Covid Life Lessons

Sharing experience can be so inspiring, often helpful and sometimes really powerful. It can also be comforting at a time like now. I decided to interview my friend, Laura, the Sales Director at Bar2 so we could share her lockdown experience and any tips she may have about starting a new job remotely.

We had planned to talk more about remote working, but the conversation soon ended up being more about looking after your well-being and mental health which we both believe is the best place to start, with anything. Whether that be starting a new job, having healthy relationships or getting through a global pandemic…

AB. Laura, on a scale of 1–10, how are you feeling today?

LM. Errr 7. Probably 8 if it wasn’t raining, 9 if I was seeing my family and 10 if I was eating right now!

AB. Oh nice, not too bad then. Have you not been able to see your family?

LM. Well yeah but the problem with having such a massive family, (there are 17 of them including partners and children) is that we can’t get together like we usually do because of covid restrictions.

AB. How would you describe your lockdown experience, lessons learned or feelings about it?

LM. At first, I felt like I had so many things going on at once that it was quite challenging. I had literally just moved away from London after almost 10 years, I was starting a new job, I couldn’t see my friends and family and I was forced to get to know myself like never before. But, it ended up being an almost enlightening experience because it had never been so clear before how adaptable we are as human beings. I found myself being so introspective. I wanted to do things with my time that were positive so as not to dwell on the negative things going on. I didn’t want to waste my time being on my phone or watching too much Netflix. No longer did I take so much of my time for granted. I started cycling and reading more and focussing on little bits of progression every day. And I can honestly say that now, I am happier than I have been in the past 5 years and definitely the fittest I have ever been!

AB. Do you think your attitude during lockdown came naturally as a coping mechanism or was it a more a conscious decision?

LM. I think partly it’s down to some of the books I have read. I have read about 15 books since lockdown and I think they’ve mostly had some kind of positive message about life. I have learnt that for me to be happy, there needs to be some form of progression in motion. Whether that be small wins like not watching TV all night or going to the gym or reading a chapter in a book. No matter what it is, I try and include something in my day that I feel is progressing me.

AB. You started a new job at the beginning of lockdown, what sort of worries did you have beforehand and how did go?

LM. Two weeks before joining I was really nervous but not about starting the job itself, more about the potential for the job to fall through because of Covid. However, Joss, the MD had clear growth objectives for the business that irrespective of what was going on, he still believed in and wanted to push through with. So, although initially I was feeling a little uncertain about everything, in the end I felt even more confident about joining because they had proved their commitment to the vision sold to me through the interview process.

AB. So, how did it go when you actually joined?

LM. Well, the week I joined was one week before lockdown, so I was still able to go into the office for four days. I did get to meet everyone which was great, but it was very weird not being to shake hands with people. You realise how much hand shaking really helps build rapport and tells you about a person when you can’t actually do it! It has been a shame to not be able to have regular social events because I’ve always found them a great way to build relationships with people quickly. It’s been a slower process in that respect.

AB. How did you manage to overcome those limitations to build rapport and support team members remotely?

LM. Luckily the company invested heavily in tech so that has enabled us to work together remotely really well. Most our conversations are on are video. We also started virtual coffee mornings during lockdown so people could connect on a more personal level. It’s important to have those informal chats as well as just work chat. I want people to know that I do care about more than just the numbers! We also really encourage people to take holidays and have proper breaks from work but it’s a cultural change for a lot of people to take time off but not get on a plane.

AB. I am well up for some staycations!

LM. Yeah me too! It’s important to take holiday and actually the way I work with the MD, is that we usually go hard for 10 weeks, a 10 week sprint, and then take a week off before starting the next one. I like working in that way, knowing that I’m working towards my goals and a week off at the end of it! We want to promote a more agile way of working like that.

AB. What sort of challenges did you face joining remotely at a senior level?

LM. It was the first hire of a Sales Director so I was building a brand new sales strategy. Doing that remotely was quite daunting especially as suppliers, colleagues, friends, were constantly reminding me how much of a challenge that might be! I knew I had my work cut out, but as I always try and do, I focussed on the positives. I knew my first job was going to be to review everything already in place so actually being at home allowed me the space to do that really thoroughly without distractions from being in an office.

AB. How do you keep yourself motivated to work home alone?

LM. Having worked remotely before, I already had an idea about what I needed to do to keep myself in good form. The most important is planning breaks into day. In the past I have been guilty of sitting at the desk for 10 hours but that was never good for my mental health. I usually work in 2 hour blocks then take a quick break to have a coffee or get up and walk around the house. I’ll go for a walk at lunch and then usually I go for a run or go to the gym after work to clear my head. Obviously, it slips sometimes when you are crazy busy or having a tough day, but I think it’s all the more important to try and fit those breaks into your day so that you can be more productive and level-headed in dealing with stress. When I haven’t taken enough breaks, I will feel more tired, my eyes will hurt and I might even be in a low mood. I try not to get down about it and instead think about how I will do things better the following day.

AB. What top tips would you share for anyone starting a new job remotely?

LM. Set a routine, write down the key objectives for your role that you can refer back to each week and plan time to focus on your wellbeing so exercise, meditation etc. I find that having objectives also reminds me of what I have progressed towards that week. As a sales person you feel the constant pressure to achieve things instantly but looking at those objectives at the end of the week, I remind myself that “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and what I have been working on that week has still contributed to that end goal.

Also, don’t be too hard on yourself. We can be our own worst critics at times and this is only magnified when there aren’t people around to bounce off.

Have a think about all the things that make you feel good and can change your energy, so that if you do have a down day, which you will, you can do one of those things to feel more positive. For me, it’s usually calling someone, a friend or one of my sisters. I think it’s really important to stay connected to people. It can completely shift your energy.

A. You are quite focussed on your well-being, are there any other things you do to keep on top of it?

L. Sleep! Sometimes, I just put myself to bed at 9pm! Also, for me, having a book on the go. Even if there are days when things haven’t gone to plan and I am not feeling great, pulling out my book and completing a chapter can give me that small sense of accomplishment that can change my mood. Especially if it’s a really positive book. I am reading ‘A New Earth’ by Eckhart Tolle and he refers to the proverb “this too, shall pass” and the concept of everything being temporary. You might feel rubbish now, but you won’t forever. It’s helps me to remember that. Reading also helps me to reduce screen time! I really feel like taking time off my phone, has made me more conscious of how I feel, it makes me more present.

A. We’ve actually covered a lot today. If anyone is still reading at this point, is there anything else you’d like to share?

L. I feel as humans we really need those deep connections instead of just loads of superficial ones. I have definitely spent more time focussing on what I need and the people who are most important to me. Ultimately, those people have got me through this period and enabled me to keep going and keep enjoying the work I do regardless of how much life has changed! I am very grateful for them.