The 'new normal'- a better quality of life?

In between lockdown and taking on some exciting work for a new client, I've been busy with home (pre)-schooling and staying sane in the 'new normal'.

More productive and inspired

I've always enjoyed having the freedom to work from home - the flexibility of managing my work schedule and the time saved not commuting. Clawing back those extra two hours in a busy day allows me to get a wash on or a sweat on by fitting in a workout instead of sitting in traffic or on a train. Even more so now, I love working from home and I'm so pleased that more people are becoming converts.

Increasingly, employers are beginning to understand that people can be more productive and inspired when working from home. There is no need to build a whole day around getting your staff to travel to a two-hour event when the whole thing can be remote and people can immediately log off and get their brains back into something else.

Of course human contact is vital and it's not been good for anyone's mental health to be physically separated from friends and family or to struggle with dodgy WiFi connections, but there is something about remote working which allows you to reflect, to power on when you feel more energized and to choose when to take some down time. Collaboration can also be more effective when office politics are left in the office.

I love working from home and I'm so pleased that more people are becoming converts.

Health over wealth?

Back in June I was cheered by an article which reported that a YouGov poll found eight out of 10 people in the UK would prefer the government to prioritise health and wellbeing over economic growth during the coronavirus crisis, and six in 10 would still want the government to pursue health and wellbeing ahead of growth after the pandemic has subsided.

Not only was this focus on wellbeing ahead of economic growth, music to my ears, but the photo it featured of cyclists beside some sand dunes was the exact reflection of the times I feel my work and life are in true balance - when I am able to feel the breeze on my face at Ayr beach, jump on my bike and head up to the Carrick Hills or just sit on the dunes with my son enjoying an ice lolly.

A YouGov poll found eight out of 10 people in the UK would prefer the government to prioritise health and wellbeing over economic growth during the coronavirus crisis

What's new for you?

Life during lockdown has been incredibly hard for many people and I would never romanticise or minimise the terrible loneliness it has caused, the anxiety about jobs and family budgets. Even the daily grind and 'mum-guilt' of leaving children in front of screens to snatch an hour of undisturbed work or the feeling of failure, trying to educate and occupy children, while not being 'present' as a worker has been hard.

However, it has also been an time of personal growth and reflection for us all in one way or another.

Maybe, like me, you have learned that you don't need to spend time going to classes at the gym. In fact you are able to design and deliver your own fitness classes online and catch up with friends at the same time!

Maybe as a manager or director you have learned that your staff and wider network don't all need to live within an hour's commute of your office base. You are free to hire, contract or engage with a much wider range of talent and experience than you thought possible, even internationally.

Maybe as a parent you have a new-found appreciation for the skillset of teachers, early years educators and caring professions. You might even have developed an interest in homeschooling - and if not, you almost certainly have a greater respect for those that do choose it for their family!

Maybe as a commuter and consumer you are driving less, walking and cycling more and thinking about supporting local businesses. Will avoiding going into a city five days a week hit multinational coffee chains in the pocket and leave a some offices empty? Probably. Will it mean improved air quality and biodiversity, better phsyical and mental health, time with family, a boost for rural and suburban economies? Undoubtedly.

Maybe as a manager or director you have learned that your staff and wider network don't all need to live within an hour's commute of your office base.

Whatever realisations you have come to, get in touch at hello@ncg-grow.com. I'm happy to chat even if I'm down at the beach!