Journal of Occupational Health Psychology (April 2020)
- Dr. Julia DeGangi, PhD, “Feeling Uncomfortable with Reentry? You’re on the Right Track.” Harvard Business Review (June 2020)
- Dr. Erika Felix, PhD, “Life After COVID-19: Making Space for Growth” American Psychological Association (June 2020)
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- Finding a New Pace – 1,100-word Article, $57
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