Emotional and cognitive agility

in a post-COVID-19 era

By the time you read this, we will most likely be in a Level 2 (or hopefully Level 0) COVID-19 environment.
 
Wage subsidies will be coming to an end.
 
Many businesses will be reviewing their ground lease costs, realising that their operations can be run remotely.
 
For a significant number of people, there is no job to go back to.
 
In addition, inactivity over a longer than normal period of time (Lockdown) can have a “lethargy effect”.
 
Yes, it turns out that getting up and going to bed later, and spending increasing amount of time on “noise” activities (Facebook, Instagram, Netflix) in the absence of regular routine and responsibility can actually poison personal motivation.

In uncertain times, and with no clear direction, the ability to be emotionally and cognitively agile (to “pivot”) is a key life skill requirement, and we have read about people during the Lockdown who have been able to do this: 

• The car rental company that “pivoted” from tourism rentals to domestic food delivery;
• the beauty salon business owner who “pivoted” from beautician to New World night-shift online order processor;
• the white-water rafting company that “pivoted” from adventure tourism to residential landscaping.

In order to pivot, it is important to recognise the difference between what we are concerned about, verses what we can control.
 
For example, I have no influence over funding decisions in the Government Cabinet, but I can determine what my personal expenditure will look like, going forward.
 
While you may not have a job, that doesn’t mean you don’t have transferable skills and experience that is going to be most welcome in other fields.
 
Agility is both emotional (how you feel about what you can cope with), and cognitive (what you believe about the options available to you).
 
Developing a “menu of options” is a useful first step, because we cannot select a meal from a blank menu.
 
Start with what you have, not with what you want.
 
Zig-zag, dance, side-step, jump towards, and pivot towards the very next opportunity you need to secure, and be prepared to re-learn, re-train, and yes, even possibly re-locate.
 
Find a cheerleader, be your own cheerleader, or cheer on someone else, but just make sure you are moving.
 
Because from today, we are in a new world, virus or no virus.