COVID-19 Mental Wellness checkin: How are you doing?

The Museums, Aquariums & Zoos Virtual TUG had a great Lean Coffee event today lead by Mark DuBose and Meredith Woolard (she/her) hosted the call connection.  (Lean Coffee is the facilitation style we use for the analytic Coffee TUG.)  There was a great turn out, and conversation that was had by all.

I've wondered about trying to do online Open Space if folks are interested there are some tools out there to do this.

I talked to someone in Extended Services yesterday, and she said the idea of a virtual conference had been discussed, but that they didn't want to put that pressure on the presenters to alter their format (and have to produce a presentation at all during this stressful time).

But I don't think the Network would be against it if we banded together and came up with something on our own.

I'm already thinking now of what would translate well to virtual: Open Space, Drum Circle, Regional/Topical Group Lunch, TN Inspire, Mini Magic (if people still wanted to submit those as slides).

And then if the Network wanted to have a well-timed webinar about v16/ future roadmap, all the better!

And it definitely continues to do so every day! I'm more eager than ever to know more about what people's responses would now be to this topic. Glad we got to scratch the surface a little bit between the three of us.

Hi all,

Here at the Hall, our Chief Executive has been sending out regular emails, explaining what's happening as best as possible, whilst not having all the details on government support etc. he even recorded a video from home and sent it to all staff. 

We're working remotely where we can and are using Microsoft Teams so that we can have audio and video meetings - we're making sure we start and end these with check-ins on how people are doing as well as tv, book and film recommendations.

Our Wellbeing Network has been sending out a Happy email, which is just pictures, funny stories, links to arts and culture streaming. Now that we are two weeks into the Hall being shut, and the country being in lockdown, we're going to be sending three emails a week, the happy email and then two others signposting our Employee Assistance Programme, recipes, exercise, recommendations etc. We're also going to trial doing Meditation via Teams (audio only), so that people can join at a specific time, and we'll also send a link out to a mediation if people want to do this in their own time.

We are very much at the start of this now so I can share as we go along and let you know what is working and what isn't working if that at all helps?

Caryl

I love the Happy emails! I made a Fun Stuff channel in several of my Teams groups so that we can share with each other those kinds of things. 

I'd love to hear how Meditation via Teams goes!

That certainly does help.  We are loving Teams at the moment.  We have a daily TownHall led by the CEO at the moment and joined by all staff, including the Company Dancers.  Interestingly we are closer now than ever.

Artistic team also hosted a Feel Good Friday dance party which was hysterical and a lot of staff and patrons came to - www.instagram.com/.../B-Oi3tIDepy

It's definitely been hard. I dislike working from home because I do like very strict work/life boundaries, and now work is all up in my personal space, haha. I am lucky to have roommates (who all get along) and who are also working from home, so we've been good about cooking and cleaning for one another, doing activities together, and generally making sure everyone is doing okay. I am incredibly grateful for them in this time.

As a manager, I am really struggling. My staff is Front of House, the part time folks who are so often left out of the conversation, and my heart goes out to them. A lot of them work at Woolly because they do really enjoy theatre, but some of them do rely on the income. I want to do more for them, but there's only so much time, energy, and cash, especially now. So I'm trying to be kind to myself through everything. It's something I have to do a lot, but I think it's especially important right now.

It's hard to "focus on the positives" throughout all of this, but something I've been thinking of even more than normal is: what are the things that make me happy? Grab those things and do them even when your tired/busy/stressed/not feeling it, because it can be a spark.

Sending best wishes to everyone out there!

-A

I'm the same re work life/boundaries, even if I don't do it well at all.  I found a little box I turned into an office and that really helped.  I get up and go to work the same time every morning and set a tools down time that i try to keep to.  I try to wear the same work appropriate attire I normally would.  

But a friend of mine put up an insta-quote the other day.  To badly parraphrase:

Remember that you are not working from home.  You are working through a traumatic experience as best you can

This situation is so hard for casuals.  We have a few legislations and governmental supports down here that are helping that situation out to some extent.  Still it's really harsh.  Trying to pivot the business and use all the casuals and permanents we can is top priority.  I can see it grinding on folks from the CEO on down.

Hope you manage to find your groove and keep the joy in your life.  If you ever need to pop into a Feel Good Friday virtual dance party at SDC (it's Australian time) be my guest

Thank you for creating this thread Heath!  It's nice to have a place where people just get what you're going through!

So far, my biggest struggle is dealing with higher ups in my organization who are just focusing on rescheduling concerts, but not necessarily thinking about all the other implications.  Like, if we have to cancel the rescheduled concerts, are we just going to reschedule them again? At what point do we just "give up" and not keep our patrons hanging on (and having to do the dreaded R word ~refunds~)?

Additionally, at least here, the general attitude is that things will immediately go back to normal, so of course we'll be able to have 2000+ concerts indoors!  I don't want to be the Debbie Downer of the organization, but sometimes it seems like people aren't thinking idealistically, rather than realistically, and then it falls to the lower-down folks to scramble and figure it out.

I've also tried to implement "new" things, like a simple WordFly page to collect responses and feedback, but have been shot down a few times, so it's tiring to want to implement things that will make our lives easier in the long run, but being met with opposition.

I love all the ideas for still connecting with your teams here though! So far, we're just having daily staff calls with updates, nothing more than that.

It's really tricky.  I've been in organisations that wouldn't listen. I found it best when I translated it into labour $.  eg: instead of calling 500K patrons a wordfly survey and event cancellation utility will do the same at 10x the speed and we can tack on a donation ask on the end as well.  Factoring in the hours of labour and calculating the savings = $X.  That usually gets notice.  The same with too many comps, too many holds, too many sightline issues etc.  Hard bottom line budget $ will usually get a producer on your side,  The COVID will blow over in a month BS is also hard to tackle.  Thing is that Credit (Gift)Vouchers vs Reseats can be handled in the same way.  You can lift people into Gift Vouchers and those same people can reseat themselves online saving box office labour and many recalls. So what do you do with all that boxoffice labour on your hands.  Donation calls, Customer Service calls - you name it.  When they reply to your WordFly survey with feedback (ALWAYS have a feedback box) you can respond personally and build loyalty for when you DO return to business.  You might also earn Donation money from it.

Stay safe and hope it gets a bit easier.

I'm in the process of checking out, and morning the furlough of my job.

I'll be back, I'm sure. 

But, for now, I'm feeling the need to take the time.  What is next?  And when can the next start?

Tom I'm so sorry - you will be missed and hopefully back real soon. 

Just sent you an email

Hey Folks,

With all the tough times that are happening in our respective countries I wanted to let you know that I'm thinking about you and I'm hear for you if you need someone to chat with.

You are not alone.

Stay dafe and strong.

Heath

That means the world to me!  Thanks, I may need that ear by the end of this week!