What Do You Need Right Now? James Davis-Massey’s 8 Tips for a Healthy Mind

As more counties in Colorado are entering Level Red restrictions, many are feeling the COVID blues. James Davis-Massey, owner and founder of TheHumanBluePrint, a company teaching leaders and employees how to be their most present and best selves in the workplace has come up with eight tips for employees and management for balancing work life and home life.

“I just wanted to give people a place to start,” says Davis-Massey.

Davis-Massey is a queer business owner, executive coach and organization development consultant, husband, and father. For over 20 years, he has worked with CEOs, upcoming leaders, and queer persons transitioning into breaking down the idea of there has to be a “work self,” and “home self” for sources of identity. Davis-Massey has a masters from DU in Organization Leadership and Development, he blends interdisciplinary models touching each learning style. He focuses on how to have everyone feeling comfortable in the workplace.

• 1. Lead with empathy and encourage employees to give themselves grace
• 2. Mix up Zoom calls—surprise meeting attendees by asking people to shut down computers and head outside for a ‘walking meeting’
• 3. Remind employees about self-care—we are all juggling a lot
• 4. Make sure your employees have the right equipment at home to be comfortable and effective
• 5. Ask employees to set boundaries between work life and home life
• 6. Give employees a ‘get off the camera’ pass to call in to a meeting instead of being on camera
• 7. Build in time for one-on-one meetings
• 8. Make time for casual team conversation

As 15 counties start to implement more restrictions, more people are going to be working from home. Davis-Massey asked himself what can he do to encourage upfront communication through the work force. Creating a space in your home for work away from where you sleep is another way of balancing out work and home.

“I’m like the catalyst for people to uncover the truth,” says Davis-Massey. Throughout conversations, he listens for signs of people not being fulfilled, and then tries to figure out how that can be remedied.

“Have a walking meeting,” explains Davis-Massey. If it is possible to do so, ask if a meeting can be held outside. Exercise helps with fighting depression, and Vitamin D helps absorb calcium and other vitamins. A mental pause and being able to set boundaries is important in one’s daily life.

Davis-Massey is practicing to be a yoga instructor. He uses breathing and meditation to ground himself and continues to help other people to bring their realist self to work and be human in the workplace.