A Culture Resolution For 2022

What would you say if I proposed that this year, we do things a little more honestly…? I don't know about you, but I plan to face 2022 with a realistic perspective. I think we are doing ourselves a disservice with the go-get-em-for-the-first-2-3-weeks approaches, followed by feelings of inevitable guilt by February 1st, and ultimately abandoning all of our resolutions before Spring. 

That's essentially the downhill pattern most of us go through when a new year begins – especially when it comes to our health and work-goals. We jump right out of the gate on January 1st with a checklist of lofty hopes and dreams, as if those two weeks between the holidays and the end of year could actually change us into a new person. We, as humans, cannot just pull on a lifestyle choice like a new suit, in order to change ourselves into something we were not before. Change is a process, not a decision. 

So how do we begin to recognize this idea in 2022? 

Motivation is a process, too

Making a change in our lifestyle takes time, effort and motivation. What most of us fail to recognize is that motivation is a process, too. We expect ourselves to wake up feeling motivated each day, and when it doesn't happen, we view ourselves as failures. In reality, motivation needs to be seen for what it actually is: a process to inspire and sustain. Staying motivated in 2022 relies on us staying honest, transparent, and realistic with our expectations of ourselves, as well as those around us.

Showing up to uncertainty

“We just have to get through this pandemic, and then we’ll be able to…”, is not a helpful way to approach our goals. When we force ourselves to keep pushing through when things aren’t working, we reach eventual burnout. Draining the connection, creativity, and collaboration from our work culture in the name of “pushing through the pandemic”, is a mistake I see too many making while facing an unprecedented challenge that we’ve yet to see an end to.

Instead of setting unrealistic goals in the face of uncertainty, let's ask ourselves, what is it that we need in order to get us through this next year? Consider, what are the elements that build a good life? The elements that build and keep igniting motivation? The elements that build a good working culture? The most sustainable way we can collectively act right now involves focusing on what our daily life and work look like, when it’s working. What do we need in order to show up every day as the best version of ourselves? Our answers may change. The key is showing up to ask the questions.

Wellbeing is at the core of our culture

In 2020, we focused on burnout prevention. In 2021, we shifted toward resilience. What are we going to focus on in 2022 in order to keep ourselves healthy and performing at our best, both individually and as a culture? We got through the past two years by navigating our personal needs and responsibilities through more flexible work hours, and adjusting our expectations of what we might be able to handle within a certain timeframe. However, a reality for most is that it just meant working at odd hours to keep up.

I’m concerned about losing sight of how important a Wellbeing Culture is, because we have yet to really grasp what this looks like. For most companies it’s a new approach, having added more wellbeing programs to prioritize mental health, and help their people access support, yet so many are still wondering, what's next? What more can we do? Is there a way to build a workplace culture that shows people that their health matters, without losing out on productivity? 

Being healthy is how we are more productive. 

As far as I'm concerned, these are not two separate problems to solve, but rather one that then, solves the next. As a functional medicine and mind-body practitioner, I always look for the root cause of a problem. We need to realize the answer is not found in more wellbeing programs. As much as they are needed, they don't solve the problem of what makes a healthy culture. If we can start to ask questions that help us understand how we humans each best thrive, we will solve the problem of burnout, create healthy resilience within our culture, and be more productive and motivated at work.

Self-care is the skill we are missing 

I've been focused on rethinking self-care in the workplace to prevent burnout long before COVID hit. I strive to create a culture where people can work better together and perform at their best, while cultivating a sense of belonging. The challenges we’re facing are not new. 

Before COVID, burnout rates were at 50% according to studies from Gallup, which means burnout has been a silent crisis for far too long. The only difference is that now, we’re talking about it, which makes it possible for us to do something about it.

For years, companies have focused on training and development exclusively within the areas of expertise needed for the jobs that we are hired to do. Marketing seminars and leadership summits are typically geared toward career skills such as sales, negotiation, and teamwork. When we leave self-care skills out of the equation, we tend to think of caring for our needs as a personal problem to solve, rather than a possibility to harness as a culture.

The challenges we face in 2022 are all going to require self-care skills. Self care is key when it comes to growth, success, and building a high-performance culture where people feel safe, supported, and cared about. Yes, it might sound confusing, but we cannot effectively listen to our needs in order to move forward, when we keep running on survival mode. The conversations that create the strong culture we need in 2022 require the tools that allow us to listen better, so that we can think, engage, and act with care.

Handling change to harness possibilities

To not only get through another pandemic year, but also grow and thrive in 2022, we need to learn how to handle uncertainty and change. We need to face our fears without suppressing them, and use fear as a stepping stone to harness possibility. We need to learn to pause, so we can cut through the noise and stay grounded. We must focus on what matters and what we care about, so that we can see our way forward personally and professionally, together as a culture. It’s time we recognize the idea of a Wellbeing Culture as the foundation for growth and success in the future of work, not just to get through the pandemic. 

Healthy human relationships are what create a healthy culture, and making a change this year starts with the relationship we have with ourselves.

Photo by Ross Findon via Unsplash