This is your Member Reference Number (MRN). You’ll need to provide this when you make an appointment with an EAP counselor or contact your EAP by phone.

Anthem provides automatic translation into multiple languages, courtesy of Google Translate. This tool is provided for your convenience only. The English language version is considered the most accurate, and in the event of a discrepancy between the translations, the English version will prevail. This translation tool is not controlled by Anthem, and the Anthem Privacy Statement will not apply. Please read Google's privacy statement. If you want Google to translate the Anthem website, select a language.

Post-COVID Recovery

Harnessing the Power of Anticipation for Post-COVID Recovery

Years of living under the threat of catching and spreading a deadly disease, combined with the ongoing disruptions due to various lockdowns, have taken an emotional toll on managers and employees alike. It's no wonder that the availability of a vaccine has allowed so many people to return to a "new normal" routine.

Anticipating what one's life will look like post-COVID can be a powerful exercise and a potential mood-booster. Scientists have shared that when people anticipate something positive, the brain releases dopamine, often referred to as the feel-good molecule.1 On the flip side, the inability to anticipate something positive due to uncertainty, which has been a constant during COVID, can lead to anxiety.2

Anticipating something positive not only helps individuals feel good, but anticipation can also be a great motivator. In fact, sports psychologists often have athletes visualize victory because of its ability to trigger determination.3

Additionally, there is evidence that anticipation can help people push through a stressful event and recover faster from a negative experience.1 One way to help employees harness anticipatory joy is to give them access to life coaching. A coach can help an employee identify post-COVID goals and start making plans towards those objectives.

Below are several questions developed to inspire post-COVID anticipation. These may be appropriate to ask employees during a one-on-one or team meeting:

  • What do you look forward to doing after COVID? If you had to rank these activities, which ones would be included in the top three?
  • Who would you like to visit?
  • Are there any hobbies that you want to start or return to after COVID?
  • Is there anywhere you want to travel? If so, how will you get there?
  • Are there any positive lessons that you have learned during COVID that you want to carry over into post-COVID life?
  • Is there anything you can do now to start planning for the things you look forward to post-COVID?

While the vaccine may feel to some like the long-awaited light at the end of the tunnel, the present reality is that COVID-19 continues to be a threat. This is not the time to relax one's vigilance. In fact, at this stage of the game, guarding against caution fatigue is as important as guarding against COVID-19. But, as long as people continue to follow safety precautions, like wearing masks, washing hands, and practicing social distancing, then daydreaming about a future without COVID-19 can be beneficial in supporting wellbeing in the weeks to come.

References

  1. The Coleman Institute. (2016, January 27). Dopamine: "The anticipation molecule." Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://thecolemaninstitute.com
  2. Heid, M. (2020, May). It's time to learn how to microdose anticipation. Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://elemental.medium.com
  3. Jones, M. (2016, August 11). The ultimate way to increase motivation, according to neuroscience. Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://www.inc.com

Fisher, M. (Revised 2021, December [Ed.]). Post-COVID recovery: Harnessing the power of anticipation (B. Schuette & A. Gaddis, Eds.). Raleigh, NC: Workplace Options.

More about this Topics

  • Coping with Crisis in the Media (Part 1)

  • Talking with Children During Infectious Disease Outbreaks

  • Coping with the Stress of Relocation After a Disaster (Part 5): Helping Elderly People

  • Caring for Your Mental Health

  • Do Social Ties Affect Our Health?

Other Topics

    • Snoring
    • Sleep Difficulties
    • Recognizing an eating disorder
    • Daily Relaxation Tools
    • Managing holiday stress
    • Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness (Part 2)
    • Coping with the Stress of Relocation After a Disaster (Part 4): Helping Young People
    • Learn to Manage Stress
    • Bipolar Disorder: Treatment Part 1
    • Autism Spectrum Disorder
    • Coping with Change
    • Stress Buster: Managing and Taking Control of Your Life
    • Understanding Resilience
    • Identifying Signs of Addiction in a Loved One
    • The Gratitude Habit