Work-life balance as we knew it no longer exists. Our brains have had to process and manage threats to our livelihood, threats to our health and threats to our loved ones. Right now, many of us don’t have access to the things that we counted on to keep us well.
For many of us, we stayed balanced by going to the gym, hanging out with friends or visiting extended family, going to live events or maybe attending kids’ extracurricular activities. Individually and collectively, our mental health and wellbeing are at risk. We have a problem – and it occurred to me this weekend that Agile developers are experts in solving problems. So…what if we looked to Agile to help us find solutions?
Agile is the ability to adapt and respond to change in an uncertain environment. The Manifesto for Agile Software Development applies the Agile approach driving us to think about and understand what’s going on in our current environment, identify the uncertainty that we’re facing, and figure out how to adapt to change. For further reading on Agile practices, check out our previous blog post.
According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, 1 in 3 Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. With an estimated economic burden of $51 billion per year as a result of factors including health care costs and lost productivity, the business case for investment in employee wellbeing is clear. So, why are we still struggling so much and, more importantly, what can we do about it?
Staying mentally healthy in a pandemic requires an Agile approach and The Manifesto for Agile Software Development might provide a great place to start. Below are five Agile Manifesto approaches and how they might be applied to mental health.
Data shows the impact of daily, repeated activities that promote mental health and mitigate the negative impact of mental illness. Below are three evidence-based strategies to try:
If you’re struggling with your mental health, consider increasing your access to all of these and watch for where your processes and tools are helping with your mental health and where they may be hindering.
Symptoms of many mental illnesses include fatigue, sleep difficulties and low energy, which often result in withdrawal from friends and family. This, of course, is exacerbated during lockdown! If there’s a virtual social hour, show up and challenge yourself to engage and have your camera on. Resist the urge to multitask so you can get the full benefits that come with human connection and interaction. Looking for some tools or processes to help improve your mental health and wellbeing? Here are some great free resources.
It’s your brain, your body, your life, your relationships. None of us have experienced anything like this before, so my best suggestion is to become an astute observer of what’s working to promote your mental health and what isn’t. Consider testing some strategies and conducting retros to evaluate their effectiveness, then iterate and correct as needed.
Which relationships do you feel the safest and most supported in? How and in what ways can you increase the frequency and quality of these connections? Is this missing in your life? You aren’t alone.
Many people are reporting loneliness during the pandemic, especially if they live alone and are physically isolated. If this is you, make sure to attend and participate in opportunities that *are* available to you such as virtual meetups, user group meetings and any virtual, work-related social hours.
Adapting, testing, iterating, and evaluating are fantastic skills to promote mental health and wellbeing. It’s important to identify and stick to a plan for a period of time. In the case of mental health, it can take time to see results and feel the effects of strategies.
It’s common for people struggling with mental illness to stick with practicing strategies long enough to see their effects. As each person’s mental health is unique, if you’re struggling with your mental health and have been for a couple of weeks or more, it’s important to reach out to your doctor or speak to a professional. Not sure where to start? Here’s a list of resources to get started.
I think it’s possible that taking an Agile approach to our mental health might make a difference. Let’s give it a try and see!
This post contains general information only and may or may not reflect the position of Teamit. Information provided is not a substitute for professional advice. If you feel that you may need medical advice, please consult a qualified health care professional. Teamit makes every reasonable effort to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of posting.
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