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Jokes aside – The 4th Industrial Revolution is not for April Fools
There is no doubt that no matter which way we look at it, Covid 19 is responsible for accelerating the pace of the adoption of 4th Industrial Revolution technologies. In The World Economic Forum (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2018 that alarm was sounded two years ago, as if in an attempt to wake us all up to this fact; and at a time when most of us were still trying to grasp the magnitude of it all – but, much less did we realise how our very survival in 2020 and beyond would depend on the rapid deployment of 4th Industrial Revolution technologies. While as little as only 10 years ago, this all seemed like science fiction; in the wake of the ‘new normal’, we are on an endless voyage of discovery, one that sees us opening up the portals to new ideas and novel ways of deploying new technologies, the likes of whose impact has never before been experienced.
Zooming in on 4IR Technologies and human survival
So, here we have an interesting scenario. It is now more apparent than ever that in the blink of an eye, our very survival depends on how quickly and effectively we can harness and integrate certain of these 4IR technologies into our daily lives. Hence, since Covid 19 reared its ugly head, forcing us into isolation, we have become reliant on these 4IR technologies for our survival in the home as well as the workplace. Let’s take a look at some of those 4IR technologies that have really taken off during this period and gained enormous reach and traction over the past few months.
- Digital banking
- The Internet of Things (IOT)
- The Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT)
- 5th Generation Wireless Technologies (5G)
The main difference between the previous industrial revolutions and the 4th Industrial Revolution is that while the first three revolutions were about making significant strides in the advancement of technology, 4IR is instead more attuned to advances in communication and connectivity, since these technologies have the potential to further connect billions more people to the web, with considerable enhancements to business and organizational efficiencies. Enhancements to how we communicate and connect are now even more important than ever since the start of the pandemic.
Technology vs. Psychology
There are many factors to consider when change happens on a global scale. Since Coronavirus has literally placed the world on hold and through social distancing has forced many of us to remain indoors so as to minimise infection risk, our freedom of movement has been severely restricted.
While in the past most of us would have jumped at the opportunity to work from home, doing so takes on a whole new meaning when we are being forced into it. This forced change rapidly escalates into a psychological battle and can make us feel stressed and somewhat restless. It goes without saying that much of this stress is due to the fear and loss associated with the virus. Nevertheless, Coronavirus aside, being forced to stay at home is a problem as far as our mental well-being is concerned. Many of our daily habits and routines are suddenly made redundant in that they are no longer feasible since these activities require that we go outside and mix with people. Our days need to be completely restructured to not only meet our material and financial needs but our emotional and psychological ones too – while we maintain our distance.
Hence, if we are going to step up to the plate as far as changing our behaviours is concerned, whether we actively choose change or are forced into going with it, we need to be mindful of how this all plays out in the mental health arena. In this article we will discuss some of the challenges associated with being forced into isolation and working from home and we will briefly examine some of the trending tips and guidelines that people are following today.
But, first, let us turn to industrial theatre to help us set the stage.
Ship of Fools or April fools?
Act 1: Scene 1: 1 April 2019 – April Fool’s day
The alarm goes off at 6am, I dive out of bed and hurry to get ready for work. I psyche myself up for the drive to the office and my heart sinks. A wave of dread floods my mind as I mentally prepare to deal with the traffic. My early morning panic rush culminates into a corresponding rush of heart palpitations as I finally make my desk with only a few minutes to spare before I must rush to my first meeting of the day. Everything is a rush. My colleagues and I all seem to be on the same page – rushing hither and thither – deadlines looming – phones are ringing off the hook and the boss is racing and pacing to close an important deal. Everyone is energised as the daily buzz sets in.
“Good morning everyone! Today, you are all allowed to work from home!” The boss shouts. “You can pack up and leave now if you want.” Everyone is shocked. Is he serious? Imagine that? I thought to myself. Working from home would be great! I will finally get some peace and quiet and be able to work at my own pace. I can eat when I want, be in my own space, have the television on in the background and even listen to some of my favourite music while I work.
“April fools!” Laughs the boss. “Do you really think I was going to let you all off that easily?”
Act 2: Scene 1: 1 April 2020 – April Fool’s Day
The alarm goes off at 6am, I casually climb out of bed, and, yawning, I make my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I haven’t driven my car for a few days. Ford is parking off and very lonely sitting all on his own in my garage. My heart sinks as a new wave of dread now floods my mind as the bathroom tap runs. I have nowhere to go. I haven’t had face to face contact with my colleagues for a while and the house is way too quiet. There is a Zoom meeting at 8.30am that I prepared for the night before. I am completely demotivated and devoid of enthusiasm. In fact, I am completely bored with my own company. Working from home is exhausting me. The daily buzz just isn’t there. I have no one to chat to about the little goings on in my life, much less, I feel uninspired and am having a hard time generating ideas while I work in isolation. I feel totally disconnected from the world. I miss my old routine and the rush of going into work.
Just then my cell phone rings. It’s the boss. “Are you ready for this morning’s Zoom session?” He asks.
