The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world for trainers, as it has for everyone.
For full time Academy instructors you likely find yourself now working from home full time as most Academies have shut down. You may be tasked with quickly developing online training so you can deliver training to the recruits virtually. Or, you may be tasked with using this time to update lessons plans. You may have been redeployed back to the street if it is an agency run Academy. Or, you may have been laid off and are now at home hoping to collect unemployment insurance.
Those of you for whom training is a collateral assignment, and you have other full time assignments in your agency; you are likely working long hours dealing with the serious challenges of policing in the times of a pandemic.
If you are a contract trainer like myself, the world of being on the road every week teaching has stopped and you now find yourself at home with no training commitments, and likely no income, for the foreseeable future.
Regardless of which group you fall into, you must be intentional about looking after yourself during these challenging times we are facing right now.
You must be intentional about getting adequate sleep. I know that is hard for those of you working the street with the long hours you are likely working, but adequate sleep is more important than every.
You must be intentional about your physical activity. If you are working the street that may be a 10 minute body weight workout when you get up before you go to work and then ensuring you get out of your patrol vehicle numerous times a day and getting in some “movement”. If working from home is your “new normal” you need to be intentional about creating rituals around working out, or it will get put off and likely never get done. No one has access to a gym anymore, unless you have a home gym, so do research on body weight training or get resistance bands and get to work.
You must be intentional about your nutrition; what you feed both your body and your mind. It is too easy to only read and listen to information regarding COVID-19, much of which is doom and gloom. Be informed, but be cautious of becoming consumed. Make at least 10 minutes a day to read non-fiction books. If you are working from home, schedule at least an hour a day for professional development. If you are working the street then listen to audio books on your commute to and from work. Oh yeah, be sure to eat healthy, nutritious foods and stay hydrated.
This is a good to time get caught up on some of the 230 interviews and 20 webinars in the Member’s Area of the Excellence in Training Academy. If you are not already a member and would like immediate access to all the content, go to http://www.excellenceintrainingacademy.com and use the code eitblog to get the first month’s Individual or Training Unit membership at no cost.
Take care.
Brian Willis
Winning Mind Training – Dedicated to helping good trainers become great trainers and great trainers to deliver awesome training.
The Excellence in Training Academy – Where trainers come to grow. Join the Community of trainers committed to the pursuit of excellence in and through training. Use the code eitblog to get the first month’s membership (individual or training unit) free.
Interested in hosting an Excellence in Training Workshop or Course? Contact to me at winningmind@mac.com and we can work together to determine what will best suit your needs.
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