April 2, 2020 | Grief and Zoom Etiquette
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Grief & Zoom

Wow, these two subjects go together now?

Many of us are working from home and have more time on our hands. For someone like me who does best when I'm busy, this new normal can be stressful and unsettling. Try to answer the following question:
Why do I feel so _________? (I change this word by the hour.)

I have discovered that the feelings I am having are those of grief. How can I feel grief if I don't know anyone who has this virus, I'm not sick and I am not on the front lines of this pandemic? So, I looked up the word "grief" and here is what I found. Grief comes in many forms and we can experience it in many different ways.

  • Grief - to distress mentally, to suffer disappointment, misfortune.

  • Grief - conflicting feelings caused by the end or change in a familiar pattern of behavior, the normal and natural emotional reaction to loss or change of any kind.

Like many others, I am grieving because we're experiencing an end or change to our familiar pattern of behavior, and we must learn to adapt to the new reality.

Some of us have seen a substantial drop in our business (some have seen a 100% drop). Whether your biggest change is working from home, taking on new responsibilities, or coping with having no work at all, every one of us is being met with conflicting emotions. These conflicting emotions can be both positive and negative along with a fear of our ever-evolving and uncertain world.

  • Positive: feeling lucky for our health, time with family, catching up with admin duties, self care...
  • Negative: loss of income, lack of stimulation and structure, scared and worried about our world...

When I started to scale my business and add employees, I was told "new level, new devil". I understood that the new responsibilities would be a challenge to navigate, but as a business owner, I was more than ready! What I didn't know was that "new level, new devil" was going to be a downward direction caused by this pandemic.

I have found a sense of relief just being able to put a name to what I'm feeling.

We all need to be kind to ourselves and those around us and give ourselves a break. Feeling anxious, scared, unsettled, frustrated, or unhappy are all normal reactions to what we're experiencing.

Be well and be safe,
Jennifer
Zoom Etiquette
Many of us have found it helpful to stay connected, both professionally and personally, by using Zoom or other video conferencing systems. Here are some tips to get the most out of video meetings:

  1. Make sure the background is clear and clean (work appropriate).
  2. Walking around with your laptop or phone is distracting, so stay in one place.
  3. Do not take your laptop to the bathroom! (That should be obvious, but google "bathroom Zoom fail" if you need to reinforce this one!)
  4. Do not multitask during a Zoom video (checking email, talking to someone who walked into the room, petting your dog/cat).
  5. Unless it's a Zoom social meeting, avoid eating.
  6. Mute yourself until it's your turn to speak. This will cut down on the extraneous background noise.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic.
Jennifer Raftis, CPO ®
Certified Professional Organizer
Owner, Jennifer Raftis is a Certified Professional Organizer ® and member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals. She has earned certifications in both Residential Organizing as well as Workplace Productivity.

Jennifer is also an Independent Representative for The Container Store.
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