COVID-19 Lessons
August marks five months since I hunkered down in my small apartment in San Francisco as the city issued a “shelter in place”. As different parts of the world, including SF, prepared to slow the spread of the virus, I didn’t quite understand how COVID-19 would affect us all. I have never even heard of the term “furlough” so it was difficult for me to truly comprehend when the hotel informed me of it. My initial reaction was how nice it would be to have a prolonged birthday “vacation”. Oh how I wish I could have had another day of work before the shut down...
Now looking back at the five months since I was furloughed, I can’t believe how much everything has changed. By the end of Furlough Month #3 (May), I had said goodbye to my dearest friends in San Francisco and moved completely to Tokyo. And by Month #5, I am making headway with my recruitment process and deciding what to do next.
Five months of isolation, limited outings, and unemployment were difficult mentally. Nothing can really prepare you for a situation like this and there were days when I felt discouraged. However, the advice I received from my own network truly helped me see things in different perspective and I wanted to share them with you, with a bit of a personal tweak.
1: Accept your feelings
It is important to understand and accept the feelings you feel during unexpected times like this. Uncertainty can prompt different responses and your response is totally normal. Go on your own pace to process your emotions and thoughts and, most importantly, don’t rush it.
2: Unproductive days are okay
There will be days when you just feel like watching Netflix, throwing out a routine, or not moving out of bed. Don’t fault yourself for them. It’s totally okay to have those days. In fact, embrace them and use them to recharge so you’re ready for whatever tomorrow brings (even if that is another Netflix episode).
3: Don’t compare with others
Social media can be a great tool to connect with others, but it can also easily foster comparison. I was constantly on LinkedIn, finding job openings and leads through the Jobs feature. However, I found myself comparing myself professionally with others. It is inspiring but tough at the same time to learn of your connections receiving job offers, promotions, or even celebrating work anniversaries. It can take an emotional toll to celebrate other’s success with their own careers when yours is put on pause by something you had no control over.
To avoid endless scrolls and comparisons, I started to limit the time I spent on social media. Being away from social media helped me find creative ways to continue with my recruitment process, such as finding other recruiting sites and grabbing virtual coffee with alumni. But, more importantly, I soon realized how foolish it was to compare my professional journey with those of others. We all have our own careers and me being furloughed in my own professional journey was just a detour, not a set back. It can be easy to see that way when you are comparing yourself with others. Understanding and tweaking my perspective through my online behavior was very helpful in changing my attitude towards my unemployment situation.
4: Have a long-term perspective
The important definition of furlough is that it is temporary. Whether that means you return back to your current job or find an opportunity with a new job, you will be back. Perhaps even better than ever. Think about the bigger picture of your career and how this temporary setback will make you stronger. Set up a 5 year plan (and maybe modify the plan) and see things long term. Don’t get caught up on just the now, but how the now fits into the before and after.
5: Take time to understand your goals
When I was seeking career advice from an alum who was a seasoned professional in the HR industry, he asked me what my goals were. At that moment, I realized I never really stopped to think about what I was working towards ever since I graduated from Cornell. I didn’t truly know what I wanted to do next so I attempted to formulate a goal on the spot to answer the alum. The “goal” I presented was not clear, very convoluted, and grandiose. I’m sure he realized that as well since he strongly urged me to spend more time on it.
After spending several weeks reflecting, I have a vague idea of what my goals are. If you ask me, I probably still wouldn’t be able to articulate them clearly. But at least I know what direction I want to go next and that is what matters the most.
6: Invest time into side projects
With 40+ work hours now added back to my life, I had so much time on my hands and I needed to stay busy (an ode to my busy life at Cornell). I found myself eager to invest my own time into projects. Thankfully, I was already involved with Cornell Hotel Society, my alma mater’s alumni network, and took on bigger initiatives and roles through its networking platform; The CHS Lobby.
Additionally, I took on projects I wanted to pursue but have been putting off. Building a personal website was one. So I spent a whole month creating a website from scratch, getting feedback from my peers, and learning more from other professionals who have their own unique products. It was definitely a challenging yet rewarding experience to finally present this site.
7: Tap into virtual networking
I attended several webinars hosted by Cornell and one of the most memorable sessions focused on virtual networking on LinkedIn. I am by no means an avid LinkedIn user so the session opened my perspective on how LinkedIn can be used more than just staying connected within one’s existing circle of connections. I learned about the different ways of engaging on the platform. As a result, I started to post more, interact with posts by individuals who I have not connected with, and engage with business pages of brands I admire.
Just by having an open mind on networking online, I started to connect with industry professionals beyond those in the US. I also received encouraging messages, motivating me to continue doing what I do. And I felt supported and heard by reading other people’s posts about the impact of COVID-19. The shared experience of COVID-19 truly brought the professional field closer virtually than ever before.
8: Exercise to be healthy and ready
I have always liked to stay active, hitting the gym 5-6 days a week. But, with the gym closed, I had to be creative. Putting my Personal Trainer Certification to use, I crafted my own workouts and trained myself. Not only did I saw improvement with my core, proprioception, and reflexes, but I also saw my mental health staying strong amidst the environment I was in.
Both mental health and physical health are important, especially during these times. Take a walk, jog a mile, hike a trail. Stay active to keep your two health in check!
All graphics on this page are original.
