As so many of us have transitioned to working from home due to the COVID-19 crisis, you have no doubt heard the term “brain fog” more than once. Brain fog is not a scientific term, but rather refers to general symptoms of mental fatigue, trouble concentrating, and cognitive dysfunction. The catch-all term “brain fog” is apt. I know that for me, it is that feeling of wading through water. Everything is slower, more difficult, and weighed down.

When we think of the characteristics that make a great leader, we don’t tend to think of listening skills immediately. However, you will find in leadership that it is the more humble, the more unseen skills that really push leaders from good to great. You can be a charismatic speaker, you can have magnetic charm, you can have incredible and innovative ideas — but if you don’t know how to listen well, your success in leadership will be temporary at best.

Whether you’re ready for it or not, retirement is coming. Statistics show that Americans are woefully unprepared for retirement — at least in the financial sense. Americans ages 55-64 have only saved 12 percentof what they need for retirement, on average. It’s suggested that young people squirrel away at least two decades worth of income, given the 18-year average for retirement. The number one worry of working-aged Americans is that they won’t have enough saved.

I think there are few things more detrimental to life, health, and success than unmanaged stress. That isn’t to say life can be totally stress-free. Stress can actually be a powerful motivator and tool to be productive, motivated, and diligent.

When is the best time to make a decision? If I were to create an ideal scenario, I would say the best time to make a decision is when I am well-rested, focused, and when I have examined all the facts and angles that could impact my choice.

Still leery of heading to the gym? Whether you’re a cautious individual or an immuno-compromised one, sometimes the physical gym just isn’t an option. Even as some gyms begin to reopen, you may have reason to stay away for the time being.

Much of the nation is talking about “reopening” the economy. Restaurants are beginning to open for normal business, albeit under strict guidelines, while others prepare to return to normal office hours. There’s plenty of debate surrounding the timingof all of this, and whether or not it’s the right move to make. Some think it’s too soon while others think it can’t come soon enough.

Health is top-of-mind now more than ever. We’re all religiously washing hands, wearing masks, and covering each and every surface we encounter with a healthy dose of Lysol. When we think about what keeps our bodies healthy and resilient against germs and illness, these are often our first measures. We focus on the external factors that jeopardize our health. This makes sense — but it’s far from our only line of defense.

If you’re anything like me, the state of the world is calling for a lot of re-evaluation. For me, it’s not so much related to career, but life priorities and values in general. We’re all being confronted with something we have never seen or experienced before, and it’s causing a shake-up in our lives in more ways than one.

We’re living in stressful times, that much is evident! We’re worried about our health, the health of friends and family, worried about our employment and retirement future. To top it all off, many of us are living in close-quarters with our families and spending an unprecedented amount of time with them. Yes, this is a blessing! But we’re not going to deny the reality of thinning patience and the truth of the phrase, “familiarity breeds contempt.”

In aviation, a holding pattern is when an aircraft maintains its flight path in a designated space while waiting for clearance to land. Most of us can gather the definition based on context clues, but there’s a reason I’ve spelled it out.

Right now, we are all living in the midst of uncertainty. We don’t know the when, the how, the why of so many things in life. When will we return to “normal?” How will this crisis impact my employment, my family? How can I best lead my team in these times?

We’re living in tough times. It seems like now more than ever it is difficult to eat healthily and get the nutrition our bodies need. Not only do many of us have to contend with under-stocked grocery stores, but social distancing guidelines dictate that we limit our trips to the store as much as possible. We’ve been encouraged to buy enough for at least two weeks worth of food.

A cluttered office space can lead to a cluttered, frazzled mindset. That nagging pile of laundry that hasn’t been folded or put up creates anxiety. A dim, dreary workspace can make you feel lethargic and depressed.

Even if you have never had to work remotely before, we’re all becoming well-acquainted with the experience (if we’re fortunate enough to have a profession that can accommodate it). While many of us likely looked at working from home as “easy,” before now, I’m sure we’re more than acquainted with its struggles and frustrations at this point.

We’re all strained in one way or another lately, it seems. I know I keep writing about it, but the COVID-19 pandemic is just something we cannot ignore. I’m affected, you’re affected. Our friends, our neighbors, our families and communities each have been impacted.

If we’re to believe the experts, it is difficult to stay productive and on-task at home. There is an inherent level of group accountability in most offices, even if it is only a subconscious pressure not to be caught slacking off. When we’re alone and in our homes, however, that accountability disappears. Distractions are easier to fall into and the road to disengagement is shorter.

During these strange times, I’ve become increasingly aware of the convenience and blessing in our technology-driven society. To think that just a few decades ago, our connectedness during a global pandemic would truly diminish — relegated to phone calls or snail mail. At one time, it would have been difficult to even get news, let alone communicate with others.

We’ve all heard of imposter syndrome, but what is it, exactly? In simple terms, it is a condition in which a successful person feels inadequate, unqualified, or otherwise like a fraud in their given profession. When we hear about this syndrome, we’re often drawn to its negative repercussions.

If you’re like much of the United States during the COVID-19 outbreak, you’ve likely been handed down a stay-at-home order or have been strongly advised to self-quarantine. Non-essential businesses are closed, and that likely includes the local gym.