A Time To Reflect

James Russell-Field, Communications Chair and Director of Administrative Services for the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District.

This March provides a unique time for reflection. One year ago, our lives and workplaces were all impacted by the start of shelter-in-place and stay at home orders. Typically, springtime comes with a surge of budget requests, forecasting, labor negotiations, policy review, and goal setting that can make for a stressful personal and professional time. Although the stress and requirements of that work have not changed, the work environment and how business is done may have totally shifted. Virtual meetings, digital requests and signatures, and new software to handle new processes can either add to or relieve the typical springtime stress.

With so much change in one year, it’s important to take time to reflect on everything that has happened. That is a task easier said than done with how busy spring can get, but it may be good to set aside 15 minutes and do a “mental check-in.” I’m trying to stay mindful of the following when I take some time to reflect:

  • How have I handled adapting to change? Have I been patient and understanding?
  • How is my mental health? With technology and virtual meetings blending the home and workplace, am I providing myself a chance to disconnect?
  • Who do I need to check in on or connect with?
  • How do I revitalize myself?

Speaking of change over the last year, it seems hard to imagine last year we were running around Disneyland at the 2020 CSMFO Annual Conference. Even though we couldn’t meet in person, I’m grateful we could still connect virtually for the 2021 CSMFO Annual Conference, I thought it was amazing! I’m so appreciative for all the hard work that happened behind the scenes to pull off a wonderful virtual conference. Please keep an eye out for the 2021 Conference Survey through CSMFO News, we want to hear your feedback to help plan the 2022 Conference.

The CSMFO Communications Committee is hard at work putting together the CSMFO Conference Edition and planning great content for the upcoming year. In the meantime, if you have any ideas for articles, members you want to highlight, or updates and innovations from your agencies that you want to share, please feel free to drop us a line at communications@csmfo.org.

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James Russell-Field, Communications Chair and Director of Administrative Services for the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District. James has served on various committees and roles supporting CSMFO. Prior to the District, he worked with the Department of Interior, City of Thousand Oaks and City of Benicia. On weekends, you can find James mountain biking through Northern California.