How we are trying to take the positives from where we are right now and what we can bring forward as we enter the ‘new normal’.

We are usually all caught in the whirlwind of our everyday lives. For me that means running the agency, running around after my 15 month old twins and then if I have the time I try to do some running. It’s hectic. It’s exciting. It’s all go. And, I love it. Then Covid hit and the rhythm changed. We made big changes to how we run the agency. Myself and my wife now both juggle working from home with trying to look after the kids (she’s a lot better at it than me!). And, I’m actually running more than ever. There is no doubt it is a difficult time for a lot of people. Our industry has been hit hard and people have lost their jobs. On a broader scale people have lost loved ones, families are separated and the most vulnerable in our society are really suffering. We have some real heroes out there who are truly making a difference and it’s important that when we come out the other side that we look after them properly. Not just with applause but with emotional support and fair compensation.

This thought got me thinking about what will happen when it’s all over. We can’t go back to ‘normal’. In fact, I don’t think as a society that we want to go back to ‘normal’. I asked myself and the team here in Honey+Buzz what had they taken from their experiences so far that they saw as positive and how do they see themselves moving forward when we emerge from the other side (whenever that is).

For me, I’ve loved spending more time with my family. I’ve watched my kids take their first steps. I would have missed this. I spend an hour in the park with my wife and the twins every evening. I smile throughout knowing this is such a special time. We work in the experience business and I genuinely can’t think of a better experience than this. Undoubtedly there have been tough elements such as events and campaigns being postponed or cancelled completely. The situation has put huge financial pressures on everyone in the industry. I’ve learnt just how tough and ready to jump in get stuff done our team are. It may get worse before it gets better but that teamwork fills me with confidence.

We even found time to teach the kids some yoga…

I won’t single out anyone on the team by specifically putting a spotlight on their lockdown experiences but here’s a flavour of what the team said to me:

• Planting herbs and veg and actually having time to look after them

• Not having to wear makeup

• Experimenting with my hair

• Talking to friends & family more than ever on zoom calls

• Not having the evening rush ie make dinner, do washing/clean, get to the gym

• Reading books

• Cooking more elaborate dinners

• Baking.

• Spending time in the house you work hard to pay the rent/mortgage for is a plus too!

• I have taken up a few activities I never would have: the piano (briefly), painting (briefly) and trying different forms of exercise classes I hadn't previously

• I am spending more time with my family. I haven't lived with my sister in 3 years and didn't see it happening again so it’s been nice to have this time together

• I have stopped and appreciated things more than I used to. I have always spent time walking the strand but now I have started to sit down there and listen to a podcast in the evenings which is probably one of my new favourite things to do. It was always something I could have done but I never would have sat on my own there before

• It has provided time to refocus on areas of personal and professional life

• From a personal perspective I have started running and walking more. Listening to podcasts instead scrolling through my phone so it’s allowed me the time to have a think about areas I enjoy or would like to do more of and allow myself to do them

• From a professional perspective it has meant I am less caught up in the whirlwind of the day to day and have had to time to focus on areas of the business that are sometimes put on the long finger

• It has brought new ways of connecting with people at home and abroad and I think that is one thing that will last which means we will have bettered our communication skills

• It has brought a freedom to try out new ways of working with the intention of learning and applying them to the business

• Living and working in Dublin means I only usually get to see my dog and family once a week, at the weekends for short visits. I’ve been back home since the start of the isolation with my Mam (who is cocooned) and my border collie, Charley. Now I get to see them every day. The dogs excited reaction to see us every morning will never cease to amaze me, he’s also a great motivator to get out for a 5k run or walk every evening

• From a work perspective I’m glad we have clients who are able to weather the storm and who trust us with keeping their marketing comms going in a way that positively affects their business. Each of them have a different brand challenge, and each of them are rising to it in impressive fashion

• Also, to refer to that viral tweet from the start of all this, “I’m glad we’re finding out now which meetings could have been emails”

I found it really interesting to see all of the different perspectives across the team. It’s a really difficult time and almost everyone has been affected in some way by this awful virus but the quick snapshot of the team shows that positivity can shine through even at the darkest times.

We have learned a lot during this time and it would be a shame to not take these learnings and make our work and personal lives better as a result. When we start to get back to ‘normal’ and whatever that looks like I think we will be approaching it from a new and hopefully better perspective. 

Stay safe and stay positive.

- JD