Back to the Basics
July 21, 2021
When athletes vying for a spot in the 2020 Olympics learned the games were postponed until 2021, concerns about sustaining their elite levels of athleticism for another year were inevitable. Maintaining their rigorous training was challenged, and after the shut-down, strength, stamina, and skills had to be rebuilt, kind of like the first days back at the start of a new season or after an injury. Their return included going back to the basics and practicing foundational skills, like shooting a basketball, kicking a soccer ball, running around the track, and walking on a balance beam.
Before the pandemic, going to work was something most people wouldn't have thought twice about, but now, after 17 months of being sidelined at home, you just might be. Like the Olympic hopefuls, you too will need to strengthen your atrophied (work) muscles.
Your daily routine will inevitably change, starting with your mornings before arriving at work. You will probably have to wake up earlier than in the recent past, not only because your commute will be longer than the time it had taken to arrive at the desk in your home office, but because getting dressed will take twice as long. I'm sorry to say, but your waist-up work attire will no longer be suitable, and you'll have to start dressing professionally from head to toe.
Getting used to being around colleagues with whom you have only seen on screen since March of 2020 may take some getting used to. You may also need to brush up on your social skills – remember eye contact, body language, small talk? Be realistic with yourself, and don't assume that you will immediately and seamlessly navigate the demands of showing up to work on time every day, ready for a highly productive workday.
If you are a parent of school-age kids, part of your transition will be to help them navigate their transition back into the classroom. They will need to readjust to the traditional school environment, and like you, they may also need a refresher on their social skills - from raising their hands to speak, waiting their turn for the slide on the playground, and standing patiently on the lunch line.
As you get back to living your life without (as many) limitations due to the pandemic, remember that getting into a new routine doesn't just happen - it takes time, effort, and planning. Like the athletes who earned a spot on the Olympic team who will soon be competing for gold in Tokyo, you too can get back to your peak performance. You may even excel beyond that – so long as you allow yourself the opportunity to rebuild your atrophied work muscles by first going back to the basics.
