I am not my work

Coronavirus has hugely impacted on the lives of people all over the world. For many, work has been significantly disrupted. For others, altered beyond recognition. Furloughed, laid off, or made redundant. Working remotely, based at home, or continuing to work through the pandemic as a key worker. Whichever way you look at it, things ain’t what they used to be.

I have been in lockdown and out of work since March 2020. A double whammy of redundancy and the impact of Coronavirus has rocked my sense of self, disconnected me from what I have always known. I have spent much of the last four months reflecting on the central role work plays in our lives, how we can overidentify with our professional roles, and the extent to which we define ourselves according to what we do.

Work is a cornerstone of our lives. We devote a lot of time and energy doing it, thinking about it, and seeking it. We use it as a mirror to evaluate ourselves, depending on the extent to which we succeed or fail in our chosen career. Whilst it is good if we can enjoy work and find rewards in what we do, overidentification with work can be unhealthy and can prevent us having a stable, independent sense of self.

My experience as a Professional Supervisor is that signed language interpreters often overidentify with their professional status. I wonder if the allegiance we have with the Deaf community leads us to be more enmeshed in our role. Then there is the issue of demand traditionally outstripping supply.  The temptation here can be to overwork, to accept assignments when near burn-out point, because ‘if I don’t do it who will?’ Being out of work, therefore, is a new experience. For me, this is the longest period of unemployment in my adult life. As with many other colleagues, this is the first time I have not been needed, the first time I have not had a full diary booked months in advance. It is important to take time to examine the effect this has, and how we can manage the feelings and emotions we experience.

What can we do?
Being cast adrift from our work, no longer feeling useful, not using the skills we have sweated blood and tears to gain, can have a devastating impact. These are some of the things I have been doing to try and centre myself, to rediscover who I really am, and to start to regain a sense of self-worth.

1. View it as a dry run. The pandemic is a reminder that work will definitely end at some point, whether that be through retirement, redundancy or lifestyle changes. This period of ‘not work’ has been a useful exercise in recognising that the feelings of being unsettled, upset and sad are perfectly natural, and it is a process to be worked through.
2. Who am I outside of work? Feelings of worthlessness have been counteracted by spending some time thinking about what makes me ME, in finding my true centre. I have taken a long hard look at what I love and value about myself outside of my professional role. I have considered what I invest in my hobbies and interests, and how my passion for dance and music is a core element of who I am. 
3. Reconnecting with others. This is even more relevant in the current crisis, where many of us are separated from family, friends and colleagues. I have been re-examining my relationships with others, considering the impact I have on their lives and how they enrich mine. Exploring ways of making more meaningful connections with the important people in my world feels crucial right now.

Work is just one aspect of our identity, we have many other facets, other faces we show to the world. The important message to absorb is that we are more than our work. It is vital that we understand this in these exceptional times. Finding our true self and separating it from our work self will stand us in good stead for the future.
​
References and Further Reading
Davies, J. (2019). ‘You Are Not Your Work. How to escape “workism” and reclaim your identity.’ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tracking-wonder/201903/you-are-not-your-work
Koretz, J. (2019). ‘What Happens When Your Career Becomes Your Whole Identity.’ https://hbr.org/2019/12/what-happens-when-your-career-becomes-your-whole-identity
Shohet, R. (2008).’Passionate Supervision’. London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Zetlin, M. (2015). ‘Define Yourself by Your Work? How (and Why) You Should Stop Now.’ https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/define-yourself-by-your-work-how-and-why-you-should-stop-it-now.html