The pandemic has caused everyone untold amounts of stress. Whether your role was in the mailroom, boardroom, classroom, or emergency room, it was unavoidable. Some people managed to weather the storm unscathed. The others are still reeling from it.

Maybe if you're like me, you're trying to recalibrate your life and adjust to a new way of working and living. These months of uncertainty and ever-changing circumstances have taken a toll on us, physically, emotionally, and mentally. It is likely that we have acquired some bad habits that need to be replaced.

I indulged too much in food, drink, and television. My previous commitment to a healthy lifestyle was thrown aside as I faced the challenges of leading my company through this major crisis. Also, working from home, while enjoyable in the past, has become isolating, especially for some of my team members who live alone.

Many people have been able to "dull the pain" during this time. Instead of sticking to our healthy habits, we grab a bag of chips, pour ourselves another cocktail, buy unnecessary items, or memorize the channel guide so we don't miss an episode of our favorite shows.

 Make a change

Change is not easy. Bad habits are hard to break. However, if we are to come out of this trial "better, faster, and stronger", we need an honest assessment of our lifestyle. You can't change what you can't name, so it's time to look in the mirror and ask yourself some important questions:

1. What positive changes or experiences do I want to continue? For example: spending more time with family because time has been freed up for the daily commute.

2. What health or wellness practices do I need to recover?

3. What new rituals or routines do I want to start again?

Your reaction will determine your course of action. As CEO, it is my responsibility to steer the ship. It is important that I walk. I cannot authentically promote our wellness program and lead an unhealthy life. I can't tell others to rest and recharge when my hair is constantly on fire.

One of my favorite books, Atomic Habits by James Clear, has some great tips for building new habits and breaking old ones. For example, if you want to create a new habit, let it know by writing it down. To break a bad habit, do the exact opposite. This means any exposure from your environment.

Be the true north

As leaders, we set the tone for our organizations. We embody our culture and our team members look to us as an example. At my company, our philosophy is "Be Better". If my employees see that I'm against it, what incentive do they have to follow? If I continually go against what I claim to be our vision, my integrity as a leader and my team's trust in me will falter.

You guide your team through stormy times. Your behavior, decisions, and actions are on display. To motivate change in your team, you need to be the change you want them to be.

Here are some tips to get you to star:-

1. Evaluate your daily habits.

Whether you keep a journal or track your actions in an app, seeing is believing. When we can identify the problem, we can come up with a solution. It can be hard to admit your bad habits, but it's an important first step if we want to change.

2. Start with a small change.

Simply replacing one cup of coffee or glass of wine with a glass of water is enough to jump-start your post-pandemic lifestyle. Small changes over time reap big results. Practice makes perfect, as they say. While we are not looking for perfection, we should be looking for persistence.

3. Remember all of you.

We are more than what we eat. Our thoughts and emotions play a big role in our overall health. If we've learned anything, it's that our mental health is critical to our ability to cope with stress. Meditation, yoga, or learning a new breathing technique are just some of the ways to reduce the no4.

You are not alone.

Human beings are not meant to be lone wolves. We are social beings. If you or your team have become isolated, develop a resocialization plan. Look for networking groups or social clubs in your comfort zone. Pick up the phone instead of texting. Restore those human relationships.

5. Walk... in someone else's shoes.

The biggest lesson I've learned over the past few months is a deeper understanding of other people, their circumstances, and their reactions to various hiccups in their lives. I've seen friends and my team struggle to balance pandemic rules and regulations, homeschooling their kids, and work. It's a lot, even under the best of circumstances.

Your team may be putting on a brave face for fear of being judged. I have noticed that just because someone seems fine on the outside is not an indicator of their true state of mind. Go the extra mile and don't take "I'm fine" as the final answer.

Like many, I am slowly returning to my pre-pandemic healthy lifestyle. Daily training is back. My yoga and meditation practice was resurrected. There's more water and less Netflix.

By taking better care of myself, I can take better care of my team, who in turn will take better care of themselves. I want my team to be successful – not just between 9 and 5, but all day and for the rest of my life. I show them that it's possible by walking.