We love hearing and sharing your stories. We want to find out how people are adapting to their ‘new normal’, what changes they’re making and what they’re learning. Each week, we share a story with you, from people in different jobs (or not in jobs for some), in different places, with different experiences. If you’re interested in sharing your story, we’d love to hear how the ‘new normal’ is for you.
What’s your name and what do you do?
Gihan Hyde – I connect employees with their organisations
How did you start your day today?
Dressed my toddler, fed her, dropped her at nursery, went for a run, and answered these questions
What was a typical day like for you pre Covid-19?
Nursery drop off, commuting, meetings, eating, sleeping – no run
And what is a typical day like now?
Taking walks, playing with my child, exercising, video calls and sleeping better
What’s been the biggest change to your life (working and personal) in light of Covid-19?
Connecting with my child and husband and knowing colleagues on a personal level. Having strangers actually smiling/saying hello back at me when I say hello.
How have you personally had to adapt to accommodate what’s happening?
I had to accept that it is what it is… Family/childcare comes first while work comes second. There is nothing I can do about it at this time. I do like this Mindset shift I have to admit.
And what have been the biggest challenges (working and personal)?
Working: Networking, bouncing ideas off my team members, reading my leader’s body language to gauge their mood.
Personal: not having a physical, deep and meaningful human interaction with my friends.
What do you miss most about your life pre Covid 19 (working and personal)?
Hugging, hugging, hugging, going to the opera 😊 and water cooler gossip.
What surprisingly good things have emerged in your life since this began?
Strangers being friendly, colleagues showing their vulnerability, life priorities changing and having the time to focus on my personal development
What have you learnt about yourself during this?
I learnt how resilient I am, how resourceful I could be and how much money I spend on commuting 😊
What do you hope we as a society learn from this situation?
- A sense of community and purpose is what will help us overcome any future obstacles
- The importance of connecting together regardless of race, class, and religion
What has helped you to cope with your situation?
- It is a temporary situation
- My family
- The large number of courses I have taken… I now feel I can conquer the world with my knowledge
What message would you like to pass onto others?
- Be kind
- Be thoughtful
- Show your vulnerability
- A smile can make someone’s day so smile 😊
Finally, what’s on your ‘Playlist’:
Favourite meal? – Italian, Penne Carbonara
TV? – Ru-Paul Drag Race
Book? – The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, by Jonas Jonasson
Thing to do that just makes you happy! – Meeting new people!
We’d love to hear from you! If you’d like to feature in our ‘stories from the new normal’ series, or our new ‘great stories, great companies’ blog, then please get in touch!
