Did you know that the concept of the 21 days comes from the observations of Dr. Maltz, plastic surgeon in the 1950s? He observed that 21 days was the time frame for his patients to adapt to their new appearance. He wrote a best seller about it and the concept was born! Nevertheless, the reality is a little more complex according to the psychologists of the London school.
If 21 days is an undeniable biological and psychological time for the human being, it can take from 3 weeks to several months to make a new habit automatic, depending on each person.
Indeed, several studies in psychology, including the one published in 2004 by VAKOLA and his team, show that individuals with greater emotional intelligence react more positively to changes in the company. So how do you regulate your emotional state? Here is a suggestion to get through this period that requires us to adapt to relatively anxiety-provoking changes.
1. Through cognitive reappraisal
This consists in modifying the interpretation of the situation at the origin of the emotion felt. Clearly, if you are worried about your work, adopt the "step by step" strategy or "at this stage everything is fine," and give yourself deadlines to achieve your goals one by one or make decisions. Day 21 is also a time of doubts and loss of confidence, so it makes sense to talk about it.
And you, as a manager, should know that it is essential to address the emotional state of your teams at the end of this cycle, because the confidence index in the situation is falling. As a result, you can facilitate their cohesion.
2. Through emotional sharing
Share your concerns and difficulties with your loved ones, colleagues and manager in confidence. Expressing them will strengthen your bonds, allow you to ease anxiety and find solutions. This exceptional situation requires a great effort of internal communication.
In conclusion, if cultivating your emotional intelligence is not the only solution to the difficulty of living in confinement, it will certainly dominate it and you will come out of this crisis with a noticeable improvement in your relational skills and management of crisis situations.
So in a constantly changing world, isn't this a guarantee of a happier life?
If this article has piqued your interest, check out our tips for adapting to telecommuting !
