It’s official — we’ve passed the one-year mark of when COVID-19 took over our lives and changed everything! Can you believe it’s been a whole year?

Recently I’ve been reflecting on all of the challenges and changes we’ve faced, some of which have been positive — for example, I’ve been so inspired by how many people are committing to becoming more inclusive and to interrupting racism and white supremacy — and others which have been not so great.

One example that springs to mind for me is how in-person social interactions now feel very strange. And it got me thinking, when life starts to return to a new normal, will we all be socially awkward and maladjusted?

In this video, I share an experience I had recently where I wasn’t sure how to behave and my thoughts on what could happen once our lives start opening up again.

Watch now!⁠

The post Are We All Doomed to be Socially Awkward After COVID Ends? appeared first on Ritu Bhasin.

Recently my dear friend Coralie sent out a reflection question on a group chat board that really got me thinking! Essentially, a magazine was polling people about their deeply held beliefs about society that have been shattered due to COVID-19, and she wanted to hear our thoughts. Her question lit up the group chat and got my brain firing!

I asked myself the following question: “What personal beliefs have I previously held that have now been shattered by this COVID experience?”

Wow, did this self-reflection exercise really push me to reflect on some of the beliefs I had about myself and my life before COVID changed my entire way of living. And let me tell you, some of the revelations I had were surprising!

In this video, I share some of my personal beliefs that were shattered due to COVID and the new perspective I’ve gained because of this self-reflection.

Watch now and then try out this exercise yourself!

The post The Personal Beliefs that COVID Shattered for Me appeared first on Ritu Bhasin.

As someone who teaches equity, diversity, and inclusion for a living, I’m worried about the proliferation of biased behavior in the midst of the ongoing global pandemic.

Because many of us have been sheltering in place for several months — and we’ve been actively encouraged to avoid physical contact with others — the current COVID-19 environment has become the perfect breeding ground for fear, uncertainty, and suspicion of other people, which is exactly what can lead to a rise in bias.

In this video, I explain why in the current moment, with the threat of COVID-19 around us, we might see more people than ever before as a threat, leading to an increase in bias. But I also share how we can overcome our unconscious fears to fight bias during this moment.

Watch now!

The post Alarming but True — Biased Behavior Will Increase Because of COVID-19 appeared first on Ritu Bhasin.

This is an incredibly stressful time. COVID-19 has resulted in a global health crisis, the unprecedented shift to working from home for so many of us, the adjustment to a lifestyle of physical distancing, and more much. We’re experiencing dramatic changes in a very short period of time.

While some of the social changes we’re seeing have been positive — YAY to increased care for our neighbors and communities and to virtual house parties with beloveds! — we’re also seeing ugliness and darkness. In particular, I’m thinking about the wave of racism that is being unleashed towards people from Asian (and Iranian) communities. This is particularly upsetting to witness at a time when we need to be actively practicing empathy and inclusion.

I recently did a video about how to call out racist remarks, and I wanted to expand on how to interrupt racism in the wake of COVID-19. So in this video, I give you concrete tools for being anti-racist during this time and I share a story I heard about COVID-19-related racism as an example of what we need to be looking out for.

Join me in calling out racism.

Watch now!

The post How to be Anti-Racist During This Time of Crisis appeared first on Ritu Bhasin.

Between countries closing their borders, containment areas being identified, major events being cancelled, and our loved ones being quarantined, to say things have been stressful would be an understatement.

For me it has been especially devastating to hear reports about COVID-19-related incidents of racism — in particular, racial bias directed towards people from Asian communities. Many of you have also recognized this and have reached out to ask me and my team what you can do to interrupt the racial bias you’re observing.

Here are three resources that will help you to interrupt racism, act as an ally for targeted communities and manage your stress levels in the current climate (and all are FREE!):

1. My COVID-19 Anti-Racism Tip Sheet

This tip sheet summarizes key strategies and tools that you can use to interrupt all forms of bias, but in particular, COVID-19-related racial bias. (Similarly, my consulting firm bhasin consulting inc. has also developed a session on how to be an ally in interrupting COVID-19-related racism. Please feel free to reach out if you’re interested.)

2. My Worksheets on Interrupting Bias

As you may have heard me say many times before, we are all both hardwired to engage unconscious bias and socialized to engage in bias, which is one of the reasons why biases are so prevalent. I have designed three worksheets to help you identify the biases you may be holding, understand how bias affects you, and learn how to shield against the negative impact of bias.

3. My Empower Page on Committing to a Self-Care Practice

Prioritizing self-care is critical for preventing stress, nurturing your well-being, and taking care of your mind, body, and spirit — all of which will assist you in interrupting racial bias. In particular, self-care will help you to be better positioned to interrupt your biases, to speak out against racist behavior, and to be less activated in managing stress during this time.

Regardless of who you are, this is a stressful time! It’s also a time where hate can proliferate. But we can all contribute to reducing the social harm of COVID-19 by making a conscious effort to be inclusive and to practice anti-racism.

The post 3 Resources to Help You Fight Racism in the Wake of COVID-19 appeared first on Ritu Bhasin.