SPRING UPDATES AND OPPORTUNITIES
March 25, 2020
Hello folks!
Just wanted to send along a quick update. Our family is in full-physical distancing mode (from the outside world) and we, along with all of you, are trying to learn the rules of these new times. I’ve had the unique experience of being fully home with my three children (ages 16, 13, and 10 … wait, 11… he turned 11 during all of this!) as their schools have all stopped in-person learning, and all of my workshops, conferences, and speaking engagements have been cancelled and/or postponed indefinitely. Shout out to the folks who had scheduled workshops in March — many of which did occur in person — and for those who had to cancel and/or reschedule to virtual platforms.
To that end, I, along with all of you, have found myself as a virtual facilitator delivering webinars, lessons, meetings, and workshops online! It’s no where near as fun as in-person learning, but it certainly helps to keep us all going.
Thank you to the clients who had the financial means to still pay me for work that we anticipate will be rescheduled. As someone who relies on the “gig economy”, there is a financial impact we are all feeling.
I also am thankful for clients who have chosen to keep learning moving forward and providing online workshops for their organizations.
If you are interested in having a conversation about what an online workshop would be like, please head on over to the contact page at http://www.lizatalusan.com/contactliza to connect. Online workshops are a fraction of the cost of in-person workshops, and are a great way to keep learning about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion present in your organizations.
There is a lot going on in this world that is related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. And, to be honest, I’ve had to pull back quite a bit from it in order to take care of my family, to take care of my own mental health, and to fill the needs in other areas of my life. There is plenty out there for you to stay engaged with online, and there is also a real need to put some boundaries around your own health.
The following suggestions are based on my own experience and not meant to be generalized. I’m sharing as I thought it might be helpful:
Create a schedule for yourself - even if it’s loosely formed - so that you have a sense of your day. This is advice both for those who are inundated with new work roles/responsibilities as well as for those who find themselves without work or roles.
Find some time to be well physically — I have created a time slot first thing in the morning for myself. Some days that has meant a rigorous cardio workout; other days it has simply been to get off the grid and breathe.
Limit your media time. I was getting so wound up in the 24 hour news cycle that I was mentally exhausted. I now limit myself to 30 minutes in the AM and 30 minutes in the PM. That’s it. No more.
Connect with 1 person (at least?). I call my Mom. Text my sisters. Facetime my nephews. My entire day is “screen time” in webinars and meetings, so I need to mix up my “screen time” with faces that are not clients!
Be easy. While this is all new for us, it is also likely going to last for much longer than we think. Be easy. Reframe, if you can.
Thank people. Thank you to those who do not have a choice to be home. Each night, I give my children a writing prompt. Today’s was “What practices should NOT go back to normal after this is over?” They wrote about the most vulnerable in our society - many of whom are keeping our services running during this pandemic. After this is over or slows to a manageable rate, how do we amplify their contributions? Increased pay. Keep protective conditions in place. Address mental health. So many things we are doing now during the crisis to support the most vulnerable should continue.
I trust you are being safe and healthy given whatever conditions you find yourself in these days.
With peace,
Liza Talusan, PhD