'Self-care and support will get us through this Golden Quarter'

The new tiered restrictions imposed by the government look set to curtail individual freedoms to varying degrees for the foreseeable future. Humans are social creatures and when we’re denied regular social interactions the risk is that our mood dampens and life starts to feel that little bit tougher to manage.

I can’t be alone in sensing from the many people within the retail sector I speak with on a daily basis – at all levels of seniority – a feeling of physical and mental tiredness creeping in.

Tiredness with the pandemic; with home working and constant Zoom calls; with anxiety over business performance and job security; with working long hours in retail stores or distribution centres without the reward of social activity in the evenings or at weekends.

Businesses need their employees to be fully focused and committed at the very time when staying motivated and engaged may be harder than ever

Yet retail workers are entering a period that could make or break the businesses they work for.

A strong Christmas trading period could see retailers safely through until the spring and hopefully brighter days ahead – both literally and figuratively.

A weak Golden Quarter, on the other hand, risks resulting in more store closures, layoffs and in the worst cases insolvencies.

Businesses need their employees to be fully focused and committed to the task at hand at the very time when staying motivated and engaged may be harder than ever. 

I know from my involvement with the charity Mind just how many people suffer with mental health issues and how debilitating they can be.

And while some people’s tiredness will relate to an underlying medical condition, for many of us it will manifest itself in a general lack of energy and motivation.

Thankfully, the NHS has some helpful tips for dealing with general tiredness that can help us all push through the winter months.

The first is to try to sleep well, including going to bed and getting up in the morning at the same time every day.

Eat regular meals and healthy snacks every three to four hours, rather than a large meal less often.

Force yourself to take regular exercise to get an energy boost; and if you’re working from home try to get outside for a daily walk or run, even if it’s just for 15 minutes.

Cut out caffeine and drink less alcohol – both of which can affect the quality of your sleep. And drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep hydrated and energised.

Responsibility for managing tiredness shouldn’t just fall on employees, of course. Businesses still have a duty to ensure they are supporting their staff despite us all being more familiar with the new normal of pandemic working.

Regular check-ins on people’s wellbeing, especially those working remotely, will continue to be important.

Those in senior positions shouldn’t be afraid to share their own feelings of tiredness and other vulnerabilities. Nor should they be afraid to inject humour into meetings and emails.

Anything that can convey a sense of being ‘all in this together’ can help so long as it feels genuine.

Employers need to give people a strong sense of purpose in what they are working towards and why their contribution is so valuable.

Finally, all of us need to keep one eye on the future when the immediate threat from the pandemic has receded and happier, more normal times will return.