As workers are returning to work, the dust settles from COVID, and people have taken their masks off, what's different about the workplace? Society seems to be once again, regrouping and reforming, trying to re-establish whatever we think is the new normal.
When we were working from home, staying out of social gatherings with friends, parties, celebrations, or simply not going out to eat, we were forced to live a different kind of life style. Some aspects were good for us. We ate out less, traveled less for work, and spent less money. We spent more time with our families and pets. Work was still something we did, but most of us will agree that it was at an easier pace. We certainly weren’t commuting for hours each week.
On the negative side however, our social connectors were weakened. We missed birthday parties, graduations, weddings and funerals, Christmases and Thanksgivings, and backyard gatherings; the social rituals that remind of who we are and how we are connected to one another.
Now that we are back from Covid for the most part, putting the pieces back together, we have the opportunity to redefine what is important in our lives. We have agency to determine what our post-pandemic life looks like, what we value and want, and what is important and what is irrelevant. We have an opportunity to reflect on our lives and ask ourselves some questions:
• What brings me happiness in life?
• How will I choose to spend my precious time in order to find joyfulness in life?
• What activities will I stop doing?
• Who will I stop associating with because they bring me pain and frustration?
• What is my relationship with materialism? Do I need ‘stuff’ to make me happy?
• Who do I care most about? How can I serve them?
In an organizational context, we’re also re-establishing our relationship with work and the organizations we work for.
• Am I going to work as hard as I once did?
• Is my time well-spent in this organization? Is my time meaningful here?
• Does this organization deserve me, my efforts, my sacrifices?
• Does my leader appreciate what I have done here? Is he/she even aware of what I’ve accomplished?
• Do I feel anything for my colleagues (those who are left)? Were we always just a transactional group?
• Will I ever again sacrifice a rare family moment or celebration because of work?
