Why do I feel so lost? — Lionesses of Africa

by Paula Quinsee 

If you have been feeling lost, out of sorts, not quite yourself, or like a lone survivor on an island in the middle of nowhere lately, you are not alone. We all have moments of despondency when things that should inspire us just feel boring or unstimulating. The tasks on our list don’t get a second look, and some days even getting out of bed is too much effort.

Researchers have found there appears to be an inflection point where the frustration and hardship of being cooped up inside suddenly gets harder to endure, and the further we continue in lockdown, the more we shift into that phase.

So how does this contribute to our sense of being lost or that our identity has been taken away from us?

So, if you are feeling despondent, lost or in limbo at the moment, take solace in that you are not alone.

Allow yourself what was seen as a luxury, but as we have now come to realize, an absolute necessity – some ‘me’ time.

Find something to do that brings you joy, even if for a short period – preferably something creative like a DIY project, reading, writing, or a physical activity like walking, exercise, or even tidying up the space around you.

Choose activities with movement, which reset and re-energize your energy levels and mood, which has a positive impact on your psyche.

In 2021, being intentional is going to be at the forefront of everything you do, especially when it comes to using ‘cues’ during each interaction with employees to reinforce a common purpose and increasing their sense of belonging in a digital world.

Social safety thrives off the sense of belonging to a group and feeling that you belong at work and your work has a meaningful contribution is an essential part of our brain performance.

Psychological safety is about creating an environment where people feel seen, heard, respected and safe to openly share their opinions, observations, and contributions. Healthy relationships help to develop the “trust hormone” oxytocin and this goes for both the home and the workplace.

Remember….people crave connection and neuroscience backs this up – for the brain to survive, we need each other. Our sense of belonging, identity and meaningfulness is impacted by our interactions with others.

Leaders need to be deliberate about creating an environment where social and psychological safety is noticeable, and we need to do the same on a personal level when it comes to our homes, partners and family too.