Making Time for Gratitude in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic

There are many benefits to practicing gratitude, from reduced stress to healthier immune systems. It’s a powerful tool for resilience, too, especially in the face of uncertain and scary times like we are living through.

While staying and working at home has brought challenges for many, it’s also brought opportunities to truly appreciate the things that matter. We recently practiced #ThankfulThursday together as a team, sharing what we were most grateful for during these unprecedented times.

Below are a few responses we received:

• I am thankful that I am not one of 26 million people who filed for unemployment benefits. More than that, I am thankful to have a great team that holds each other tight while facing unprecedented challenges.
• I am so thankful to have a stable job that I love. Also, I am thankful for the cookie delivery lady in my neighborhood.
• I am grateful to have the best employers, bosses, team, health, and definitely Amazon.
• I am thankful for the technology we have today that allows us to continue to work, go to school, and stay in touch with our friends and family.
• I am grateful for the incredible leaders at MGA who keep us moving forward and genuinely have our best interest at heart.
  

3 Tips to Finding Gratitude in Your Own Situation

We are proud of the incredible team and culture that we’ve built here at MGA, but we would be kidding ourselves if we said it was possible to keep that alive during these times without technology.

We stay connected with our team members through Microsoft Teams instant messenger and video calls, which we use for both professional huddles and #ThirstyThursday happy hours. We also use Zoom for client meetings, which we are sure everyone is familiar with by now.

Whether it’s Zoom game nights with your family and friends or a FaceTime call with your loved ones, technology allows us to stay connected during our time apart. This is something that we think everyone can be grateful for.

As mentioned previously, our #ThankfulThursday group conversation via Microsoft Teams was a hit for the MGA team. We each took a minute to reflect on the many things we were grateful for, and we took the time to share those.

We encourage you to consider implementing a similar strategy in your business or home. Make it a point to practice gratitude and to tell others around you how grateful you are for them. Designating one day a week for it is a great place to start.

3. Time Is Precious, and We Suddenly Have More of It

Without having to get “ready” for work and commute to the office, we’re sure that many people around the country have found a little more free time on their hands.

Slowing down can have many benefits and allow us to focus on the simple things around us. Maybe you’re finally getting caught up on all the sleep you’ve missed. Or perhaps you are getting to spend more quality time with your family, being quarantined in the same space together. We’ve also noticed that bikes are selling out everywhere, meaning that more and more people are choosing to get outside and active during their free time.

Whatever you are doing with your new-found spare time, even if it’s sitting on the couch and binge-watching your favorite Netflix show, there is gratitude to be found in the “slowing down.”

Now, More Than Ever, We Are so Thankful for Our Incredible Team

We have worked hard to make MGA not only a diverse and forward-thinking place to work but also a place that feels like “home” to our great team members. Together, as a team, we have made it through nearly ten weeks of completely remote operations.

From our resilient senior leadership to our hard-working staff members, we are thankful for each person who plays are part in our success. Each person has shown up in their roles 110% for our great clients, working hard to make the complex simple for them as they face their own unique challenges.

If you’re interested in building a career with a firm that cares, click here to check out the opportunities available at MGA.

We’d love to hear from you!