by Lisa Cybaniak
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How will we be bouncing back from coronavirus? That’s the question that so many of us are asking each other and ourselves. The truth is, while some people are experiencing the effects much worse than some others, we are all being impacted. At the end of the day, it’s not about what happens to you. It’s about how you react to it.
It’s like anything else in the world – it’s all relative. Some people will be experiencing utter destruction in their lives, losing their job and therefore their income, which may cause them to lose their home.
These same people may have also lost loved ones to the disease itself. Yet, some will be holding their heads high, determined to come out on top.
While others may have to adjust to working from home, still earning a healthy income, with everyone they love safe and sound. Yet, some of them may be experiencing debilitating anxiety and feel like they are being swallowed whole by the darkness.
Today we’re talking about how bouncing back from coronavirus, when we’re ready and able to, is possible. And while we are all experiencing this differently, we are all experiencing it all-the-same. That means, bouncing back requires us to ensure we are doing the things that work for us as individuals.
Lee Chambers is an Environmental Psychologist and Wellbeing Trainer, and founder of Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing. He’s also a radio presenter on Ribble FM with a goal for 2020 to positively impact the wellbeing of 10,000 adults and children in the UK.
Meet Lee Chambers
He’s the perfect person to talk to us about putting strategies in place now for bouncing back in the future, not just because of his training and how he’s been helping others for years.
In 2014, when Lee was just in his twenties, he lost the ability to walk through illness. He had a choice in that moment. He could have decided that was it, and there was no point in trying to walk again, feeling sorry for himself in his wheelchair.
Or, he could choose to focus on what he was grateful for in order to shift his perspective and keep his mindset positive. Guess which he chose?
Before we dive into Lee’s interview, I need to apologise for the audio echo at the beginning of the episode. I do manage to figure out how to correct it after my first couple questions, so bear with us!
And you’ll be glad you did because Lee is sharing the transferable strategies that he used when bouncing back to walk again. We can all learn a thing or two from Lee.
So, let’s dive right in!
Make the most out of working from home
Bouncing back when the coronavirus has past is about setting up habits NOW.
As an Environmental Psychologist, Lee has many tips to offer to ensure you settle in to working from home. Not only does Lee suggest you find a comfortable chair and set yourself up a dedicated space to work from that is not the same as the space where you relax, but he says you should walk around the block, safely of course, to simulate your commute.
He also suggests you leave social media and your emails alone during your scheduled breaks so you can focus on having a real break.
Speaking of a schedule… Unsurprisingly Lee suggests you create a schedule for your day that fits with your 60-90-minute circadian rhythm, meaning you focus on an activity for 60-90 minutes and then take a 15 minute break.
Bouncing back is about finding what works for you
Lee shares the importance of being able to calm our anxiety and disconnect with our thoughts, especially the ones that project us into the unknown and uncertain future, wondering what if and how will I…
He suggests meditation, mindfulness, journaling, and podcasts like this one, that focus on the positive. Again, limiting your time on social media and only watching credible news programs to catch up on the latest details – but in moderation. There’s no need to overdo it.
Step up and take control
It’s natural to feel out of control now. We can’t control the virus, the government, other people, whether we keep our jobs, or how long all of this will go on for. But there is one thing we have control over – ourselves.
In fact, our ability to decide to stop focusing on what’s happened to us and start focusing on the control we have over our reaction to what’s happened, is crucial to our ability to bounce back from coronavirus.
That’s right. You are the only one that has control over your actions and reactions, and that includes your perspective. We’re not saying it’s easy. But we are saying a shift in perspective is crucial to your ability to bounce back.
Use this time to find your purpose
If you’ve lost your job, or even if you’ve temporarily been laid off and you know you’ll return to work soon, this is the perfect time to take stock and find your purpose, or your path.
Lee suggests you reflect on where you’ve come from, what you enjoy doing, who you’d like to help, and what you can uniquely bring to the world. Look at your so-called failures, and rather than attach them to you, remove the emotion that comes with them and use them as learning opportunities.
Doing this will help you determine if you’re doing the work you were born to do – the work that sparks your passion.
And if you are still working, or have a passion for what you do already, why not take this opportunity to determine how you can make an impact on your community?
More from this episode
Lee and I talk about so much more in this episode. For starters, Lee shares what it was like to wake up in his twenties and not be able to walk.
He shares what it was like to finally leave the hospital, in a wheelchair, told that this will now be his life.
Most importantly he shares how he made the specific decision to maintain a healthy and strong mindset using gratitude and setting challenges.
Lee also shares how this adversity spawned the birth of his incredible career.
May I just say, in many ways Lee’s adversity isn’t any different from the adversities we are all facing today with coronavirus. He decided to bounce back and will again. What will you decide?
Press play on the episode above to catch all the details of this episode!
Follow Lee
Get more information on Lee Chambers on his website. Find out about his new consultancy business here. You can also follow Lee on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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Voice over credit: Shari Vandermolen. Shari is offering a free download of one of her songs to the fans of the Life Like You Mean It podcast! Just visit www.GiftFromShari.com and tell her where to send it. Shari’s debut album is available for streaming on all the major platforms including Spotify and iTunes.
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