How to Keep Going When All You Want to Do Is Give Up

Exhausted to the marrow?

Struggling to stay positive, motivated, grateful, and brave in the face of anxiety, overwhelm and isolation?

Mourning loss(es)?

Me too.

The struggle to keep going when you want to give up is real.

Reality bites hard

Fighting to keep staff in work and business operational as the pandemic tightens its grip on us all has become the daily task on the HR and business frontline.  

The rise of working from home (WFH), reduced hours, pay cuts, furloughed, laid-off, redundancy – an unevenly distributed sacrifice despite best efforts – has made mental wellbeing of our people a humanity concern and business priority. Employees and contract workers have been dispersed or sent home to ride out the virus into an uncertain future.

For me, that means supporting clients in the Caribbean’s luxury hospitality niche to shift leadership mindset, ditch obsolete HR practises and create plans for business recovery. Most existing operating plans are not up task anymore. “Were they ever?” Be honest.

No one has escaped COVID’s touch. This year has seen organisations temporarily or permanently closing their doors. A Leap Year with a pandemic thrown in for good measure, we didn’t see that one coming. What a crazy year!

If we were on a hamster wheel before, thanks to this persistent pandemic we are now on a rollercoaster with built-in Special Forces training obstacle course. And 2020 is not even over yet.

The realization that there is no going back to ‘normal’ keeps pelting our stubborn brains hits like falling bricks. And who knows what 2021 has in store for us?

Are you up to the challenge?

We stand at a crossroads and it is decision time. Do you mourn a perfect past remembered through rose tinted spectacles?

Or you lean into the discomfort, peer over the edge towards a future filled with possibilities?

For the brave few, boundless opportunities to fix that what was broken and implement custom plans tailored to the needs of people and businesses now. Shift your mind to pull opportunities from chaos or connect with like-valued folks who can.

What has become of your plans for 2020?

Mine are gathering digital dust in my Google drive since 27th March. New initiatives for my business and services for my clients, family travel plans – all hang suspended like an ill-fated fly stuck in COVID’s web.

How Do I Keep Going When All I Want to Do Is Give Up?

I didn’t have the heart to look at my 2020 plan until the end of summer – too disheartening

Last week, I found my notebook from January 2020 – filled with optimistic notes, business ideas and personal promises for freedom and profits.

Amongst the pages, there was my raw pre-plan which captured, how I wanted my business to feel, who to serve,  the life I wanted and the reason for getting up and doing what I do each day.

10 Steps to Building a Business that Will Love Me Back.

1.  Be purpose-led

2.  Structure my time to create personal and professional life harmony – no more 60-hour plus work weeks and unreasonable deadlines.

3.  Do only the things that feed my brain and nourishes my soul. These will be the things I care about and love.

“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too” - Paulo Coelho in The Alchemist

4.  Set strong boundaries and build sturdy bridges. Apply “Yesses” and Noes” with laser-focused intent. Communicate them with clarity, care, and conviction because they are the foundation of valuable and meaningful relationships. Not everyone will be happy with these boundaries and bridges and that is OK.  

5.  Spend quality time with people who fire me up, challenge and inspire me. Connect with diverse and different-thinking folk with whom I return the same energy.

6.  Work only with like-valued leaders and individuals who are ready to get uncomfortable, be brave and to level-up.

7.  Step into the known and unknown with intent. Lead with purpose and passion – because that is where the best (ad)ventures will be found.

8.  Stay curious. Notice what is going on around. Dial into new frequencies – modes of thinking, doing and being. See new patterns and find fresh ways to help and serve my clients and community.

9.  Ask for a listening ear or help because striking out solo and taking the path less travelled is tough but doesn’t need to be lonely.

10.  Make time and space for ‘me’. Self-care is a must. Don’t let the hustle and bustle eat you alive – you’ve been warned!

 Keep Going with Intent

Returning to my purpose is helping me ride out the rest of this wild year. I feel less adrift and more anchored.

When the world and all sureties appear to be in free-fall, sending us down rabbit holes, perhaps a purpose reset is the tonic needed right now.

Regain power and a firm foothold by revisiting your purpose or a craft a new more meaningful one. With your purpose and values locked in and aligned with your values, you can find yourself on back on track.

This is a bold step towards knowing how you want to show up in the world, live, work and make a difference - pandemic be damned.

• What is your purpose?

• What are your plans going forward into 2021?

… because there is no going back.

“It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.”  – Alice in Wonderland