By Sheila Funnell
The year 2020 was very tough year for many of us. First, the threat of locusts and their impact on food availability was a huge concern in January 2020. And then in March, Covid-19 hit, and we were all so scared and worried for ourselves, our families and people here in northern Kenya. The lifestyle changes that occurred as the nation fought to stop the spread of the disease were valiant, but it came with personal and professional sacrifices that had a seismological shift on our mental and physical states of being.
During our last team meeting of the year, we reflected back on everything we have overcome, and the traits and characteristics of the team that has allowed us to make significant progress towards our strategic plan. We were so proud of our achievements and we realised how adaptable we are as individuals and also as an organisation.
To build on this, Belinda and Julius led a virtual workshop on how to nurture personal resilience. The workshop was critical in allowing all of us to recognise opportunities for growth as we navigate the challenges presented by the pandemic. Critical outcomes were recognising burnout symptoms, how to manage them, and practices for building resilience.
As I came out of the workshop, I committed to creating time to focus on my mental health and creativity. It has only been three weeks since I made that commitment, however the simple changes I have made to my daily routine have been invaluable in enhancing my resilience- both professionally and personally. I can already see a change in the quality of my work and I’m so excited to take this forward throughout the rest of the year.