“Yes, I have prepared the presentation you asked for.” I reply, while shuffling nervously in my fluffy slippers as I gather my thoughts and mentally prepare myself for the meeting.
“For today’s meeting we need to discuss how we are going to organise ourselves to achieve the best results while working remotely.” The boss confirms.
I shudder as the reality of the ‘new normal’ hits me. How long is this going to go on for? How many more months of this can I take? And then another rush of anxiety washes over me as I cast my mind back to this day one year ago when my boss cracked the April Fool’s joke about us all working from home. “Many a true word said in jest” or prophecy? I feel like such an April fool…. The mad rush has come to a grinding halt.
Now that we have some idea of how the reality of the ‘new normal’ is playing out in our every day lives, let us turn to examine some of the challenges that we face.
The challenges of isolation
- Restrictions of Movement
While we may drive fancy cars and operate the latest smartphones, we are nevertheless still animals and like all animals, our instinctive nature is to move around. However, being forced into isolation or stuck at home as it were, poses a very real problem. There is a well-established link between physical movement and sound mental health, since most of us are acutely aware of the need for exercise and more often than not, we know deep down that we simply don’t get enough exercise most of the time. Being forced to stay at home only exacerbates the problem making it more real than ever.
The obvious solution to this problem is to get more movement back into our bodies. Even though we may not be able to go to the gym, it doesn’t mean that we need to entirely ditch the idea of a daily exercise routine. There are exercises that can be done without using any equipment such as sit-ups and push-ups and even yoga; which, nowadays, enjoys more popularity than ever, can be done at home since it requires very little space.
A daily exercise routine will go a long way towards keeping our physical and mental health in check.
- Aligning with nature is natural for human beings
When we align with nature, such as going on a hike through the forest, we feel more energised, our mood immediately lifts and our bodies move easier. This is due to the fact that nature has a measurable positive impact on our well-being as a whole. But, when we are constantly stuck indoors, we are deprived of these benefits and therefore suffer as a result, since, being exposed to direct sunlight, getting plenty of fresh air and inhaling the scents of plants have a positive effect on us both physically and psychologically.
So, when forced into working from home we should make the most out of any contact we can have with nature even if this means simply spending more time in the garden. While we are in nature’s space, we should consciously attune ourselves to the Earth, inhale and really smell the air, feel the texture of the grass under our feet, study the clouds, take in the vista of the sky and feel the effects of a gentle breeze. We should intently listen to the sounds of nature. Whether it be the chirp of a bird, the rustle of leaves or the sound of the wind, all of these things will uplift the soul.
- Seeking Meaning
By nature, human beings are creatures of habit and often these habits are what give us a sense of who we are, what our purpose involves and what meaning these things hold for us. For instance, certain people gain fulfilment from their jobs, hobbies or from spending quality time with family and friends.
In times of isolation, many of these activities are no longer feasible or even possible. This means that we need to re-evaluate our circumstances and decide what is truly meaningful for us to find new ways of being in line with our deepest desires and what really makes us tick. While something like weekly band practice might be off the agenda at this time, this doesn’t mean we can’t practice by ourselves and although we may not be able to actually visit our friends and relatives we can still call them.
- Taking accountability
When working from home or just being in plain old isolation, it happens that we may lose our sense of structure since there is no need to observe a strict timetable and any task or chore can be shelved till the next day if there is no dedicated schedule in place. Procrastination, is, however a real problem. So, while it may be tempting to let the reins go as far as discipline is concerned, the effects of slacking off can have detrimental consequences. It is therefore important that we take accountability for our daily actions and have a dedicated routine in place. For example, we should decide what time to wake up each morning and stick to it, commit to a structured work routine and bind ourselves to it. If the decision has been made to work from 9am till 5pm like regular office hours, we should be disciplined enough to keep to this arrangement. Taking accountability for our daily routine and keeping up with required tasks will lead to a feeling of a huge being lifted from one’s shoulders.
- Staying Connected
Everyone seeks human connection. This is a natural human drive that stems directly from the core of who we are. Ask anyone about the things that matter to them most, and most will cite one of those things as being connected. However, when we are in isolation, that part of ourselves is lost. A lack of human connection can significantly impact our emotional and psychological well-being. This is apparent in the research undertaken around orphans and has become an established well-known fact. You may have even noticed this effect on yourself while being in isolation, especially where it pertains to your general mood.
Seen from a different angle, remaining safe under Coronavirus is about physical safety – not necessarily social safety. The distinction here must be clear. Physical distance therefore does not equate to social distance. The remedy here is to use those 4th Industrial Revolution technologies that keep us connected. Staying in touch via Zoom or Skype or on Facebook and Whatsapp, while not always ideal, will go a long way towards staying connected.
The winds of change
When embracing the winds of change, whichever way we look at it, three things are apparent:
- We cannot survive the ‘new normal’ without incorporating 4th Industrial Revolution technologies into our daily lives. These technologies are gaining more and more traction every day.
- The ‘new normal’ and the 4th Industrial Revolution are here to stay.
- Our survival depends on how well we can adapt to the winds of change.
Are you 4IR savvy? If not, get on course now. Prepare for the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) in South Africa