These are extraordinary times for everyone. As we put the latest March / April issue of the magazine together, the country was asked to work from home, and remain at home outside of daily exercise and travelling to buy essential groceries.
Our lives have changed beyond recognition for now, and businesses and individuals are having to move swiftly to adjust.
PA Life’s readers – PAs, EAs, Corporate Bookers and Administrative Assistants – will be at the very heart of the changes that businesses are being forced to make to keep going, albeit in a very different way. Add in home-schooling for those of us who are parents, plus getting used to being with partners 24/7, and it all adds up to a very challenging time for all of us. But we are here to support you every step of the way.
So it is fortuitous that we have a big focus on wellbeing in this issue. First up are the results of the PA Life Wellbeing Survey we carried out with over 440 of you, taking in your thoughts on workplace stress, your challenges and worries. I’m sure the findings will resonate with most of you.
The subject of our PA Profile this issue is the inspirational Aimee Browne, who was a popular speaker at the recent PA Life Workplace Wellness & Wellbeing Summit. A year ago, Aimee was in bed, suicidal, having burned out from long hours and stress. Today, as well as being an EA at retailer The Works, she runs three businesses from home – including the Facebook group The Mindful Assistant. On pages 9-11 she shares her tips on avoiding burnout, as well as cautioning on the signs to look out for.
And our regular wellness writer Amy Gallagher explains the importance of balancing our female and male energies, and reveals how to do just that.
Meanwhile, because we know that these tricky times will pass, we throw the spotlight on certain key areas, namely Team Building activities and ideas, Academic Venues and Outdoor Spaces. It will be ‘Business As Usual’ before we know it, so we’re here to provide inspiration for you and your team.
Speaking of which, while you have more time to research new options, make sure you keep an eye on our Recommended Supplier Directory. We’re supporting our commercial partners through this time by offering free listings, so there are more potential suppliers for you to consider for upcoming projects. We are also increasing the content on the website – and on our social media channels – to ensure that you stay connected with your career and your peers.
In addition, you can also use this time to learn new skills and improve existing ones. We have a bundle of over 100 online learning courses tailored specifically for PA Life readers. Find out more at www.palife.co.uk/course-bundle.
We’re all in this together, and the team at PA Life wants to provide support for all our readers and partners. If you would like us to cover any particular areas, or have tips for surviving lockdown, please email me at lisa.carter@mimrammedia.com.
Lisa Carter, Associate Editor
