The Green Sheet Online Edition

March 08, 2021 • Issue 21:03:01

Inspiration

Stop, reassess, regroup

Several people have mentioned to me lately that they've hit a wall. I've told them they're not alone. For the last year, we've been contending with multiple layers of trauma and stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines are rolling out now, but distribution is uneven, which has added to overall frustration.

If you're like your peers in the payments industry, you are a passionate, committed, persistent professional who is accustomed to adapting to change again and again. So, if your feet are dragging a bit, and you're feeling blocked from your usual creative flow, your first instinct might be to give yourself a pep talk and push right through it.

I suggest that you stop what you're doing and instead take time to reassess and regroup. This is true anytime you hit a wall, whether during a global crisis or not.

Melt that wall

Once you pause your regular activities, here are several things you can do to dispense with that wall:

• Sit back, breathe deeply, and notice how your body feels. If anything seems unusual, or you're experiencing symptoms that could indicate illness, check in with your doctor. Chances are there's nothing to worry about, but a clean bill of health from a medical professional will be reassuring.
• If you've been stuck at your desk, get moving and nurture your body. For example, you could walk around the block. Better yet, take a hike in a beautiful locale. Dance to your favorite music. Then pamper yourself by taking a hot bath or doing something else that soothes you. Take a moment to write an old-fashioned letter to a dear friend, or call a loved one whose voice you haven't heard in a long time.
• If you always do the same things in the same order in the same locations, switch everything up. And take regular breaks. Even small breaks and changes in routine will add up to your having a lot better focus and energy during work hours—and afterward.
• Pay attention to your self-talk. You may be running a loop of negative statements about yourself without even noticing it. Remind yourself that these are just old garbage passing through that have nothing to do with who you really are. Come up with affirmations that point you in a positive direction and use them.
• Think of the end goal. Remind yourself why you are doing what you're doing and what your ultimate aim is. Then take a look at your daily actions and make sure they're aligned with your purpose and aims.
• You don't have to do everything at once. Take one small action at a time, appreciating each effort along the way.

With that said, I'll leave you with this sage advice from Theodore Roosevelt: "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

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