What’s in and out of our control?
This time last year we were having to manage our concerns and emotions whilst we started feeling like we were losing the opportunity to do the things we would normally do. Decisions were being made for us or, to put it another way, we were feeling like things were being taken out of our control, as the Pandemic struck us in the UK and around the world. A year on, and whilst things aren’t fully back to how they were before, much has started to open up again and we have a hint of a chance to recapture some of the things in life we have done without. As we start to regain control of how we wish to live, work and play, we can be confronted by the changes that face us now so it’s important to face up to that.
Take Control – Make changes
For me, I can’t remember the last time I went to the supermarket and, to be honest, I don’t miss that. I now have a new choice – one that’s within my control as to what I do in the future. I’ve made the decision to shop more locally at the Farm Shop a few villages away, to continue with milkman, who very kindly added me to the list in the first lockdown, and to use the online deliveries for those additional things. Why? Because I have realised that I would rather do other things with my time than spend it in the supermarket weekly or even in the queue to get into the supermarket. One of those things is spending time outside enjoying the garden or going for a cycle ride or a walk in the countryside.
We have somehow got used to aspects of this lockdown / pandemic life we have been living over this past year. Going back to how and what we did before can bring on fresh feelings of a lack of control all over again. It will be different and we are all going to need to consider that and make a choice over what we do and how quickly we want to start to do things. I notice I am not keen to rush back to places with lots of people or drive miles to do things. I have the opportunity to choose to not reintroduce some things again, like my weekly trip to the supermarket.
Contentment
The other week I became aware that I was quiet in the flow of a different life and that, actually, I was most content with my family around me working from home – all of us being healthy, having books to read, knowing I have my garden to get out into and being able to go out and walk in the countryside around where I live each day. At the same time, I also recognised that isn’t the same for everyone. But, in that moment, I was most aware of those things that were making most of a difference to my contentment.
Time Out
At Fresh Air Fridays we really know the value of taking some time out. Time out to consider how we are, our reaction to certain aspects and to offer a chance to choose to do things differently. We hope we encourage you to consider some of those aspects for yourself when you receive our newsletters and on our 12-week virtual organisational programmes ‘Working Well’ we provide the chance for employees to take a walk with a guided audio. It is personal time out to consider a theme and then to participate in a facilitated hour where you can hand the reins over to someone else to guide you and your people or teams through a series of tools and explorations of the topic. Control is one of those topics and, as we come out of lockdown and move on to the next stage in living with this pandemic, it is perhaps more appropriate than ever to give people an opportunity to explore their reactions to what’s occurring for them now, how they are experiencing things and an opportunity to consider what they will do with what is within and outside of their control. Of course, we’d recommend taking some time to have a walk in nature as they do so. For an informal chat on how the ‘Working Well’ programme can help you and your people, book a call with us here.