Bhavik, 32, Financial Services
1. How do you make a living?
I work in the financial services industry for a consulting firm.
2. Has your career been impacted by Covid-19 and if so, how?
Very low impact with now remote working. Otherwise, I am fortunate to still have an income.
3. How has that impact made you feel?
Very isolated and alone. I live alone in London and I am a natural extrovert.
Not having the day to day interaction with colleagues and friends definitely has affected my mental health.
4. How are you safeguarding your career during this time?
I have picked up new assignments from different client stakeholders. Some of the concepts and terminology are very foreign, but I am trying my best to get the job done.
5. Will you change anything about your way of living when things go back to normal? If yes, how?
I may consider not living alone, as it has affected my overall well-being.
6. How are you maintaining your wellbeing during this time?
I try to keep a normal routine and have picked up a few new activities to keep me balanced such as yoga and HIIT workouts at home.
I also have focused more of my energy to help my company during this time. I currently am the UK Mental Health lead, managing a program I started 2 years ago. I am having 1:1's with the teams on the ground to help them cope with this situation
I am also attending external webinars to get best practices and tips to help employees during this time. Aside from my day job, I spend my other free time ensuring we have the right support in place and be open for trial and error methods as we continue with the lockdown.
7. If you were to recommend one thing to do in lockdown - what would it be & why?
I would encourage people to not undermine their feelings.
These are unprecedented times and there is no 'normal' way of feeling. You will have bad days. I strongly suggest to give yourself permission to feel however you want to feel.
After that, I suggest starting a gratitude journal. This is something that has helped me in the past with suffering from depression. Small everyday things that you are grateful for brings perspective.
8. If a helping hand could be given to you now, what would it look like?
Working with my senior leadership at work to provide mental health support outside the UK and to the wider global workforce during this time.
9. If you were to spend lockdown with a famous person, who would it be and why?
First of all, it would have to be my best friend who is currently in NY. She is the only person who I can be fully comfortable around and be open with. We would make the situation light-hearted and together would inspire each other to help others. Both of us have spent weeks at end together and I am never bored nor drained from her company.
My famous person of choice to spend Lockdown with is - Andy Samberg, from Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He’s a guy you want to chill and have a beer with.
10. What excites you most about post-lockdown life?
As simple as it sounds, hugging my loved ones. The mere physical touch of someone is very under-rated.
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