| The COVID-19 situation threw us a curveball. Life’s typical fast pace has been disrupted for many. Over the last two months I’ve had a wide range of conversations- from our student-athletes to experts in various fields. Incredibly, or maybe not so incredibly, people are experiencing similar pain points. Below are some common words and phrases that have been used to capture the challenges we are facing. In addition, I share my thoughts- after the numerous conversations- on how to cope and even thrive during this pandemic. Struggle #1 Uncertainty: Will schools open in the fall? Am I going to be employed at the end of the month? When will I be able to see my friends, kids, or grandchildren again? Will sports return? Will life ever be normal? Positive Thought: The present challenge is to accept the uncertainty. Spending too much time thinking about the future is dangerous; spending too much time revisiting the past is equally damaging. My conversations have led me to double down on present moment focus. In addition, the sports saying of “control what you can control” has never been more relevant. Making a list of the things we still have control over can be beneficial. Struggle #2 Guilt: Is it ok to enjoy this time? While this is an extremely difficult time with loss of life, jobs, and businesses suffering- many people have mentioned they’ve enjoyed certain aspects. This has led to powerful feelings of guilt. Positive Thought: Enjoying parts of this time and also being compassionate to the situation are not mutually exclusive. Self-compassion is necessary. It’s ok to have mixed feelings; it’s part of being human. This doesn’t have to be an “either/or” situation. It is possible to have compassion and empathy to the struggle while also finding joy in other areas. Those feelings are normal and healthy. Struggle #3 Loss of Structure: The heavily structured and programmed lives of many have been replaced with time and flexibility. Several conversations stemmed around having the ability to delay work in the present because procrastination was an option. “I’ll just do it later” has become a popular mantra. Positive Thought: Self-discipline is necessary. Freedom is powerful- embrace it. This is a great time to do inventory on what’s really important. Blocking of larger segments of time, (1-3 hours) for critical work is a highly effective approach. Struggle #4 Improvement with Constraints: “Failing to prepare now will cost you in the future.” This is a common phrase used by coaches and leaders to encourage action during this time. While the intention is fine, it has created anxiety in some: “how can I get better when I have limited resources?” Athletes are struggling to improve without access to gyms, facilities and coaches. “How can I put in a full day of work when all the kids are home and require attention?” These constraints are real. Positive Thought: First, forgive yourself. It’s tough to learn in stressful environments. If you are becoming a better daughter, son, mother, father, and friend during this time you are winning. In addition, focus on resourcefulness not resources. Hill sprints are a great way to improve speed and power- you don’t need a gym for that. YouTube is a great resource for “how to” videos. Books, articles, and podcast are still great sources of knowledge. When the time is right for you, there are countless ways to improve. Struggle #5 Connection: Social distancing has created a void in physical human connection. Face to face conversations, social dinners, parties, practices, spiritual gatherings and competitions are currently obsolete. The energy of human interaction is impossible to replace. Our days are now filled with Google Meets, Zoom calls, and other virtual interactions. Positive Thought: Technology has served us well during these tough times. I’ve had more than a few people mention how they have connected with friends and families more in the last few months than they had in years. Virtual happy hours and other get-togethers have helped reunite. Also, people are reporting deeper relationships with their immediate family during the pandemic; family dinners and game nights have been re-engaged. Keep searching for ways to connect. Conclusion: I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank all of the folks on the frontlines who are sacrificing daily. In addition, I’m thankful for decision makers who are wrestling with health issues, the economy and various other considerations. Political and business leaders are faced with really tough decisions. I hope we can all show compassion, kindness, empathy and come together during this difficult time. Make it a great week, Mike Have you experienced any of these struggles? Would you add any other challenges to the list? |
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