Fend Off Change Fatigue

​I've been checking in with clients and business colleagues. It's one part my need to connect with someone outside of my home, one part concern for the health and well-being of those in my circle, and one part an internal drive to be helpful to others. In the sharing of our experiences, a common theme has emerged. We have days when we are powered up and working hard on our businesses (even though much of that work does not directly produce revenue). And days when summoning the focus and attention to read and understand the latest small business guidance sucks all the energy out of our bodies. 

We are experiencing change fatigue. It is the same as the exhaustion you feel when you start a new job. There is stress associated with learning new systems, processes, even relationships. There's a discomfort in transitioning from being at the top of your game to starting over and establishing credibility anew. You come home with your energy tanks fully depleted. Typically the acclimation is complete within six weeks, however, and we've adapted to our new normal.  

​With COVID-19, complexity abounds. The time horizon is likely months. The target, healthy at work, is unclear. The requirements are going to be in flux for months. And at the heart of it all, people's lives are at stake. Combine this with weeks of stress from having your business shuttered temporarily, and you have the perfect storm for your body to betray you mentally and physically. So, I offer you some tips to help you fend off change fatigue and stabilize your motivation as you power through the next phase of change. 

ONE. Adopt a change mindset.

• Acknowledge to yourself and your staff that you are in a fluid situation.
• Recognize prior success adapting to changing requirements as evidence of your capacity to do it again.
• Stop investing energy on things you cannot control.
• Invest your mental capacity where you have control.
• Accept your emotions as normal. Give yourself space to process them, then move forward. 

TWO. Buddy up.

• Partner with colleagues you trust for guidance and support. Talking activates different areas of the brain that can result in new insights.
• Seek opportunities to share your knowledge and experience with others. Giving back gives a positive mental bump.
• Take advantage of business resources that are collating information and providing education.
• Ask for help. Successful leaders know their limitations and surround themselves with people who bolster their strengths. 

THREE. Take five.

• Take a break and do something you enjoy to clear your head.
• Go for a walk, run, or bike ride while noodling over a problem or idea. Movement increases thinking capacity.
• Try a change of scenery. Sit outside or work in a different room. Visual cues can keep our brains stuck and limit our ability to see new options.
• Make play a priority. Stepping away and immersing yourself in a fun distraction helps the body decompress. 

​For more tips on navigating change successfully, check out my article from last week, Designing the New Normal.