Focus on what you can control : Daily habits as an antidote for COVID-related concerns

With Futuristic in my Top 10 strengths it is important that I can look beyond the immediate horizon to plan for the future. Unsurprisingly I have found this very difficult in the current climate and so I’ve taken a step back…..to welcome each day as it comes, no matter what..how we deal with a problem (or success) today might not be the way we deal with it in a week or months time.

I have found setting myself daily tasks (Achiever is my Number 2 strength) a great way to gain a sense of meaning and purpose from each day (great for those of us who love lists!).

This is relatively simple for my professional life where its often clear what we can or cannot personally control; the boards and companies that I am involved with are moving from the immediate crisis management response phase into the “recovery, rebuild and re-invent” phases. This provides a focus and forward impetus for the leadership teams. There are many things that have been “forced” upon us by lockdown that we will want to retain in the recovery phase. For instance we have learnt that it is possible for the majority of roles to be performed remotely. It is also possible to build and maintain social connection and engagement virtually (although for how long this will last has yet to be tested). There are many good changes to our ways of working that will remain in the “next normal” world.

But it may feel harder to be so laid-back with the current situation in our personal life. We have the difficulty of juggling our professional life from home, with family life. The list of thing to worry about is endless; home schooling, the health & wellbeing of our families & friends, bills, income etc. Given the uncertainty of travel, at the moment it isn’t even feasible to put any holiday plans in the diary (the thing that keeps most of us going through the year).

Amongst all this uncertainty and inability to plan for the future, I have found real comfort in my “Daily Habits”. Even pre-Covid I did have some daily routines but these tended to be very hurried affairs squashed into 15 minutes each morning before rushing to get the kids ready for school and to get out the door to work myself.

Now I set aside the first hour of each day to for my Daily Habits routine. Rising at 6am, I make the bed and then meditate for 20 minutes (or more if possible). I then do some yoga or stretching and write one page in my journal. After that, I read the FT online, have breakfast and check my emails (only for urgent matters) and social media to catch up on the gossip.

By 7am I usually feel quite centred and ready for rest of the day. Having practised these Daily Habits for 7 weeks now, I am confident that this has allowed me to slow down, be more reflective and to accept that there is no point worrying about all the things in life that I cannot control.

I can control my mood and wellbeing so by focusing on this, I am more enabled to be my best and to be of more service to others.

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I am an Executive Coach/Mentor and a Gallup certified strengths-based professional.

If you want to learn more about 1x1 coaching with me, please drop me an e-mail to ad@annemariedurbin.com