EDITION 811
30 MARCH 2020

As another week of working from home slips by, here are 10 things which caught my attention and may have escaped yours. This newsletter is sent to 50,000+ subscribers each Monday at 10am. Please share on social media and forward to your colleagues and friends so they can subscribe, learn and engage. I'd be very grateful if you did.

1. How to stay calm during the crisis. The coronavirus outbreak may be a physical health crisis, but it is also taking a toll on people’s mental health. The World Health Organization put out guidance on handling the stress of the pandemic and mental health campaigners have provided advice, particularly for people with existing anxiety issues who may find the situation particularly stressful. Here's a few ideas: [MORE]

2. It’s not all doom and gloom. If you need to while away some time while on lockdown, here’s a quiz question. What do the following businesses have in common: IBM, Disney, Uber? The answer is simple. They were all founded during a deep recession. For a long time, economic historians have noticed that even when business conditions are at their toughest, a few smart entrepreneurs can still find a way to launch a new company. As the world goes into what may easily turn into the deepest downturn for 100 years or more, could that be true this time too? Editor

3. Fitness freaks rejoice. Your gym’s closure doesn’t mean you have to stop working out. Gyms and several streaming fitness companies are offering online workouts for free. Beachbody, one of the largest streaming fitness companies behind programmes including P90X and Insanity, is offering its fitness programs free for 14 days. Peloton is offering 90-days free on its app, and you don’t even need a bike. Live class offerings include floor workouts, yoga and meditation classes. Daily Mail

4. Pandemic leading to huge drop in air pollution. The coronavirus spells good news for the planet as industrial activity shutdowns have temporarily slashed air pollution levels around the world. Levels of nitrogen dioxide over the past six weeks were markedly lower than at the same time last year. This year could see the first reduction in global emissions since the global financial crash in 2008. The Guardian

5. Leadership traits to avoid in a crisis. The adrenaline rush of leading during a crisis can be intoxicating for some, but allowing those feelings to dictate our responses can be disastrous. Here are some guiding principles for managers: Instead of focusing solely on immediate needs, try to take a broader, longer view. Consider what's important now, and what will be important in the coming days and weeks. Resist the urge to take control and rather seek order instead: What can you delegate? How can you empower others? Please let us know. [CONTACT]

6. PM warns that the coronavirus crisis will get worse before it gets better. In a letter being sent to every UK household, at a cost of almost £6m, the prime minister says stricter restrictions could be put in place if necessary. A leaflet will explain government rules on leaving the house and health information, following criticism that government advice to date has been unclear. BBC

7. WFH may mean more work. Working from home is blurring the lines between our personal time and the time we’re on the clock. In many countries, working from home seems to mean working longer hours, with workers in the UK logging on for three more hours than usual since March 11. How are you balancing work with your personal life? Does working from home mean working more for you? Editor

8. Baby steps lead to big change. While we may not be able to control our circumstances, we can change how we operate within those circumstances to bring more purpose to our lives. Through practicing design thinking (i.e. solving problems using ideation and iteration), we can "design" our lives — particularly our work lives - to make them more meaningful and bring greater joy. It's easier than it sounds. Starting with baby steps and setting the bar low can result in big changes. Harvard Business Review

9. Easing burnout in hard times. Moments of crisis are prime breeding grounds for burnout. In a time of pandemic, caregivers are particularly susceptible to such exhaustion, matters worse, burnout has been tied to the weakening of the immune system. How can we keep burnout at bay? Employers can ease job demands by spreading the workload and lifting burdens wherever they can. They can also make sure employees know it's okay - in fact, encouraged - to ask for help. Giving employees a sense of control, both over their work and how they feel about it, can help as well. Daily Express

10. The bottom line. Around 15% of the UK workforce – around five million people – is self-employed, up from 7.3% in 1980. Also, around half of all food sold in the UK is imported. Prior to the social distancing measures coming into force, about 30% of the country’s food was eaten out in cafés, restaurants and sandwich shops. The Times