Be cautious in the coming months; remember who you were before COVID forced you onto a screen.

Life is about living moments, experiences, and connections with others. It will not be easy in the post-COVID life: a few awkward stares with a mask off will take place. So will admitting you and others are socially awkward in person (maybe you were even before COVID). Conceding that blue light glasses can become sunglasses will take time. Our spider webs and dust will fall to the side as the light at the end of the tunnel reveals itself: “WE ARE BACK.”

We can embrace the new knowledge that we conformed to our challenges and developed a set of skills in our inventory during these past 18 months. But will the effectiveness of Zoom today be right for tomorrow?

When the pandemic started our full-time jobs came to a screeching halt. We had to decide what our new full-time job would be like virtually. It has, for many, successfully turned into screen time for 40 hours a week, sometimes more! Here is the catch: The service industry is experiencing the “WE ARE BACK” and “WE NEED HELP.” This means that many people are keeping that 40-hour virtual work life and adding another 40 hours of in-person life. The juggling begins, as this reopening takes full swing many will crash or have “The Big Burnout,” while deciding what needs to drop off in their duties.

Key signs of burnout can also include:

At the Cispus Learning Center, we have been in survival mode and building mode. Now we must get back to service mode. All of this is transitional, and our entire team is recognizing, through no fault of our own, that little mistakes are happening. A little shrug acknowledging our faults, a lot of humility, and a get back on the saddle mentality is making for a positive return.