Love Your Working Life
  • Work With Carleen
    • About Carleen
    • Career Strategy Session >
      • Get The Most Out Of Your Career Strategy Session
    • Podcasts
    • Coaching Programs >
      • Lead with Impact
      • Career Impact
      • Purpose to Impact
      • Recognize Your Leadership Potential >
        • Welcome to Recognizing Your Leadership Potential
      • Realize Your High Potential
      • The Art of Influence at Work
      • Your Time By Design
      • Assessment
    • Book Me To Speak >
      • Persuasive at Work
      • Workshops That Work >
        • Getting Hybrid Right
        • Leading a Hybrid Team Workshop
        • Communicating Comfortably in a Hybrid Setting Workshop
        • Finding Your Leadership Compass Hybrid Teams Workshop
        • Communicating Comfortably in a Virtual Setting Workshop
        • Leading in Ambiguity Workshop
        • Accomplishing Work Through Others Workshop
        • My Values Driven Workplace Workshop
        • Working Successfully From Home Workshop
        • Working Resilience
        • The Many Faces of Unconscious Bias Workshop
        • Building A Culture of Trust Workshop
        • Finding Your Leadership Compass Workshop
        • Foundational Conversations Workshop
        • Conscious Conversations Workshop
        • Purpose Driven Feedback Workshop
        • Dynamic Team Communication Workshop
    • Awards
  • Client Stories
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Free Resources
    • Summer Serenity Inspiration Guide
    • Working Life Wellbeing Assessment
    • Hidden Habits Holding You Back
    • Secrets to Boost Your Job Security
    • Working Life Serenity
    • Virtual Influence
    • Hello Monday Videos
    • Career Resources
    • Life Practices >
      • I Feel Angry
      • I Feel Stuck
      • I Am Overwhelmed
      • I Need Self-Compassion
      • Emotions At Work
      • Mindfulness
      • Triggers At Work
      • Naming Emotions
      • I Feel Frustrated
    • Balancing Time Workbook
    • Working Life Persona Quiz
    • Career Health Quiz
    • Healthy Boundaries Quiz
  • Referral Partners
  • Connect
  • Subscribe
  • The Career Edit
BLOG

CREATE A WORK LIFE
​YOU CAN LOVE

Work/Life Opportunities in a Pandemic

10/31/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
So, how is this pandemic going for you?  Personally I'm over it.  I am not looking forward to a long winter cooped up with few distractions; no restaurants, movie theaters, museums or concerts to go to (or very limited at best).  So, I've had to have a little talk with myself; the only thing I control in all of this is me and I am reminded of the quote from Leonard Cohen: "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in". 

Here are some shafts of light I've found, opportunities in a dark pandemic.

1. We will never work the same way again.  Working from home is here to stay - not as a steady diet (like during the pandemic), but as a component of a healthy working diet that will see the last organizational hold-outs concede employees are productive working at home.  Flexibility to work where you need to, to accommodate life,  is now permanently an option for professionals.  Studies are showing that most office-based jobs won't be 100% work from home after the pandemic, but employers will embrace this option as a way to reduce costs associated with office space, find scarce skills in tight labour markets, and to support the productivity and well being of their employees.

2. Flow happens in both directions.  "Flow", that ephemeral state of bliss when you can immerse yourself in what you are doing, is more possible when you own your day start to finish.  With greater flexibility and autonomy over your working day you can flow to the work, supporting greater flow when you work.  Waking up energized to start the day is important to your well-being, but energy doesn't happen on-demand between 9 and 5.  Working from home you can start at 7:00 if that is when you want to, or 9:30, and not be locked in to a rigid schedule every day that often stifles creativity.  Just remember to end your working day accordingly, allowing you to moderate work, life and expectations.

3. Life can happen at work.  It always could, but it was a lot harder to pop out for a walk when working in an office setting (in dry-clean-only dress clothes).  Now, you have more flexibility in what you wear to work, and opportunities to take a walk mid-day when you want/need to.  Working from home, your work day can better wrap itself lovingly around your personal time and family, allowing you to think about dinner during the day, or drop the kiddos off at school.  No commute means when you log-off at the end of your work day you have the grace to switch into life and family mode more quickly; more quality time at home with less exhaustion.


In looking at these three things, they influence a large spectrum of the work week in very positive ways, providing both light and opportunity.

We didn't ask for a pandemic, nor are we immune to the fears and concern it raises in our communities, families and in ourselves.  Yet, it is important to keep sight of the good that comes through chaos.  What this pandemic demands of each of us is courage.

May whatever light and opportunity you see in your days help keep you whole and healthy in the months to come.


Struggling to feel valued, recognized or like your work has meaning?  Give yourself an hour to explore what is missing, and what is possible, for you in your career. 
Increase your personal power at work. A Career Strategy Session is both free, and freeing.

Picture
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe 

    Looking for a Blog? Search here:

    ABOUT MY BLOG

    I believe in empowering others in many tangible ways.  When I learn new career strategies  or see something that might help others, I share it using my blog and website. 

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    December 2013

All photography on my website is courtesy of the generous artists at Pexels and Unsplash.
Book Your Career Strategy Session
Privacy Policy
Integral Coach™ is a registered trade-mark in Canada owned by Integral Coaching Canada Inc. and licensed to Carleen Hicks.

  • Work With Carleen
    • About Carleen
    • Career Strategy Session >
      • Get The Most Out Of Your Career Strategy Session
    • Podcasts
    • Coaching Programs >
      • Lead with Impact
      • Career Impact
      • Purpose to Impact
      • Recognize Your Leadership Potential >
        • Welcome to Recognizing Your Leadership Potential
      • Realize Your High Potential
      • The Art of Influence at Work
      • Your Time By Design
      • Assessment
    • Book Me To Speak >
      • Persuasive at Work
      • Workshops That Work >
        • Getting Hybrid Right
        • Leading a Hybrid Team Workshop
        • Communicating Comfortably in a Hybrid Setting Workshop
        • Finding Your Leadership Compass Hybrid Teams Workshop
        • Communicating Comfortably in a Virtual Setting Workshop
        • Leading in Ambiguity Workshop
        • Accomplishing Work Through Others Workshop
        • My Values Driven Workplace Workshop
        • Working Successfully From Home Workshop
        • Working Resilience
        • The Many Faces of Unconscious Bias Workshop
        • Building A Culture of Trust Workshop
        • Finding Your Leadership Compass Workshop
        • Foundational Conversations Workshop
        • Conscious Conversations Workshop
        • Purpose Driven Feedback Workshop
        • Dynamic Team Communication Workshop
    • Awards
  • Client Stories
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Free Resources
    • Summer Serenity Inspiration Guide
    • Working Life Wellbeing Assessment
    • Hidden Habits Holding You Back
    • Secrets to Boost Your Job Security
    • Working Life Serenity
    • Virtual Influence
    • Hello Monday Videos
    • Career Resources
    • Life Practices >
      • I Feel Angry
      • I Feel Stuck
      • I Am Overwhelmed
      • I Need Self-Compassion
      • Emotions At Work
      • Mindfulness
      • Triggers At Work
      • Naming Emotions
      • I Feel Frustrated
    • Balancing Time Workbook
    • Working Life Persona Quiz
    • Career Health Quiz
    • Healthy Boundaries Quiz
  • Referral Partners
  • Connect
  • Subscribe
  • The Career Edit