Many faculty have been working from home in some capacity since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Being outside during the warmer months provided some respite from the impact of COVID-19 for many people; however, spending more time indoors during the colder months can be challenging, especially for extended periods of time. Using that time as an opportunity to recharge, develop new courses, and focus on research and writing can help provide a sense of purpose, productivity, and personal growth.
It’s also a good opportunity to spend some time with the resources at the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity at facultydiversity.org, especially the "Every Semester has a Plan" webinar posted at facultydiversity.org/webinars/semesterplan20. Here are some tips for thriving and surviving during the pandemic.
Lean into Change. Take this opportunity to reconnect (emotionally and virtually) with loved ones and grow as a person, parent, partner, and professional.
As a Person – If being at home for long stretches of time is challenging, focus on healthy ways to cope with stress, such as exercise, talking, therapy, reading, making art, cooking, organizing, and learning. Get outside as much as possible. Try to avoid too much screen time, emotional eating, substance use, and other activities that disconnect you from the moment and loved ones. Stretch yourself by doing activities and engaging with your family and/or friends in new ways.
As a Parent – Keep yourself and your family safe by following CDC, state, and local guidelines. Understand that everyone is experiencing additional stress and for children this can present in different ways, such as increased tantrums, loss of appetite, negative attention-seeking and sleep problems. Maintain a consistent weekly routine. This should start with regular wake-up and bedtimes, which will make keeping a routine throughout the rest of the day easier. During the day, try to create a mix of work/academic and fun/play activities, both inside and outside.
As a Partner – If you live with a partner, best practice is to increase communication, not act like everything is the same. During stressful times, you want to try to communicate more, not less. Such close physical proximity may be stressful for some partners who are not used to being home together all day while working and caring for children or aging parents. Try to set up clear boundaries and time limits around working, spending time apart, and spending time together.
As a Professional – Flexibility is key. Stay in regular contact with students and colleagues so they know that you care about them, especially if you are no longer on campus. Use this time to design a new course, finish writing projects, work on overdue articles and chapters. In many respects this time can be a gift and the resources at NCFDD can help you make the most of it. We are all in this together and together we will persevere and thrive.
RESOURCES:
Manhattan Psychology Group: “4 Key Ways to Cope with the Social Impact of Coronavirus” go.unl.edu/4keyways
The Chronicle of Higher Education: “The Pandemic Is Dragging On. Professors Are Burning Out.” go.unl.edu/burnout