At the start of the pandemic, we can probably say that we all drew on our adrenalin to drive us forward and get us through; we’d do whatever it took to keep our residents, ourselves and each other safe. And of course, that’s still true, but given the last year and a bit that we’ve all lived and worked through, it’s not surprising that our batteries are now pretty flat.
This short video from Sue Mellor from the West of England Academy helps us to recognise how running on empty can affect our ability to make decisions……… and what techniques we can use to re-charge our batteries again.
One thing Sue tells us really resonated with me. In her words:
“We all have Superpowers but sometimes they need dusting off. “
She uses the analogy of travelling on a plane: the flight attendants tell us in the event of an emergency to put on our own oxygen masks before helping others. Remember to look after yourself first so you can effectively look after others – that means good nutrition, staying hydrated, getting regular sleep and exercise, preferably outside. She tells us more here:
You may also find this video from Ivan Robertson of Robertson Cooper helpful. As he explains: “Resilience is not an all or nothing quality, most of us have strengths and weaknesses but when the going gets tough, we need to sustain our sense of purpose.”
This document: https://we-are-beyond.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Beyond-Resilience-Toolkit-2020.pdf looks at unhelpful thinking styles; which we can all be guilty of from time to time.
If you’re want to change your feelings and actions into more positive ones, then try to avoid this sort of frame of mind.
I love this tool: https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Documents/Recruitment-and-retention/PERSON-CARE.pdf.
As Skills for care explain: “It is understandable that in these exceptional times, now more than ever, employees face additional pressures and may experience periods of ‘difficult to manage’ emotions, both at and outside of work. Reacting in the moment due to how we’re feeling, can sometimes lead us to say things we don’t necessarily mean, or wish we had said in a different way.”
The following tool was developed with adult social care employers in 2019 to help staff support themselves and provide some easy tips to remember to take in difficult situations.”
Here are some more resources, if you’d like to learn more about resilience:
https://www.tougherminds.co.uk/resilience-training-coaching-online-courses/free-resilience-training/
https://positivepsychology.com/resilience-activities-exercises/