Adapting to change: Building resilience in uncertain times

“The human capacity for burden is like bamboo- far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.” ― Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper

Why is resilience important?

Resilience is our natural ability to be able to thrive after facing challenges. It is called the ability to ‘bounce back’ and it differs for everyone and changes over time. Our resilience may be tested regularly as we face various stressors. However, it is truly pushed when painful or big difficulties arise. How we handle daily stresses and joys also influences the bigger scenarios. 

We are all inherently resilient, though every individual will have a unique way of facing something. It also changes over time and is influenced by our general wellbeing, lifestyle and preparedness influence our resilience. With the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent changes, coping and resilience have become common buzz words, and with good reason. 

Research tells us that resilience helps people become more productive, engaged and satisfied at work. Raising resilience also contributes to improved self-esteem, sense of control over life events, sense of purpose in life and improved employee interpersonal relationships. Employers are increasingly recognizing the need to provide services, support and health resources that address mental health and wellbeing.

What are ways to build my resilience? 

1. Emotional wellbeing 

Immediate wellbeing focuses on needs for daily care, that are individual as well as interpersonal, while long-term wellbeing involves practices that can be done over a course of time or are deeper in process.

• Focus on getting adequate nutrition, sleep and movement, to build physical and mental capacities for handling day-to-day dealings.
• Make time for shared activities of interest and quality time with those you value 
• Explore activities that you enjoy, or do more of the ones that you already do as much as you can, making time to nurture yourself. 
• Understand signs of stress and how your body and mind are impacted by it, to also learn how to support yourself better 
• Look for professional help for your mental wellbeing, like therapy and support groups that can provide resonating support as well as perspectives you might need. 
• Practice coping skills like grounding strategies and learn about stress responses and their impact on the body. 

2. Financial security

• Build your financial literacy through self-study or specialized programs. The knowledge can help you take steps for long-term investments and prove useful and relieving in times of uncertainty. It can also help with long-term stability, preparing for retirement for managing loans.
• Have a health insurance and/or life insurance plan, an emergency fund and savings, that can allow some contingency planning when needed. 
• Have a plan to pay off loans and EMIs when things are going well, to be prepared for harder times.

3. Developing adaptability and a growth mindset

• Any situation can have a logical/ practical experience and an emotional experience. Practice being able to do both, and not letting any single approach dominate.
• Practice the Circle of Control thinking that brings your attention to what are the things that you, in your situation, can control directly and what you cannot, and shift your energy to what you can control. 
• Trying the Circle of Control, doing a list of pros and cons or ‘what do I already have and what do I need now’ can be different ways that can also help in making decisions. 
• Avoid comparisons. Everyone’s life story, resources and abilities are different. See what works best for you. 
• Foster the 4C’s - collaboration (at work, or taking support from someone), critical thinking, creativity and curiosity, towards changes that take place.

4. Wellbeing at work

• Try to do work that suits your interests or values, no matter how small a role or task.
• Look at challenges as a path to improving, and celebrate wins and good results, no matter how small.
• Take planned days off at least once every quarter and detach yourself from work. 
• Make use of company services like Employee Assistance Programs or other incentives to focus on your wellbeing. 
• Interact and find support among the people you work with, to lean into difficult times and figure out challenges together. 
• Appreciate your journey! Outcomes may not always reflect the effort that you have put in, and the steps to the result are as important. 

The most important thing to remember is that it is not always about being strong and moving forward - taking to time to process, withdraw and acknowledge difficult emotions and experiences are important of being human and also contribute to building strength.

Organizational Role in Building Employees’ Resilience

Global Workplace Study 2020 by the ADP Research Institute reveals that Indian employees recorded the world’s second-highest levels of employee engagement. One in five (20 percent) feel they are fully engaged, though the vast majority reported wide levels of disengagement. Globally, only 14 percent of those surveyed admitted to being fully engaged at work in 2020, making workplace disengagement a worldwide trend.

With workplace settings, roles and the world as we know it changing since the COVID-19 pandemic, it is an organizational duty to develop a culture of wellbeing and care. Read here some ways of doing this. Investing in employee wellbeing is not beneficial but a necessity, and requires thought to be made sustainable and be valuable to employees.

FAQs

1. What must I focus on most during uncertain times? 

Usually, when we go through difficult times or when any pressure starts to pull us, we immediately shift our attention from ourselves to the person or problem. We start letting go of our rest time, and things we enjoy, sleep less and miss our meals. It starts from happening once to becoming a pattern. When we give up on our basic survival needs and things or people that nourish us, it makes recovery and facing difficult situations even harder. So our focus must always be on the ‘non-negotiables’ - the things most important for my wellbeing. 

2. When should I get professional help? 

Now is the best time! Whether it’s trying practices to build resilience or going to a professional, there is no reason to wait for difficult times to start. It is like a physical health checkup - when we start therapy or a support group when we are okay, we equip ourselves better for when we are not. Further, the more we try something and practise it, the more it becomes natural for us to lean into that when we are not thriving. Take professional help today!