By Aytekin Tank4 minute Read

Once the initial shock of stay-at-home orders diminished, the pandemic productivity movement began in earnest. Suddenly, friends and colleagues were sharing photos of alphabetized spice cabinets, grueling workouts, and enough baking to fuel a weeklong sugar high. There was a growing sense that if you didnt emerge from the crisis speaking Portuguese and sporting a six-pack, you would fail to make the most of your lockdown.

Even major media outlets got in on the action. What could you learn in a few short weeks? Mark Rice-Oxley wrote in The Guardian. That rather depends on your dedication, I suspect. Sewing, juggling, CPR, drawing, wood turning, the Cyrillic alphabet, solving cryptic crosswords, cooking, meditation, Temari, knitting, video editing, offspin, yoga, coding, diving (though this might be difficult in your front room), the accordion the list is endless.

Admittedly, I had to look up both Temari and offspin, but I was confident I wouldnt be tackling anything on Rice-Oxleys list. I have a young family and a business to runand I knew our employees needed extra support, both personally and professionally. Like many others, I also understood that working safely from home, with our team and company intact, was a privilege.

As many entrepreneurs urged each other to hustle and log even longer hours in isolation, I considered my options. With no travel or social gatherings on the horizon, maybe I would have some quiet time on my hands. Would I feel bad if I didnt start a yoga practice? No. However, I would regret a missed opportunity to recharge and reflect.

Major life changes often make us introspective. COVID-19 represents a rare moment when were all in transition. Across the globe, our lives and routines have been disrupted and, in some cases, changed forever. If you can tune out the social pressure for self-improvement, now is an excellent time to explore your true valuesand not in a strictly corporate sense.

Set aside the values on your website. Just ask yourself, what do I find most meaningful? You might find that youre pulled in an unfamiliar direction, like starting a new product line or making a major pivot in your life or business. On the flip side, you might realize that youre drawn to go deeperto home in on a niche area or serve a special audience. This could translate to double-downing on a meaningful cause, or, alternately, you may want to strip away the excess that accumulated over time.

Once youve clarified what matters, examine how youre spending your time, and consider whether this allocation is effective. To be clear, this step isnt intended to help you cram even more into the day. Instead, its a call to focus your energy and attention to create the biggest impact.

Look for extraneous tasks, responsibilities, systems, and habits you might want to shedand dont be afraid to let things go. Its easy to fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy, where we continue devoting resources to something that no longer serves us, simply because weve already spent time or money on it. Now is an excellent time to trim whatever is weighing you down.

A growing number of studies reveal that people with a strong sense of purpose score better on mental health and well-being assessments. Realigning your entrepreneurial journey with your values can make you healthier, happier, and possibly more successful. The key is to translate what youve uncovered into a clear roadmap.

For me, every year, I outline a new strategy for my company. This annual reset guides our decisions and priorities for the next 365 days. Of course, the company stays true to our core principles, but the strategy reflects whats captivated our team and will best help our customers. Not only has this process inspired some of our biggest innovations, it ensures the big picture never slips out of focus.

Whether you have two or 2,000 employees, consider what moves and motivates your team. People have a fundamental need to feel competent, says Susan David, founder of the Harvard/McLean Institute of Coaching. Its your job to give them stimulating, meaningful work.

Ensure your staff have adequate time to complete important assignments, and dont let inefficient practices dominate their workdays, says David. Help employees stay connected to the meaning in the work they do. Tie tasks to how they benefit the person, the team, the client, the organization.

In this strange time, you might be an entrepreneur, teacher, cook, IT specialist, dog walker, and leader. But you still need to prioritize your mental and physical health. Devote any extra time to activities that renew your energy. With rapid news cycles and constant change, shutting off screens is essential. Give your mind the gift of silenceat least a few minutes a day without audio, video, or other inputs.

Seeking support is equally critical. We all still need social connection in times like this, says clinical psychologist Dr. Joti Samra. Entrepreneurs carrying their teams through the crisis need to be able to reach out to a network of peers who understand what theyre going through.

Aytekin Tank is the founder of JotForm, a popular online form builder. Established in 2006, JotForm allows customizable data collection for enhanced lead generation, survey distribution, payment collections, and more.

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Why coronavirus lockdown is the appropriate moment to recharge and ref - Fast Company