Are we there yet?

Is this the new-normal we’ve all been waiting for?  If so, this COVID-normal is a bit of an anticlimax.

The dictionary defines normal as: serving to establish a standard

It is now indeed standard for schools and universities to wait for and plan around health restrictions and Education Department guidelines. Streaming, pre-recording and utilising digital channels are now vital and have become standard in our communication plans. Signing into venues with QR codes would have bamboozled baby-boomers only a year ago – but now they are as quick to whip out their mobile phone camera as any millennial.

So to my point NSW/ACT comrades, with all this new normal – why am I feeling so meh? Should we not have a grateful spring in our step and buzz of enthusiasm for 2021?

The wise wellbeing guru, Dr Andrew Fuller explains that in 2020 we all experienced a good dose of trauma. Despite this, those of us in schools and universities continued delivering to the high expectations of our stakeholders. We ran on adrenalin and this takes its toll.

He lists the common signs of trauma as the following;

  • Weariness &fatigue in the morning
  • Neck and back aches
  • Grinding teeth
  • Cynicism and loss of spirit
  • Absence of creativity
  • Decision fatigue
  • Irritable and agitated
  • Problems winding down in the evening
  • Restless at night
  • Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
  • Feel more awake after 6 pm than during the day
  • Crave salty or sweet snacks

Sound familiar? If you ticked off most of these in your mind – fear not, you are in very good company.

More importantly than this impressive list of ailments is the antidote. Of course you need to get good quality sleep, exercise and remember to breathe, however, it is in finding ways to meaningfully help others, connect and be kind that you start to truly heal yourself.

Dr Andrew Fuller explains this far better than I, in his article; How not to get PTSD and remain relatively sane.

Connect, protect and respect

 

Kindness and love are our oldest medicines and our best protective mechanisms. Add to this hope and connectedness and we have the four most powerful ingredients of healing. When we develop these in families and communities, we enrich lives.

Each ingredient alone may not cure a case of the flu or a virus but together they will help you resist disease, lower stress, lower blood pressure, avoid a heart attack, protect against depression, increase academic results & longevity and help you live a happier life…

for the full article read here

I do not mean this to be yet another dose of “wellbeing advice” to add to the truckload being shared in this present climate. But, it did make me stop and think how fortunate we are to have a network already waiting for us, to connect, to share ideas and provide an avenue to meaningfully help others. Whether it by joining a round table discussion at a SIG, formally becoming an Educate Plus Mentor or just having a chin-wag over a coffee with a fellow advancement professional – get on board and reach out to heal within.

Myfanwy Stanfield
NSW/ACT Chapter President