Resilience Tip: When the Art of Juggling becomes a Mandate

Posted on January 13, 2021 by LeadingAge

Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology

We are coming up on the anniversary of when the COVID-19 pandemic hit our nation, our care facilities and every aspect of our lives. We were likely juggling many roles before the coronavirus: parent, professional, caretaker at home and work just to name a few. We might also have been struggling to find time for ourselves amidst all these demands pre-COVID.

If we became expert jugglers at the outset of the COVID crisis, now, almost 12 months into this, our juggling has left us exhausted, depleted and likely feeling less confident and/or productive across all our roles.

We have now learned that the constant demands of keeping all our “balls in the air” is not possible to maintain forever in the same way. We likely see the fatigue in our coworkers, family members and extended loved ones as well.

Today, it’s important to remember that EVERYONE is impacted by COVID-19. We are together in this, though we often suffer and try to juggle alone.

Resilience in this time of role fatigue that has no certain ending can be built most effectively when we find a way to connect and use our collective struggle to find strength.

Today’s tips provide ways to keep juggling by finding strength in numbers and connection:

1. At work or with family, instead of moving right to the tasks at hand, start a meeting or conversation with checking in. Simply ask, “where are you at today,” or share of one tough thing and one victory can re-establish comfort for yourself and those engaged with you.
2. Delegate: find one task that you can give away for today. Be an example of how to ask for help and support rather than take it all on yourself.
3. Have someone remind you that you’re doing a good job. Ask for this reassurance if you need it, give it to someone else if they do. We are all feeling less confident than usual during this time. 

For more information about stress relief during COVID-19, go to www.leadingagemncoaching.com. For individual assistance, call , LeadingAge Minnesota’s COVID-19 Staff Coping & Support Line number is 612-445-8656 or email covidsupport@acp-mn.com. This free service is open to any staff or leader to schedule a 20-minute coaching call. A professionally trained coach from the Associated Clinic of Psychology will listen to a caller’s concerns and help them create a coping roadmap for stress relief. There is no cost for this program thanks to the support of the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation and DHS grant funding.