How our team members have adjusted to the new norm

As many of us have had to adjust the way we work recently, shifting from the office to home, and having to juggle work and home commitments has led to challenges. For many the lines have been blurred, and being able to switch from one commitment to the next wasn’t easy.

If you recently attended the Beyond Resilience webinar series and watched Dr Adam Fraser’s presentation on 3^rd Space, you would have seen him discuss the importance of not bringing your work life home which leads to the idea of a 3^rd space.

We have a diverse mix of people at AIA Australia, from those who live on their own, to those who have a family to look after with children who needed to be home schooled. Each person has had to deal with their situation as best they could. Below are just some of the ways we’ve managed this time.

I got a Maltese pup – I live by myself so I got her to help with the loneliness of isolation.

Taking her for walks first thing in the morning, at lunch time and then after I log off helps break up my day and gets me outside for some fresh air and exercise.

She’s also very sassy so that keeps me entertained in between meetings, phone calls and emails!

I exercise frequently. Getting out at lunch for a brief walk to get some sun. Pulling out the skipping rope and skipping for 5 mins a day.

I have frequent breaks. I purchased some indoor plants for my home office so each day I water the indoor plants and take them outside to get some sun. Taking regular 5 min tea breaks helps keep me stay motivated and prevent feeling fatigued.

I also enjoy listening to upbeat podcasts and music throughout the day while doing emails.

Dressing still for the day, regardless of being at home or not. Still putting on makeup, getting dressed in work attire. Makes me feel like I have a work life and home life.

Ensuring that I have my desk setup so I can go to work without distraction.

I gave my daughter 3 hugs a day to remind me that she is also navigating home schooling with parents working from home.

9:00am, 12:00-1:00pm and then again at 5:00pm

I found the 9 and 5pm gave both of us a sense of normality as I would usually give her a hug when I drop her off to school and pick her up from after school care so these times work for us. It’s like bringing the normal routine in-house during these isolation periods. And yes, I still say “have a great day at school” and “how was school today?”.

The lunch time hug is a bonus and reminds me that I have a little person to feed at home with me, while I am busy working, I can easily forget to take a lunch break.

My daughter always makes sure she gets her daily hugs from me.