Most of us are creatures of habit. We thrive on routines and like to feel in control. But what happens when life throws a curveball or better yet–a series of curveballs? For instance, a global pandemic, followed by extreme stock market volatility and a community mandate to shelter in place.
These are some of the challenges we’ve been facing for about two months now—although it may feel like much longer.
Uncertainty. Anxiety. Fear.
Drastic and sudden changes to our way of life can lead to panic and stress. We may want to stockpile hand sanitizer, hoard toilet paper, or even pull large sums of money from the market.
It’s no secret stress and anxiety levels are high—in fact, a federal crisis hotline for people facing emotional distress recently reported an 891-percent increase in call volume from March 2019 to March 2020 attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic[1]. I’ve seen it my social media feeds—anxiety around getting sick or losing income and fear about what the future holds.
You’ve likely witnessed increased anxiety in client calls and video meetings. Recent research by the American College of Financial Services shows that as the lockdown wears on and unemployment continues to spike, 93 percent of financial professionals surveyed say their clients contact them with concerns about their retirement plans as a result of the escalating impact of the pandemic and market volatility, up from 66 percent in early March[2].
Safety. Facts. Hope.
Yet people are finding ways to cope and rise above the challenges of their extremely altered environments. Families are hunkered down. Hunkered down but playing and laughing. Parents are introducing old-school games to their kids and seeking out movies that spark those “belly laughs.”
Teenagers are educating parents on the fine art of making TikToks. People are gardening, trying new recipes, and taking on rainy day projects. Communities are coming together virtually with front porch family photoshoots and “wave parades” in an attempt to celebrate milestones via socially distanced drive-byes.
Many of us are now turning to experts—those knowledgeable in their field. We are looking for information from scientists and economists that state facts on subject matter we find important.
Your clients are no exception—they’re relying on you as their trusted financial professional to provide them with a sensible, actionable path forward. They are reassured when you acknowledge that it can be hard to socially distance and remind them that historically market volatility eventually subsides.
Increased Playfulness. A Rise in Resilience. A Need for Novelty.
Author and psychiatrist Stuart Brown compares play to oxygen: “It’s all around us yet goes mostly unnoticed or unappreciated until it is missing.”
As humans, we are born with an instinct to temper fear and anxiety with fun and games at times of uncertainty and stress. It’s our innate response to the need for self-preservation. Our bodies and minds know what we need. We need play, we need laughter and we need the novelty of new experiences[3].
The health benefits of play and laughter are well-documented. According to HelpGuide.org, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide evidence-based education on mental health and wellness, play can add joy to life, relieve stress and better connect you to others[4].
Their research also highlights the health benefits of laughter. By increasing infection-fighting antibodies and improving blood flow, laughter can:
- Strengthen your immune system;
- Release endorphins—your body’s natural feel-good chemicals; and
- Help protect you against a heart attack or other cardiovascular problems[5].
Our instinct to play prepares us physically, mentally and emotionally for change. It builds resiliency and better equips us for those inevitable curveballs that life will throw our way.
Support. Expertise. Guidance.
Consider embracing this unprecedented time to leverage the power of play when clients turn to you for expertise, confidence and reassurance. By making suggestions beyond the financial and encouraging your clients to harness their natural but often latent ability to embrace the lighter side of life, you’ll be providing valuable advice that will carry them long after the pandemic has passed, providing a lifetime of dividends.
But you will also be giving yourself a gift—a unique and stress-reducing practice that will enable you to strengthen client relationships and open the door to new ones.
In today’s age of easily accessible planning tools, robo-advisors and financial self-help options, calling your clients merely to ensure they are taking some time for a little joy and levity provides a great opportunity to connect in a very human way, one they won’t soon forget.
Forging a new normal. Building a new bucket list. Piquing curiosity.
Keep in mind that fun is different for everyone. No one person has the same predilection to play. Get creative in your suggestions to clients and share ideas you have found that add a little fun to today’s unique circumstances. The options are limitless—from puzzles to podcasts, Netflix or nature walks, baking or board games, reading or writing. Recommend a household scavenger hunt, rearranging a room, or learning a new language. Make a COVID 19 “bucket list.”
The pandemic is forcing a new normal. Help your clients temper the moments of anxiety with some fun and a healthy dose of child-like curiosity about new possibilities that await them on the other side.
Ashley Feltner is a manager in Marketing Communications at Jackson National Life Distributors LLC (JNLD).
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/10/us/disaster-hotline-call-increase-wellness-trnd/index.html
[2] https://www.investmentnews.com/client-anxiety-retirement-planning-escalates-191404?
[3] Play, How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, Stuart Brown, M.D., with Christopher Vaughan
[4] https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/benefits-of-play-for-adults.htm
[5] https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/laughter-is-the-best-medicine.htm
Ashley is a writer, an artist, and an ideator who has placed storytelling into her process for bringing sales and marketing ideas to life for over 20 years. Her background includes recruiting, training, and content development that provide her a unique perspective and an ability toauthentically connect with individuals from all walks of life. With the desire to place a little humanity into the digital experience, Ashley believes that words do matter, a little empathy goes a long way, and knowing your purpose in life is imperative.
