From the Chair: The 3 R’s of recovery; Routine, Reconnect, Rest.

In this week's #MEAExpress, MEA Chairman Michael Firman spoke about the importance of establishing a routine and the 3 R’s we all should remember as we transition to recovery; routine, reconnection and rest.

The 3 R’s of recovery; Routine, Reconnect, Rest.

As school-aged children headed back to school this month, the reality of getting back into the habit of school routines can be a drain for many parents and families. Many kids were getting to bed and waking up later during the pandemic due to remote learning routines. The reprogramming of children to prepare them for a return to school routines can sometimes take a number of weeks, leading to home anxiety for the children and parents alike.

The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have dramatically altered our normal routines. All of our lives have been turned upside down due to the pandemic and, as we look to a return of face-to-face events, many of us will find that we are not ‘match fit’ and perhaps ill-prepared to deliver events at the pace and immediacy to what we once did.

Two years of little to no activity in face-to-face events have led to major life changes for many in our industry. Such significant upheaval, uncertainty and change can cause increased stress and anxiety, resulting in low motivation, self-doubt and a lack of concentration and focus. Ultimately, this can cause us to slip away from our routines and fall into any number of problematic habits. Reconnecting with your routines is often harder to do the longer you shelve them, but eventually, you may find yourself missing the days when you had higher productivity and a steady sleep schedule.

As we begin to open up, it’s important to build new daily routines to train our minds and our bodies, to get ourselves ‘match fit’ and ready to return to work in a face-to-face environment. Even if you don't typically thrive on a strict planning schedule, having a routine can be helpful in times of unpredictability, uncertainty, and stress. Routines can help us to create positive daily habits that promote self-care. When we have routines we can organise our time around things that we deem important such as our social and family relationships, which in turn helps to maintain happiness and feelings of fulfillment.

Many people who don’t have any type of routine suffer from stress, poor sleep, poor health and ineffective use of time. Often, no routine means you simply run out of time, leaving things undone and not making the most of your time, and having the constant worry of “when will I get it all done.” Eating well and working out usually requires some advance planning, so no routine can result in poor physical condition from lack of exercise and unhealthy diets.

Your daily routine also influences your quality of rest. Your sleep schedule and bedtime habits affect your mental sharpness, performance, emotional well-being and energy level. It's best if you can maintain a consistent time for waking and going to bed. Better health is a result of just a little extra planning.

What routines can you restore to daily life that may have been lost in the wake of the pandemic?

As our industry begins to recover, the stress and anxiety caused by the upheaval and social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic will be replaced by a new wave of post-pandemic anxiety, such as, worrying about your risk of catching COVID or whether you can handle returning to your office, or anxiety about socialising or reconnecting with your network. This irrational anxiety, or unfounded worry, can prevent people from smoothly resuming social and career encounters that benchmark a healthy, happy life.

Routines are important because of the positive effect it has on health, motivation and self-esteem. Your daily routine can also influence your quality of rest. Your sleep schedule and bedtime habits affect your mental sharpness, performance, emotional well-being and energy level.

Life in events is about to get busier again, but the truth is, life is unlikely to revert to the “normal” we were used to before. Establishing new routines, or reconnecting with old routines, can help create structure to our days and provide some stability as we progress through the recovery of our industry.

The importance of establishing a routine cannot be underestimated, so remember these 3 R’s as we transition to recovery;

• Routine – the importance of building new daily routines to train our minds and our bodies;
• Reconnect – reconnect with your routines and relationships;
• Rest – the importance of sleep and recovery can impact your mood, behaviours and cognitive abilities.

So, what are you waiting for? Make a list of new habits you’d like to embrace and start implementing them one by one on your own personal journey to recovery.